A recent study conducted by German researchers confirms that inhaled vaporized herbal cannabis effectively alleviates neuropathic pain. This condition, resulting from nerve damage due to various medical issues, often leads to chronic pain and abnormal sensations. Many patients experience not only pain but also sleep disturbances, with about 50% struggling to achieve restful sleep due to their condition.
Neuropathic pain can stem from multiple causes, including diabetes, alcoholism, shingles, and central nervous system disorders such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Traditional treatments often fail to provide adequate relief, prompting the need for alternative therapies. The authors of the study highlighted that responses to standard medications can vary greatly among patients, making it challenging to find effective pain management solutions.
The observational study involved 99 participants suffering from chronic neuropathic pain who had not found relief through conventional treatments. Conducted in Germany, where medical cannabis was legalized in 2017, the study allowed participants to access cannabis prescribed in the form of dried flowers available at pharmacies. Participants used cannabis with THC concentrations ranging from 12% to 22%, with two-thirds opting for higher potency strains (16% to 22%). They were instructed to use a vaporizer to inhale the cannabis over six months, choosing their own administration schedule based on pain episodes or time availability.
Pain levels were assessed on a scale of 0 to 10 at regular intervals during the study. Initial assessments revealed a median pain score of 7.5, with 96% of participants reporting severe pain (scores above 6). Remarkably, within six weeks of starting cannabis therapy, the median pain score dropped to 4.0, and the proportion of patients with severe pain plummeted to 16%. This improvement in pain was sustained throughout the six-month observation period.
The study also measured sleep disturbances, finding that participants initially had a median score of 8 for sleep issues. Following cannabis treatment, this score decreased to 2, indicating a notable improvement. Researchers attributed the enhancement in sleep quality primarily to reduced pain levels, although they acknowledged that cannabis might also have direct effects on sleep.
Throughout the study, 99% of participants reported improvements in their overall condition at various follow-ups. Most patients experienced mild side effects, including dry mouth (5.4%), fatigue (4.8%), and increased appetite (2.7%). No severe adverse events were reported, suggesting the treatment was well-tolerated.
The researchers concluded that inhaled medical cannabis offers a sustainable and effective option for managing chronic neuropathic pain without severe adverse effects. They noted some limitations to the study, including potential bias in patient selection and incomplete data sets, which are common challenges in retrospective observational studies. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.’
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