Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Medium Dose of Cannabis may Help to Ease Neuropathic Pain

by Medindia Content Team on October 25, 2007 at 1:41 PM
Medium Dose of Cannabis may Help to Ease Neuropathic Pain

A study has found that smoking cannabis in medium doses can ease induced pain in healthy people.

The placebo controlled study, led by Mark Wallace, M.D., professor of anaesthesiology at UCSD School of Medicine and Program Director for the UCSD Centre for Pain Medicine, was conducted on 15 subjects.

Advertisement

In the study all the participants were healthy volunteers who inhaled either medical cannabis or a placebo after pain was induced.

The marijuana cigarettes were formulated under NIH supervision to contain either zero, two, four or eight percent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC.)
Advertisement

In the research capsaicin, an alkaloid derived from hot chilli peppers that is an irritant to the skin, in order to ape the type of neuropathic pain experienced by patients with HIV/AIDS, diabetes or shingles, which is a brief, intense pain followed by a longer-lasting secondary pain, was used.

The analysis of the study showed that a low dose of cannabis had no effect on pain, while a medium dose provided moderate pain relief.

And, astonishingly, a high dose of cannabis increased the pain response.

Wallace said that the results suggested a "therapeutic window" for cannabis analgesia.

"Subjects reported a decrease in pain at the medium dose, and there was also a significant correlation between plasma levels of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, and decreased pain," Igor Grant, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C), professor and Executive Vice-Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, the director of the CMCR said.

"Interestingly, the analgesic effect wasn't immediate; it took about 45 minutes for the cannabis to have an impact on the pain," he said.

Grant noted from the study that cannabis had healing value when taken in medium doses.

"This study helps to build a case that cannabis does have therapeutic value at a medium-dose level. It also suggests that higher doses aren't necessarily better in certain situations - something also observed with other medications, such as antidepressants," he said.

The study will be published in the November issue of the journal Anaesthesiology.

Source: ANI
SRM /J
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Research News

AI Shows Promise in Identifying ADHD
The AI method shows promise in identifying imaging biomarkers for diagnosing ADHD.
Life Expectancy Gap for Autistic Individuals Revealed
Diagnosed autistic individuals showed increased premature mortality in the UK, highlighting urgent needs to address associated inequalities.
Exploring How Hearing Impairment Shapes Dementia Risk
Study reveals a correlation between hearing impairment and distinct brain region variances, contributing to dementia.
Coffee and its Role in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Financial impact of caring for individuals with neurodegenerative disorders reaches hundreds of billions annually in the United States.
Healthcare Industry Struggles With Tech Skills Shortage
Experts emphasize that addressing the skills gap demands immediate attention and innovative solutions, including education, re-training, and significant time investment.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Medium Dose of Cannabis may Help to Ease Neuropathic Pain Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests