Reassessment of the role of cannabinoids in the management of pain

[Guest guest]

Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2007 Oct;20(5):473-7.

Reassessment of the role of cannabinoids in the management of pain.

Beaulieu P, Ware M.

aDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology, University of

Montréal, Canada bDepartment of Anesthesiology and Family Medicine,

McGill University Health Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this article is to assess the role of

cannabinoids in the treatment of acute and chronic pain in humans.

RECENT FINDINGS: Very few clinical trials looking at the analgesic

effects of cannabinoids in the acute pain settings have been

performed. Three recent studies have evaluated the oral

administration of synthetic cannabinoids in postoperative pain. At

low doses cannabinoids are not different from placebo, whereas at

high doses they may be associated with adverse effects or even

worsening of pain intensity. In chronic pain patients, the safety

and analgesic efficacy of a number of cannabinoid compounds have

recently been evaluated in several clinical trials in several

chronic pain conditions. While the small size of the trials and the

relatively short duration of follow-up limits broad generalization,

to date there is increasing evidence that cannabinoids are safe and

effective for refractory chronic pain conditions including

neuropathic pain associated with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid

arthritis, and peripheral neuropathy associated with HIV/AIDS.

SUMMARY: The precise role of cannabinoids in pain treatment still

needs further evaluation. Cannabinoid compounds may be more

effective in the context of chronic neuropathic pain than for the

management of acute pain.

[Guest guest]

It's good to see research slowly making its way out, involving these 'forbidden'

elements.