People with chronic conditions may benefit from using medicinal cannabis for treating chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and other conditions.
The study reviewed 157 medical records, with the majority of patients were predominantly female (63.7%), aged 63.0 years, and from the Greater Sydney region (86.6%). Most patients were born in Australia (66.9%) , with 17.8% stating previous cannabis use and having neurological (58.0%) or musculoskeletal (24.8%) conditions.
The findings showed that 53.5% of patients perceived medicinal cannabis to be beneficial. Significant changes over time were observed in various symptom assessments, including pain, bowel problems, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, mood, quality of life (QoL), breathing problems, and appetite.
The study...
A retrospective medical record review was conducted at Wolper Jewish Hospital in Sydney, Australia, which is a stand-alone, not-for-profit clinic specializing in rehabilitation and palliative care. A consent form was provided which talks about the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia.
Medical records of patients prescribed medicinal cannabis between 1 February 2018 and 30 November 2021 were reviewed using the inclusion criteria: (1) 18 years or older and (2) non-cancer diagnosis. This study was approved by the St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee.
The effectiveness of medicinal cannabis treatment was examined by the following: (1)Patient-reported perceived benefit: Patients were asked to report whether they perceived medicinal cannabis as 'beneficial', 'not beneficial', or 'unclear'.
(2) The Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC) Symptom Assessment Scale (SAS) scores. This validated tool reliably measures patient-reported symptom distress amongst those with advanced disease and includes pain, fatigue, breathing problems, bowel problems, appetite, nausea, difficulty sleeping, and mood.
The Results...
Among the specific conditions, neuropathic pain/peripheral neuropathy had the highest rate of perceived benefit (66.6%), followed by Parkinson's disease (60.9%), multiple sclerosis (60.0%), migraine (43.8%), chronic pain syndrome (42.1%), and spondylosis (40.0%). For indications, medicinal cannabis was reported to have the greatest perceived effect on sleep (80.0%), followed by pain (51.5%), and muscle spasm (50%).
-In patients with spondylosis, improved trends were observed for fatigue, difficulty sleeping, mood, and QoL scores to 6 months and pain and bowel problems to 9 months.
-In patients with Parkinson’s disease, improved trends were observed for scores to 3 months (QoL to 6 months), with general stabilization over time. Mixed-effects modelling showed significant changes over time for pain, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping.
-In patients with chronic pain syndrome, improved trends were observed for the scores to 3 months which generally continued to 9 months. Mixed-effects modelling showed significant changes over time in scores for pain, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and mood.
-In patients with neuropathic pain/peripheral neuropathy, improved trends were observed for fatigue and difficulty sleeping scores to 3 months pain and QoL to 6 months bowel problems to 9 months, and mood to 12 months. Mixed-effects modelling analysis showed significant changes over time in pain, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping scores
-In patients with migraine, improved trends were observed for mood to 3 months fatigue, bowel problems, difficulty sleeping, and QoL scores to 6 months, and pain to 18 months. Mixed-effects modelling showed significant changes over time for ‘fatigue’ and ‘difficulty sleeping’.
-In patients with muscle spasm, initial improved trends were observed for all symptom scores to 3 months pain, fatigue, and bowel problems to 12 months and difficulty sleeping, QoL, and mood to 15 months. Mixed-effects modelling showed significant changes over time for ‘pain’ and ‘fatigue’.
Safety and Treatment Status...
The most common side effects as reported by 68 patients 43.3%, were somnolence 21.0%, dry mouth 7.6%, disorientation/confusion 3.8%, intoxication 3.8%, constipation 2.5%, and dizziness 2.5%.
Unsteadiness, mood swings, vivid dreams, hallucinations, delirium, paranoia, agitation, depression, erectile dysfunction, headaches, nausea, anxiety, tachycardia, and teeth grinding were experienced by three or fewer patients
Oral oil preparations with a balanced ratio of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) were the most commonly prescribed forms of medicinal cannabis, with an average post-titration dose of 16.9 mg THC and 34.8 mg CBD per day.
Conclusion...
This study indicates that medicinal cannabis, in a balanced formulation, may address a variety of non-cancer conditions and indications concurrently and can be safely prescribed by a medical doctor.
The results can be used to guide future clinical trials which could investigate the conditions and indications identified here as sensitive to treatment.
It is recommended that ‘pain’ and ‘difficulty sleeping’ (which may improve fatigue) be investigated further as treating these two symptoms may have reciprocating effects on each other, on mood, and QoL.
Source:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
No comments:
Post a Comment