Cannabis Extract Reduces Pain in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

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Cannabis Extract Reduces Pain in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

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Does the cannabinoid dronabinol reduce central pain in multiple sclerosis?

The cannabis extract, dronabinol, reduces pain in patients with multiple

sclerosis, finds new research.

BMJ 17 July 2004 edition

Does the cannabinoid dronabinol reduce central pain in multiple sclerosis?

Randomised double blind placebo controlled crossover trial, BMJ Online First

The cannabis extract, dronabinol, reduces pain in patients with multiple

sclerosis, finds new research published on bmj.com today.

The study involved 24 patients with multiple sclerosis and central pain

attending a hospital clinic in Denmark.

Patients were given either dronabinol capsules or identical looking placebo

capsules for three weeks. Pain intensity in the last week of treatment was

assessed and patients completed a quality of life questionnaire.

Pain intensity was significantly lower and pain relief was higher during

dronabinol treatment than during placebo treatment. Pressure evoked pain

also tended to decrease, and patients reported better quality of life with

dronabinol compared with placebo.

Adverse events, including dizziness, were more frequent with dronabinol than

with placebo during the first week of treatment, but these decreased during

treatment.

Dronabinol has a modest but clear and clinically relevant analgesic effect

on central pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and should be available

for patients whose central pain is not sufficiently treated with alternative

drugs, conclude the authors.

Click here to view full paper:

http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/july/cannabinoid.pdf