More than half of people who use cannabis as a painkiller experience withdrawal symptoms.
- Soon to be authorized in France on an experimental basis, therapeutic cannabis can be used to treat pain
- Researchers highlight the risk of withdrawal reactions when stopping these treatments
Relieving pain, when it persists or is chronic, can be like an obstacle course: especially if you want to avoid opioids, singled out for the high risk of addiction they present, or if one does not respond well to existing treatments. Around the world, many people choose to turn to medicines considered to be softer, including therapeutic cannabis. In a study published in the specialist journal Addictionresearchers have questioned this choice: can the use of therapeutic cannabis lead to addictive behavior?
Withdrawal symptoms widely present
The study followed more than 500 people, using therapeutic cannabis. The researchers asked them if they had experienced any symptom, from a list of 15, when they stopped taking cannabis for a certain period. The symptoms listed ranged from difficulty sleeping, to nausea and aggressiveness: all are characteristic of the withdrawal phenomenon. A year and then two years later, they asked the same questions to the patients, in order to analyze their evolution. 41% of those surveyed experienced mild symptoms, 34% moderate symptoms and for 25% of the group they were severe. For a small part of the sample, the use of cannabis had the opposite effect of that desired: 10% of the people who participated in the study felt a worsening of their symptoms, whether they concern their sleep, their mood, energy or mental state, while taking cannabis for relief.
Recognized benefits, unknown risks
“Cannabis should not be considered safe, says study author Lara Coughlinit contains substances, called cannabinoids, which act on the brain.” She recalls that they can cause brain reactions when the patient stops using them. The scientist recognizes, however, that “some people experience significant benefits when using medical cannabis.” But she calls for more prevention, by familiarizing patients with withdrawal symptoms. According to her, it is necessary that they discuss the choice of medical cannabis with their doctor, to discuss the dosage and the type of cannabis used. “Some products may increase the risk of withdrawal symptoms”, underlines the researcher. She finds that people who smoke cannabis have more severe withdrawal symptoms than others, and those who vape have less severe but more persistent symptoms over time.
A trial will start soon in France
In France, therapeutic cannabis was authorized as part of an experiment in October 2019. Bringing together at least 3,000 patients, the study focuses on patients suffering from chronic pain, multiple sclerosis or chemotherapy side effects. The first ones clinical trials are due to start in the first quarter of 2021.
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