Science/Human: Cannabis is effective as add-on treatment in severe chronic pain according to an analysis of the German Pain Registry
Chronic pain (CP) is a long-lasting unpleasant sensorial and emotional experience without the acute warning signals of physiological nociception that persists past normal healing time and usually lasts or recurs for more than 3 months. It is a common and economically important health issue, affecting approximately 20% of people worldwide and accounting accordingly for 15-20% of medical consultations.
According to an exploratory analysis of anonymized 12-week open-label data provided by the German Pain e-Registry add-on treatment with the cannabis spray Sativex was effective and well-tolerated. Data were analyzed by scientists of the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Nuremberg, Germany, and other German institutions.
Among that 30.228 cases documented in the database in 2017, 800 (2.6%) received a treatment with Sativex containing THC and CBD in a ratio of about 1:1. Authors found a significant treatment effect.
Beneficial effects using CBD:THC oromucosal spray
Authors concluded that the Beneficial effects found for CP patients in this analysis clearly out weighted the potential risks of treatments and confirmed that THC:CBD oromucosal spray provides an effective add-on measure for patients suffering either from elsewhere refractory neuropathic pain conditions as well as those presenting with a pain phenotype suggestive for underlying neuropathic mechanisms.
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