Adults with neuropathic pain use cannabis products more frequently than those without neuropathic pain, reported a new study available in preprint on Research Square. The research is yet to be peer-reviewed by a journal.
Around 20% of the global population are estimated to be affected by chronic pain. Chronic pain can be categorized into two subgroups: neuropathic pain, which stems from damage to the somatosensory nervous system, and non-neuropathic pain, which stems from neural pathway activity in response to tissue damage or potentially harmful stimuli.
Some studies suggest that cannabis may be able to treat neuropathic pain via its interaction with the endocannabinoid system. In the current study, researchers investigated cannabis use patterns among adults with neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain.
To do so, they analyzed cross-sectional survey data from 104 participants, including type and frequency of cannabis product use and patient-reported outcomes like pain intensity and interference. Just over 60% of participants were female, and 36.5% reported their most bothersome pain to be neuropathic, while 63.5% reported non-neuropathic pain to be most bothersome.
Ultimately, 88% of participants used products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), whereas 12% exclusively used products containing cannabidiol (CBD). Participants with neuropathic pain reported using cannabis and cannabis-based products containing THC and CBD both together and separately on more days in the last month than participants with non-neuropathic pain.
In particular, participants with neuropathic pain used combination THC/CBD products almost 6 days per month more than those with non-neuropathic pain. This suggests a stronger perceived or actual benefit from THC/CBD products for managing pain, wrote the researchers in their study.
“This study found that adults with neuropathic pain used cannabis, especially THC-only and THC/CBD combination products, more frequently than those with non-neuropathic pain. Those with neuropathic pain also reported higher levels of pain intensity and interference. Further longitudinal research is needed to confirm whether increased use of THC-rich cannabis provided symptom relief for adults with neuropathic pain,” concluded the researchers in their study.
Sources: Research Square