Chronic pain patients, use prescribed opioids at doses exceeding the current Guideline. Tapering the dose can be difficult, as patients fear a return to a state of overwhelming pain. Several factors can increase the success: patient’s readiness for change, psychological support, pharmacological support and monitoring.
In a study, led by Toronto-based chronic pain specialist Dr. Kevin Rod, published in American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience researchers found that marijuana can help patients with pain. In fact, when states legalize access to marijuana, the rates of opioid-related deaths and opioid prescriptions for pain decline.
For his pilot study, Dr Kevin Rod recruited 600 chronic pain patients who received care at his practice, Toronto Poly Clinic. Their daily opioid doses averaged 120mg morphine equivalent among the sample, 95 patients were taking between 180mg to 240mg a day to manage their pain.