Does Marijuana Relieve Chronic Pain?

Congress and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) must approve marijuana for chronic pain treatment based on current research. this research into the effects of marijuana (cannibinoids) "is hampered in part by controversy, prejudice, and confusion" (McCarberg, 2006). Chronic pain sufferers await completion of marijuana research to use it alone or as an adjunct to current chronic pain therapy.

The basis of the controversy is because marijuana is illegal in most states. In approximately 10 states, medical marijuana is legal for certain chronic pain sufferers such as terminal illness, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and severe arthritis.

Hospice: How to Relieve Pain without Medication states that marijuana does not relieve the pain of chronic sufferers. It goes on to state "although marijuana has been reported to reduce anxiety or control nausea so that the person in pain feels better"; the pain relieving effects are not consistent and may even increase pain.

The question is do marijuana intoxicating effect for chronic pain sufferer's distraction of pain and suffering. Dr. McCarberg states, "Numerous studies have now established that cannibinoids help lessen pain and affect a wide range of symptoms and bodily functions."

It seems cannibinoids, used as an adjunctive treatment with opiods, increases the analgesic effects. Clinical data is encouraging but there are still those who believe the side effects of marijuana, intoxication and addiction, outweigh the positive effects.

All chronic pain drugs have undesirable side effects. Opiods may cause depression, withdrawal symptoms, allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, sedation, and constipation.

The delivery of THC (the main intoxicating ingredient) into the system is extremely important to the viability of cannibinoids medicines. The least effective methods of administration are smoking marijuana and the pill form (Marinol).

According to Dr. McCarberg, "the FDA and Institution of Medicine have stated that there is no future for herbal cannabis as a prescription medicine".

In June 2005, Health Canada approved Sativex for the treatment of the central neuropathic pain of multiple sclerosis.

Sativex is a "spray absorbed by the lining of the mouth which allows the chronic pain sufferer to gradually increase the dose to obtain therapeutic pain relief without psychological effects" (McCarberg)

In the US, research reveals that there have been positive effects from Sativex for various types of pain, including cancer pain. Research continues regarding nerve receptors sensitivity to cannibinoids.

In August 2006, the Mayo Clinic published an article titled "Marijuana as Medicine: Consider the Pros and Cons". The article states, "People widely used marijuana for pain relief in the 1800s, and several studies have found that cannibinoids have analgesic effects".

"In fact, THC may work as well in treating cancer pain as Codeine, a mild pain reliever. Cannibinoids also appear to enhance the effects of opiate pain medications to provide pain relief at lower doses."

Chronic pain sufferers await a more effective method or adjunctive therapy through research. Some sufferers have exhausted traditional treatments such as biofeedback, Opiods, skin and nerve stimulation.

A limited number of states have approved medical marijuana but Canada has a drug, Sativex that seems to be effective for nerve and cancer pain. Administration is by a spray, which seems more effective than the pill and smoking routes of administration.

Sativex is absorbed in the lining of the mouth and allows the chronic pain sufferer the ability to increase the dose with minimal side effects.

Research for new FDA-approved cannibinoids products continues, giving the medical community another option in the primary or adjunctive treatment of chronic pain.

References:

Hospice: How to Relieve Pain without Medicine. http://www.hospicenet.org/html/without_meds.

Marijuana as Medicine: Consider the Pros & Cons. http://www.medicalmarijuana.org

What does the Future Hold for Marijuana for Pain? McCarberg, B. MD. http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/mytreatment/mytreatment_Cannabnoids.asp