Progression of cannabis withdrawal symptoms in people using medical cannabis for chronic pain

Addiction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara N. Coughlin ◽  
Mark A. Ilgen ◽  
Mary Jannausch ◽  
Maureen A. Walton ◽  
Kipling M. Bohnert
BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e047717
Author(s):  
Atefeh Noori ◽  
Anna Miroshnychenko ◽  
Yaadwinder Shergill ◽  
Vahid Ashoorion ◽  
Yasir Rehman ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and harms of adding medical cannabis to prescription opioids among people living with chronic pain.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesCENTRAL, EMBASE and MEDLINE.Main outcomes and measuresOpioid dose reduction, pain relief, sleep disturbance, physical and emotional functioning and adverse events.Study selection criteria and methodsWe included studies that enrolled patients with chronic pain receiving prescription opioids and explored the impact of adding medical cannabis. We used Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation to assess the certainty of evidence for each outcome.ResultsEligible studies included five randomised trials (all enrolling chronic cancer-pain patients) and 12 observational studies. All randomised trials instructed participants to maintain their opioid dose, which resulted in a very low certainty evidence that adding cannabis has little or no impact on opioid use (weighted mean difference (WMD) −3.4 milligram morphine equivalent (MME); 95% CI (CI) −12.7 to 5.8). Randomised trials provided high certainty evidence that cannabis addition had little or no effect on pain relief (WMD −0.18 cm; 95% CI −0.38 to 0.02; on a 10 cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain) or sleep disturbance (WMD −0.22 cm; 95% CI −0.4 to −0.06; on a 10 cm VAS for sleep disturbance; minimally important difference is 1 cm) among chronic cancer pain patients. Addition of cannabis likely increases nausea (relative risk (RR) 1.43; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.96; risk difference (RD) 4%, 95% CI 0% to 7%) and vomiting (RR 1.5; 95% CI 1.01 to 2.24; RD 3%; 95% CI 0% to 6%) (both moderate certainty) and may have no effect on constipation (RR 0.85; 95% CI 0.54 to 1.35; RD −1%; 95% CI −4% to 2%) (low certainty). Eight observational studies provided very low certainty evidence that adding cannabis reduced opioid use (WMD −22.5 MME; 95% CI −43.06 to −1.97).ConclusionOpioid-sparing effects of medical cannabis for chronic pain remain uncertain due to very low certainty evidence.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018091098.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088307382199691
Author(s):  
Lisa Letzkus ◽  
Darcy Fehlings ◽  
Lauren Ayala ◽  
Rachel Byrne ◽  
Alison Gehred ◽  
...  

Background: Pain is common in children with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence regarding assessments and interventions for chronic pain in children aged ≤2 years with or at high risk for cerebral palsy. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed. Included articles were screened using PRISMA guidelines and quality of evidence was reviewed using best-evidence tools by independent reviewers. Using social media channels, an online survey was conducted to elicit parent preferences. Results: Six articles met criteria. Parent perception was an assessment option. Three pharmacologic interventions (gabapentin, medical cannabis, botulinum toxin type A) and 1 nonpharmacologic intervention were identified. Parent survey report parent-comfort and other nonpharmacologic interventions ranked as most preferable. Conclusion: A conditional GRADE recommendation was in favor of parent report for pain assessment. Clinical trials are sorely needed because of the lack of evidence for safety and efficacy of pharmacologic interventions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 110-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terrance Bellnier ◽  
Geoffrey W. Brown ◽  
Tulio R. Ortega

Abstract Introduction: Medical cannabis (MC) is commonly claimed to be an effective treatment for chronic or refractory pain. With interest in MC in the United States growing, as evidenced by the 29 states and 3 US districts that now have public MC programs, the need for clinical evidence supporting this claim has never been greater. Methods: This was a retrospective, mirror-image study that investigated MC's effectiveness in patients suffering from chronic pain associated with qualifying conditions for MC in New York State. The primary outcome was to compare European Quality of Life 5 Dimension Questionnaire (EQ-5D) and Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS) scores at baseline and 3 months post-therapy. The secondary outcomes included comparisons of monthly analgesic prescription costs and opioid consumption pre- and post-therapy. Tolerability was assessed by side effect incidence. Results: This investigation included 29 subjects. Quality of life and pain improved, measured by change in EQ-5D (Pre 36 – Post 64, P < .0001) and change in PQAS paroxysmal (Pre 6.76 – Post 2.04, P < .0001), surface (Pre 4.20 – Post 1.30, P < .0001), deep (Pre 5.87 – Post 2.03, P < .0001), unpleasant (Pre “miserable” – Post “annoying”, P < .0001). Adverse effects were reported in 10% of subjects. Discussion: After 3 months treatment, MC improved quality of life, reduced pain and opioid use, and lead to cost savings. Large randomized clinical trials are warranted to further evaluate the role of MC in the treatment of chronic pain.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 830-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin F. Boehnke ◽  
J. Ryan Scott ◽  
Evangelos Litinas ◽  
Suzanne Sisley ◽  
David A. Williams ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 694-694
Author(s):  
Glen D. Solomon ◽  
Cynthia Sheppard Solomon

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