Reassessment of the role of cannabinoids in the management of pain
Abstract
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.
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Based on the authors' review of the literature, cannabinoids exhibit their greatest efficacy when employed for the management of neuropathic pain.
“Based upon our reviews of the literature, cannabinoids exhibit their greatest efficacy when employed for the management of neuropathic pain (Tables 7 and 8).132”
From Cannabinoids as Pharmacotherapies for Neuropathic Pain: From the Bench to the Bedside (2009) · cites this paper as [132]
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- Authors
- Beaulieu, P., & Ware, M.
- Affiliations
- Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CA)
- McGill University Health Centre (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Beaulieu, Pierre
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology
- Published
- 2007-10
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 473-477
- ISSN
- 0952-7907 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1999922206
- Semantic Scholar
- 5db60c9ed41af3c5b13bccc63a0bec295d34ba8c
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
- Keywords
- cannabinoids, pain management, analgesia, chronic pain, acute pain, postoperative pain, neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy, synthetic cannabinoids, adverse effects, drug safety
- MeSH terms
- Acute Disease, Administration, Inhalation, Administration, Oral, Cannabinoids, Chronic Disease, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Humans, Pain, Pain Measurement, Dronabinol, Anti-Anxiety Agents
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