So a new study published in Nature Medicine came as great news to many cannabis enthusiasts. It demonstrates that cannabis works very well to treat chronic back pain, the number one cause of disability in the world. At the Washington University Pain Center in St. Louis, their director of research, Simon Haroutounian, directs this essential research. It’s testing an experimental mixture of cannabis oil that consists of THC, CBD, and other naturally occurring compounds. This combination showed much greater effectiveness compared to placebo at reducing pain in trial participants.
The research underscores the potential for cannabis to become a valuable alternative treatment option. This is especially important in a clinical climate where approaches to pain management often hinge on the use of opioids. Pioneering spine surgeon Richard Price takes an optimistic view of cannabis. He’s convinced that it could be an efficient, effective solution for patients in pain from low back pain. As we sat down at the conference, he pointed out that most Americans are afraid to use opioids. About side effects and their potential for becoming dependent on them.
Both patients in the trial reported a 95% reduction in pain. After 12 weeks of daily cannabis use, their pain was about 30% lower on average. This outcome suggests that there may be a new avenue for those who have previously found little relief from traditional pain medications.
Background on Cannabis Research
Significant interest in using cannabis for pain management. Currently, only one cannabis-derived medication, Epidiolex, has gotten FDA approval and it’s intended solely for treating seizures, with no THC. The classification of cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug further complicates research efforts in the United States. Such a designation implies that the substance has no accepted medical uses. It unfortunately has a high potential for abuse, which made large-scale clinical trials very challenging.
Simon Haroutounian, a pain specialist who has spent decades cannabis research, highlighted the restrictive barriers set by regulations as a challenge. He stated, “Most of the medications that we have at our disposal for treating chronic pain are in that range.” This quote is a testament to the daily pursuit for effective treatments in a field dominated by lack of options.
Until recently, these cannabis-opioid trials demonstrated a comparable rate of side effects between the cannabis and opioids. A total of 13% of participants had adverse effects serious enough to withdraw from the trial. The study found no evidence of dependence or withdrawal syndrome among cannabis users. This new finding speaks to its promise as a safer alternative.
Insights from Clinical Trials
Kevin Boehnke, an assistant professor of anesthesiology, highlighted the remarkable findings of the European trials funded by Vertanical, a German company anticipating approval to market their full-spectrum cannabis oil, known as VER-01. Boehnke was surprised to find that for pain relief and improvement in sleep quality, cannabis did much better than opioids. He remarked, “I think this provides a lot of useful evidence for patients,” indicating that this research could help guide treatment options moving forward.
The study revealed that about seven patients would need to use cannabis for one to achieve clinically meaningful pain relief. This shocking statistic underscores the critical need for additional research. First and foremost, we need to figure out how to best incorporate cannabis into safe and effective pain management strategies.
Clemens Fischer of Vertanical reflects on a complicated regulatory landscape. He said if policymakers or the FDA are looking to move faster developing approval pathways for cannabis products, they’re prepared to go. “If politicians or the FDA want to speed up the process, we are ready,” he said, conveying urgency for more accessible treatment options.
Patient Perspectives and Future Directions
Ellen Lenox Smith of the U.S. Pain Foundation voiced concerns about the current state of cannabis availability in the U.S. She expressed hope that FDA approval for cannabis products would instill confidence in patients with chronic pain who rely on these alternatives. “I wish it was our country that was putting this out right now,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of consistent quality in medical treatments.
Richard Price added professional perspective from his clinical experience working with a wide variety of patients suffering from chronic pain. He drew attention to the realities practitioners must overcome in practice when encountering such debilitating conditions. “It’s really challenging to tell somebody, ‘I know you’re in pain, but there’s nothing I can do for you,’ and a lot of patients do not want to go on opioids,” he explained. This feeling can be found among many healthcare practitioners who are seeking alternative therapies to ensure the best patient outcomes possible.
