There is a risk, in the short term, of a shortage of certain CBD and THC-based drugs used in the national experiment on medical cannabis, warns the ANSM.
- The ANSM has been informed of a risk of stock shortage, in the very short term, of experimental drugs based on CBD alone (CBD 50 LGP Classic).
- Another product, also used in the national experiment on medical cannabis, could soon be out of stock: oil containing THC and CBD at a 1:20 ratio.
- Health professionals must therefore change the treatments of patients participating in the experiment.
“The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) has been informed of a risk of stock shortage, in the very short term, of experimental drugs based on CBD alone (CBD 50 LGP Classic)”, can we read in a communicated published on March 31 by the health authority. This is pure CBD oil, at a dosage of 50 milligrams per milliliter (mg/ml) of CBD.
Replace CBD with other drugs
The health professionals who participate in thenational medical cannabis experiment have therefore been warned of this risk. Recommendations to be put in place were also given to them. Thus, to guarantee the continuation of treatment for patients already included in the experiment for whom there is no alternative, the ANSM offers two solutions to doctors.
The first is to suspend inclusions with CBD alone. Nevertheless, doctors can pursue trials involving drugs that contain only THC. For certain cases, such as pain management, palliative care, support in oncology and multiple sclerosis, the ANSM suggests that they use other treatments, more precisely different ratios, such as 1/20 THC /CBD (1/20 LGP Classic, i.e. oil containing THC and CBD in a 1:20 ratio, therefore 20 mg/ml of CBD and 1 mg/ml of THC) and the balanced ratio (Naxiva Panaxir T25C25).
“If possible and always at the discretion of the doctor and excluding epilepsy, to proceed to a “switch” of patients currently treated with CBD 50 (CBD 50 LGP Classic), i.e. a form with a low level of THC (1/ 20 THC/CBD), or towards a balanced form (Naxiva Panaxir T25C25)”, specifies the ANSM.
For epileptic patients currently treated with CBD alone (CBD 50 LGP Classic), if there is a “dry rupture”, it is recommended to prescribe another drug called Epidyolex.
Another drug affected by this stock shortage
“These recommendations may be adapted according to the evolution of the situation.”, concludes the ANSM in its press release. But the CBD 50 LGP Classic would not be the only one concerned. This Wednesday, April 19, doctors participating in the national experiment on medical cannabis have been warned that another product used in this context is out of stock: oil containing THC and CBD at a 1:20 ratio. This would no longer be available in the short term.
For patients with resistant neuropathic pain who received pure CBD oil, Pr Nicolas Authier, head of the department of pharmacology and pain medicine at the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand and president of the temporary specialized scientific committee “Assessment of the relevance and the feasibility of making therapeutic cannabis available in France”, has already changed product. They were just taking oil containing THC and CBD at a 1:20 ratio instead of pure CBD oil. “And now I’m going to be stuck, because I will only have to offer them a balanced ratio between THC and CBD, he explains in the Doctor’s Daily. I also have patients who cannot tolerate THC, and I have nothing more to offer them.”