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British Medical Journal Editorial -- "Cannabinoids for Pain and Nausea: Some Evidence but is There Any Need?"

Editor's Note – We are indebted to Hassela Nordic Network for leading us to this story.

July 16, 2001 -- Researchers reviewed all published studies of randomized controlled trials that examine the effectiveness of cannabinoids for pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea. The British Medical Journal concludes that while future cannabinoid research may provide useful medicines, existing studies show "the adverse effects of cannabinoids outweigh their effectiveness."

The Journal notes that two factors must be considered. 1) Do cannabinoids have adverse effects? 2) How do cannabinoids compare to standard medications?

It published two literature reviews conducted by different groups of scientists. In the review of effects on pain, they found nine studies involving a total of 222 patients. There were 30 nausea studies involving a total of 1366 patients.

The pain studies found that cannabinoids were no more effective than codeine and had adverse effects in depressing the central nervous system. Since the 1970s, when most of these studies were conducted, treating cancer and post-operative pain with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, alone or combined with opioids, has eliminated the need for cannabinoids.

The journal notes, however, that better pain medicines are needed for neuropathic pain and that cannabinoids may have potential for treating it.

The nausea studies found that cannabinoids showed some effectiveness in treating cancer chemotherapy-induced nausea compared to standard medications available in the 1980s, when most of these studies were conducted. However, a new group pf medicines introduced in the 1990s – the serotonin receptor antagonists – are much more effective in treating nausea.

The journal concludes that while future research may produce safer, more effective cannabinoid drugs, those available today "clearly lose the battle in both efficacy and safety" when compared with other medicines.

Read editorial.

Read Cannabinoids for Control of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Quantitative Systematic Review.

Read Are Cannabinoids an Effective and Safe Treatment Option in the Management of Pain? A Quantitative Systematic Review.

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