A study published in Biomedicines found an association between cannabis use and sustained pain reduction in a patient population with treatment-resistant diabetic neuropathy. Nerve damage from diabetes can cause symptoms such as tingling, numbness, pain, and loss of feeling in the extremities.
Participants in the longitudinal observational study included 50 patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. Participant criteria required that patients receive treatment at an outpatient clinic over the five-year study period. In addition, participants had a history of unresponsiveness to at least three conventional pain therapies.
During the study, the participants smoked or vaporized medical-grade cannabis flower (20% tetrahydrocannabinol and 1% cannabidiol (CBD) daily. The participants could self-titrate or adjust their doses based on pain response and tolerability. The researchers collected prospective data at baseline and annually through scheduled clinic visits, questionnaires, physical examination results, and laboratory tests.
The participants reported significant decreases in pain severity and neuropathic symptoms. The mean pain severity score lowered from 9 to 2. Data analysis revealed improved glucose levels.
The participants also decreased their use of opioids and other prescription painkillers over the course of the study. The participants lowered their morphine-equivalent doses by more than 90%, gabapentin doses by 97%, duloxetine by 93 %, and pregabalin by 79% without experiencing rebound pain.
The findings align with emerging evidence on the endocannabinoid system’s role in pain modulation. The research team believes that inhaled cannabis offers a safe and effective mode of pain relief and glycemic control with no major adverse events. The findings highlight key steps for future investigations of how cannabis can reduce dependence on pharmaceutical medication. The researchers recommend conducting future randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess efficacy and determine optimal dosing.
Sources: Biomedicines, NORML
