Canadian researchers have found that medicinal cannabis could assist in alleviating pain caused by cancer and reduce the quantity of medications patients require. In an investigation involving 358 cancer patients, the study concluded that medicinal cannabis was a safe option for pain management when used alongside other medications.
Currently, only specialist hospital doctors can prescribe cannabis-based medicines on the NHS, primarily for severe epilepsy. Research on their effectiveness in treating pain is still ongoing in the UK.
The study, published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, discovered that medicinal cannabis proved to be “a safe and effective complementary treatment for pain relief in patients with cancer.” Products with an equal balance of the active components tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) appeared to be the most successful. While both compounds are found in cannabis plants, THC induces a “high,” whereas CBD does not.
In the study, approximately 25% of patients took THC-dominant products, 38% took THC-CBD-balanced medications, and 17% took CBD-dominant products. The most frequently reported side effects were dizziness and fatigue.
Researchers from institutions such as McGill University, Harvard Medical School, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin found that about a third of all cancer patients and two-thirds of those with terminal illnesses experience moderate to severe pain. Although painkillers are the standard treatment, it is estimated that a third of cancer patients still suffer from pain.
Every three months for a year, the patients were asked about their pain levels and the number of drugs they took. After using cannabis medicines, patients reported experiencing significantly less pain and less interference with their daily lives.
However, the researchers emphasize that more rigorous trials, including a control group to compare the effects of cannabis medicines with a placebo, are necessary to confirm the findings.
Since 2018, UK law has permitted the prescription of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines in very specific circumstances, such as for patients with rare, severe epilepsy, adults experiencing nausea or vomiting due to chemotherapy, and individuals with muscle stiffness and spasms caused by multiple sclerosis (MS). Official guidance states that medicinal cannabis is not recommended for treating pain or most types of epilepsy, and more research is required to understand the potential benefits and risks, particularly for children and young people.
A Department of Health and Social Care official stated, “Licensed cannabis-based medicines are funded routinely by the NHS where there is clear evidence of their quality, safety, and effectiveness.” Unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use must be proven safe and effective before being considered for routine NHS funding. The department is collaborating with partners to establish clinical trials testing the safety and efficacy of additional cannabis-based products for medicinal use to inform future NHS funding decisions.
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