Introduction:
Now there is good news for those who use cannabis for treating chronic pain. There has been new research and studies that suggest that the cannabis drug may help in relieving chronic pain as efficaciously as opioids. Another good thing that you will come to know about the cannabis drug is that it can be used to treat other problems as well. But again, one of the common side effects of cannabis is dizziness, and the question of long-term use and safety is still somewhat hanging in the air, as per the study and the researchers. There are no conclusive findings and, besides that, the researchers have also cautioned that much remains unknown about the possible risks of the use of cannabis and its long-term effects on the body.
Marian S. McDonagh’s Views—
You can visit the medical cannabis clinic UK online here and find out more about the uses and side effects of cannabis. Also, the researchers have suggested that the results show that both plant-based forms and synthetic forms of the substance are moderately effective in reducing the pain. As per Marian S. McDonagh, Oregon Health & Science University, PharmD. – Cannabis products are equal with other pain medications and therapies, though the evidence for the use of cannabis is not as strong. “The average pain reduction and its severity are also similar to some other treatments, but the researchers do not have enough studies directly associated with these treatments to draw a conclusion”, as per McDonagh. You can find the reports of this group and their results in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
McDonagh’s Meta-Analysis
In several studies, the author has evaluated the cannabinoids and their ability to free the body from chronic pain. The findings and methods are separate from those or another connected research. So, McDonagh and her team conducted a meta-analysis — collecting previously published studies and research on cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain so that they could come up with an average outcome. After removing low-quality studies, the group was left with 25 hard trials comprising nearly 15,000 people. Out of these 18, 18 were the so-called random controlled trials, in which one group of patients will get a treatment and the other will receive a placebo (sham) therapy. Randomized controlled trials or studies are known as the gold standard for research that is clinical.
The Outcome-
The studies were comprised of both the plant form of the drug and the synthetic cannabis products. Plus, the researchers covered both the products with THC and CBD, the main psychoactive molecule and the substance that does not have a mind-altering effect, i.e., CBD. As per McDonagh, synthetic products that came with high THC to CBD ratios were connected with moderate improvements in pain, whereas the plant-based products with comparable THC to CBD ratios gave less relief, as per McDonagh.
Others’ View-
As per Kevin F. and Daniel J. of the Anaesthesiology Department and Chronic Pain & Fatigue Research Centre at the Michigan Medical School University – Patients with severe pain can even face resistance or even the risk of being reported, when asked about cannabis-based products. Aside from that, some doctors cite a lack of information as a reason for not engaging or providing cannabis drugs to patients or those who wish to use such drugs. Such practises by physicians may reflect a view of cannabis solely as a drug of abuse. Medical cannabis is legal in 37 states.
