Study: Medical Cannabis Reduces Neuropathic Pain – Cannabis | weed | marijuana
A recently published retrospective study suggests that medical cannabis reduces neuropathic pain without serious side effects.
Algea Care, Europe’s leading telemedicine platform for medical cannabis, conducted the study in collaboration with the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf.
Published in the journal “Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids,” CLN caught up with Algea Care CEO Dr. Julian Wichmann, who was also significantly involved in the design of the study.
“While the study looked at it retrospectively,” says Dr. Wichmann, “Do it [medical cannabis] works and the answer is: yes, it works.”
Details of the study to reduce neuropathic pain with medical cannabis
How did this study come to the conclusion that medical cannabis can relieve neuropathic pain? One option was to get patients to report their “pain score.” At the start of treatment, 96% reported a pain score of 6 out of 10, with 10 being the most pain.
However, within six weeks of starting medical treatment with cannabis, there was a significant reduction in pain scores. The average pain score increased from 7.5 to 3.75.
Follow-up visits with their physician revealed that 90% of patients reported a reduction in neuropathic pain. Over the course of six months, 99% ultimately reported an improvement in their general condition.
No patient reported serious side effects. Patients reported dry mouth (5.4%), fatigue (4.8%), and increased appetite (2.7%).
“I think the observational data in the study we published is crucial,” says Dr. Wichmann. “Because it shows that cannabis is extremely safe and has no serious side effects.” In addition, patients with neuropathic pain welcome the side effect of fatigue.
According to Dr. According to Wichmann, sleep disorders are typical for pain patients.
So when you as a doctor treat these patients, you’re not just treating them for their pain; You need to treat her for a sleep disorder, and you know that traditional medicine often means at least two separate medications. Something for the pain or maybe several medications, but also something to help them sleep. What we saw here was that the single drug cannabis works well for both neuropathic pain and sleep disorders.
What about stigma?
As in Canada or the USA, German doctors are also hesitant to prescribe medical cannabis, whether for neuropathic pain or for sleeping.
“The reality is that probably only two percent of doctors have ever treated a patient with cannabis.”
Dr. Wichmann says stigma prevents many doctors from taking action. But he expects studies like this one (and future ones) to turn the tide. As well as broader legalization efforts.
Nevertheless, dispensing medical cannabis through pharmacies is a novel concept.
“I think there is a stigma, but we are seeing a lot of improvement there and therefore are also seeing a lot of referrals for cannabis treatment,” says Dr. Wichmann.
The European Union and international obligations have slowed Germany’s legalization efforts. Instead of full-scale commercial legalization like Canada’s, the Germans will take a more cautious approach, focusing on community gardens and nonprofit cannabis clubs.
Canada had developed a similar system for medical cannabis, often referred to as “compassion clubs.” However, this was not a government-approved program. Since legalization, the authorities have tried to stop these grassroots efforts on behalf of large cannabis companies.
When asked about illegal markets in Germany and whether medical patients there need to seek relief, Dr. Wichmann negative.
The German (and European) healthcare system couldn’t be further apart compared to the North American healthcare system. “We are in an interesting situation,” says Dr. Wichmann, “where cannabis from the pharmacy is already cheaper than on the black market.”
While medical cannabis is stigmatized in Germany and Europe, things are different in parts of North America, where neuropathic pain is treated with conventional medication.
“I think this is typical of the German healthcare system: If there is a reason to take cannabis to treat even mild to moderate sleep disorders, medical care is safe.”
What about psychosis?
Health authorities in North America prefer to discuss cannabis-induced psychosis rather than the medical benefits of cannabis, such as relieving neuropathic pain.
But like Dr. Wichmann emphasizes,
There is data showing that the greatest risk of developing cannabis-induced psychosis is having a history of psychosis, perhaps even in your family, and dosage obviously has a big impact. When you have these under control, and that’s what you can do in a medical setting, not only is it an extremely safe medication, we also find that it has fewer side effects than traditional medications.
As long as your medical cannabis:
- Comes from a pharmacy, so quality control is guaranteed.
- You communicate with your doctor (“Even if it’s just a video call every four to six weeks,” says Dr. Wichmann)
- It’s medicinal. You don’t diagnose your condition yourself, but rather see a doctor who can control things like susceptibility to psychosis or cardiovascular problems, which cannabis can complicate.
Of course, the study suggesting that medical cannabis reduces neuropathic pain is just the beginning. As cannabis becomes normalized, Dr. Wichmann future research opportunities.
“Millions would benefit from cannabis to treat their symptoms,” he says. And thanks to changed German laws, it is becoming easier for doctors to prescribe it as medication.
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