Using marijuana to treat medical problems is not legal in Utah, which may be frustrating if you’ve heard that it could be the answer to your chronic pain. As it turns out, you may not be missing out on much.
New guidelines in Canadian Family Physician say the benefits of marijuana for pain relief have been overstated, and that its use comes with risks and side effects.
A literature review published in Annals of Internal Medicine last fall came to much the same conclusion, although both sources say more research is needed.
The benefits and side effects
The Canadian Family Physician guidelines say they found acceptable research findings to support using cannabis to treat only four conditions:
- Chronic neuropathic pain
- Palliative cancer pain
- Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
- Spasticity from multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury
However, the benefits were relatively minor, compared with a placebo, and side effects—including sedation, dizziness, and confusion—were common. The evidence was strongest for using cannabis to relieve chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.
The guidelines recommended that if doctors do prescribe cannabis for their patients, they should use pharmaceutical cannabinoids rather than smoked medical marijuana. Patients don’t necessarily get a consistent dose with medical marijuana, and there may be health risks from smoking.
Other studies show similar results
An Annals of Internal Medicine review of 27 chronic pain studies found “low-strength evidence” that cannabis could help with neuropathic pain but “insufficient evidence” that it worked to relieve other types of pain.
And the article noted that potential side effects of marijuana use include short-term cognitive impairment (for instance, trouble remembering, learning new things, and concentrating) and a risk of developing psychotic symptoms among some cannabis users.
The review recommended evidence-based non-drug therapies or non-opioid drug therapies as the initial go-to methods for treating chronic pain.
Patients still have many options
Treating pain can be complicated, but fortunately, we do have many options—ranging from nerve blocks to physical therapy—and we’re learning more all the time. The providers at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are experienced at effectively treating pain and committed to working with you until you find relief.
If chronic pain is affecting your life, schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With multiple locations across the state of Utah, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to. To schedule an appointment, click here.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.