TY - JOUR
T1 - Cannabis-Based Products for Chronic Pain
T2 - A Systematic Review
AU - McDonagh, Marian S.
AU - Morasco, Benjamin J.
AU - Wagner, Jesse
AU - Ahmed, Azrah Y.
AU - Fu, Rongwei
AU - Kansagara, Devan
AU - Chou, Roger
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was funded under contract number 75Q80120D00006 from the AHRQ, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Staff from the AHRQ assisted in developing the scope and key questions. A representative from the AHRQ served as a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative and provided technical assistance during the conduct of the full evidence report and comments on draft versions of the report. The AHRQ did not directly participate in the literature search, determination of study eligibility criteria, data analysis, interpretation, or decision to submit this manuscript.
Funding Information:
Disclaimer: This project was funded under contract number 75Q80120D00006 from the AHRQ, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The authors of this report are responsible for its content. Statements in the report should not be construed as endorsement by the AHRQ or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The AHRQ retains a license to display, reproduce, and distribute the data and the report from which this manuscript was derived under the terms of the agency's contract with the author.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American College of Physicians. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/8/1
Y1 - 2022/8/1
N2 - Background: Contemporary data are needed about the utility of cannabinoids in chronic pain. Purpose: To evaluate the benefits and harms of cannabinoids for chronic pain. Data Sources: Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus to January 2022. Study Selection: English-language, randomized, placebocontrolled trials and cohort studies (≥1 month duration) of cannabinoids for chronic pain. Data Extraction: Data abstraction, risk of bias, and strength of evidence assessments were dually reviewed. Cannabinoids were categorized by THC-to-CBD ratio (high, comparable, or low) and source (synthetic, extract or purified, or whole plant). Data Synthesis: Eighteen randomized, placebo-controlled trials (n= 1740) and 7 cohort studies (n= 13 095) assessed cannabinoids. Studies were primarily short term (1 to 6 months); 56% enrolled patients with neuropathic pain, with 3% to 89% female patients. Synthetic products with high THC-to-CBD ratios (>98% THC) may be associated with moderate improvement in pain severity and response (≥30% improvement) and an increased risk for sedation and are probably associated with a large increased risk for dizziness. Extracted products with high THC-to-CBD ratios (range, 3:1 to 47:1) may be associated with large increased risk for study withdrawal due to adverse events and dizziness. Sublingual spray with comparable THC-to-CBD ratio (1.1:1) probably is associated with small improvement in pain severity and overall function and may be associated with large increased risk for dizziness and sedation and moderate increased risk for nausea. Evidence for other products and outcomes, including longer-term harms, were not reported or were insufficient. Limitation: Variation in interventions; lack of study details, including unclear availability in the United States; and inadequate evidence for some products. Conclusion: Oral, synthetic cannabis products with high THCto- CBD ratios and sublingual, extracted cannabis products with comparable THC-to-CBD ratios may be associated with shortterm improvements in chronic pain and increased risk for dizziness and sedation. Studies are needed on long-term outcomes and further evaluation of product formulation effects.
AB - Background: Contemporary data are needed about the utility of cannabinoids in chronic pain. Purpose: To evaluate the benefits and harms of cannabinoids for chronic pain. Data Sources: Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus to January 2022. Study Selection: English-language, randomized, placebocontrolled trials and cohort studies (≥1 month duration) of cannabinoids for chronic pain. Data Extraction: Data abstraction, risk of bias, and strength of evidence assessments were dually reviewed. Cannabinoids were categorized by THC-to-CBD ratio (high, comparable, or low) and source (synthetic, extract or purified, or whole plant). Data Synthesis: Eighteen randomized, placebo-controlled trials (n= 1740) and 7 cohort studies (n= 13 095) assessed cannabinoids. Studies were primarily short term (1 to 6 months); 56% enrolled patients with neuropathic pain, with 3% to 89% female patients. Synthetic products with high THC-to-CBD ratios (>98% THC) may be associated with moderate improvement in pain severity and response (≥30% improvement) and an increased risk for sedation and are probably associated with a large increased risk for dizziness. Extracted products with high THC-to-CBD ratios (range, 3:1 to 47:1) may be associated with large increased risk for study withdrawal due to adverse events and dizziness. Sublingual spray with comparable THC-to-CBD ratio (1.1:1) probably is associated with small improvement in pain severity and overall function and may be associated with large increased risk for dizziness and sedation and moderate increased risk for nausea. Evidence for other products and outcomes, including longer-term harms, were not reported or were insufficient. Limitation: Variation in interventions; lack of study details, including unclear availability in the United States; and inadequate evidence for some products. Conclusion: Oral, synthetic cannabis products with high THCto- CBD ratios and sublingual, extracted cannabis products with comparable THC-to-CBD ratios may be associated with shortterm improvements in chronic pain and increased risk for dizziness and sedation. Studies are needed on long-term outcomes and further evaluation of product formulation effects.
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U2 - 10.7326/M21-4520
DO - 10.7326/M21-4520
M3 - Review article
C2 - 35667066
AN - SCOPUS:85135063353
SN - 0003-4819
VL - 175
SP - 1143
EP - 1153
JO - Annals of Internal Medicine
JF - Annals of Internal Medicine
IS - 8
ER -