Cannabis Outcomes: Patients’ Reports Are Positive

In an article in the Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia, researchers investigated patients attempting to get medical cannabis for their chronic pain. Researchers looked at the long-term effect of cannabis on these patients through patterns of cannabis use and primary outcomes—pain intensity and interference scores—along with questionnaire answers related to depression/anxiety, neuropathic pain, quality of life, adverse events, and self-reported opioid consumption at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months,

Of >750 participants, >85% wanted cannabis to relieve their pain. >42% were taking opioids at baseline; 29.3% at 12 months. Half of those who completed the study were still taking opioids at the 12 month follow up. The study concluded that “approximately one-third of patients in the cohort remained on medical cannabis for six months. In this cohort, pain intensity and pain-related interference scores were reduced and QoL and general health symptoms scores were improved compared with baseline.”

 

Access the journal article.

Other Categories:

• chronic pain

• medical cannabinoids

• medical marijuana

• opioids