‘Cannabis has a long history of being used for pain management,’ says Physician Editor Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, FACP, FAAAAI, RhMSUS. ‘What does it mean for rheumatology patients moving forward? Read our article for one answer to this question.’ As cannabis becomes more widely legalized, both in the U.S. and internationally, its use for pain…
Medical cannabis may benefit patients experiencing pain, and rheumatologists should be able to discuss its potential risks and benefits with their patients. Here are insights from Dr. Mary Ann Fitzcharles on current research, patient use and more.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Oral synthetic cannabis products that have a high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to cannabidiol (CBD) ratio, as well as extracted cannabis products with comparable THC-to-CBD ratios, may provide moderate, short-term improvements in chronic pain, a large systematic review of relevant research suggests.1 However, these products are also associated with higher risks for side effects,…
As medical and recreational marijuana becomes more accessible, researchers seek creative ways to study the cannabis plant and explore the complexities of the endocannabinoid system in pain relief. Rheumatologists currently face an influx of patients asking if marijuana can help them. Here’s a look at the evolving research on cannabinoids for rheumatologic pain management and how doctors are discussing it with their patients…
(Reuters Health)—Even though pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are among the most common reasons people use medical marijuana in the U.S., there isn’t much proof cannabis works for either one of these conditions, two research reviews suggest. That’s because there hasn’t been enough high-quality research to produce conclusive evidence of the benefits or harms…
JERUSALEM (Reuters)—Israel’s Teva Pharmaceuticals has partnered with Tel Aviv-based Syqe Medical to market in Israel medical cannabis for pain management that is administered with an inhaler. The companies said in a statement on Monday that this is the first time the medical cannabis sector has complied with pharmaceutical standards for inhalation, which is the most…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Medical cannabis reduces chronic pain patients’ opioid use, while improving their quality of life, according to a new survey of Michigan cannabis dispensary patrons. “They report that when they make that switch they overall feel better,” Dr. Daniel J. Clauw of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, told Reuters Health in a…
RENNES, France (Reuters)—A man left brain dead after a drug trial in northwest France died on Sunday, said the hospital where he was being treated. The Rennes hospital said in a statement that five other volunteers were in stable condition after they were admitted last week. In total, 90 people took part in the trial of the drug made…
PARIS (Reuters)—One person has been left brain dead and five others are in a serious condition after taking part in a clinical trial in western France of an experimental medicine from an unnamed drug company, the French health ministry said on Friday, Jan. 15. The ministry did not say what the medicine was intended to be used…
Rheumatologist Rachelle Buchbinder, AO, MBBS (Hons), MSc, PhD, discusses reducing overdiagnosis, overtreatment, low-value care and waste in medicine.