(Reuters Health)—In states that legalized medical marijuana, U.S. hospitals failed to see a predicted influx of pot smokers, but in an unexpected twist, they treated far fewer opioid users, a new study shows. Hospitalization rates for opioid painkiller dependence and abuse dropped on average 23% in states after marijuana was permitted for medicinal purposes, the… [Read More]
Search results for: medical marijuana
Medical Marijuana’s Potential Benefits, Risks
CHICAGO—Despite the complicated politics surrounding medical marijuana, cannabis has a wide variety of medical benefits and potential benefits, but the risks need to be understood, said Daniel Clauw, MD, director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan, in a session at the ACR’s 2016 State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium. Effects It’s… [Read More]
Medical Marijuana Use by Rheumatology Patients Needs Closer Look
Study calls for more research into drug’s safety, side effects before rheumatologists prescribe pot to patients with chronic pain... [Read More]
Marijuana for Rheumatology Patients?
SAN DIEGO—What does cannabis offer to the treatment and management of rheumatology patients and the range of pain states they experience? What do we really know about its long-term effects? These are hard questions to answer with currently available data and a reality nuanced by complications cannabis advocates don’t always recognize, according to two experts… [Read More]
Evidence Needed to Support Marijuana Use for Pain Relief in Rheumatologic Conditions
With the chronic pain and other health issues that many rheumatology patients face every day, it’s natural for rheumatologists and their patients to wonder if cannabinoid treatments are of any help. At this point, there is insufficient evidence to recommend cannabinoid treatments to manage rheumatic diseases, according to a review article published in the May… [Read More]
Cannabinoids Show Potential in Pain Management
ATLANTA—The potential of cannabis‐based medicines is a hot topic, particularly as pain management therapy for arthritis and other conditions. However, confusion abounds regarding its therapeutic potential, how it can be administered and even the correct terminology to use. David P. Finn, PhD, professor of pharmacology and therapeutics, and founding co-director of the Centre for Pain… [Read More]
Cannabis in Rheumatology Care: A Look at the Latest Research & What Rheumatologists Are Telling Their Patients
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…... [Read More]
What’s Driving the Pain? Alternative Approaches to Pain Management
Patients can experience many different types of pain, and some patients with chronic pain may believe that only opioids will help them. According to Kelly Weselman, MD, the best way to begin managing pain is to determine its root cause and communicate with the patient about the best approach(es) for decreasing their specific pain…... [Read More]
Little Evidence Shows Cannabis Helps Chronic Pain or PTSD
(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… [Read More]
Tips for Managing Young Adult Rheumatology Patients
Often, young adults (18–23 years old) with rheumatic illness demonstrate poor adherence to treatment regimens, lack advocacy skills and have inadequate knowledge about diagnosis and treatment.1 Patients presenting at a transition clinic are typically comfortable with having their parents continue to be centrally involved with their care, but this is a time in life when… [Read More]