Smoked cannabis reduces pain caused by HIV-associated neuropathy

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

http://pub.ucsf.edu/newsservices/releases/200702061/

Smoked cannabis reduces pain caused by HIV-associated neuropathy

In a randomized placebo-controlled trial, patients smoking cannabis experienced a 34 percent reduction in intense foot pain associated with HIV--twice the rate experienced by patients who smoked placebo.

"This placebo-controlled clinical trial showed that people with HIV who smoked cannabis had substantially greater pain reduction than those who did not smoke the cannabis," said study lead author Donald I. Abrams, MD, UCSF professor of clinical medicine. "These results provide evidence that there is a measurable medical benefit to smoking cannabis for these patients."

"The beauty of this study is the use of the pain model as a neutral and physiological anchor for pain measurement. Patients' eyes were averted during the measurements and were uninfluenced by expectations. Smoked cannabis was shown to work on the pain system by shrinking the area of painfully sensitive skin created by the model. The response was comparable to strong pain relievers we have studied, such as morphine"

- Karin L. Petersen, MD, UCSF assistant adjunct professor of neurology

The study, published in the February 13 issue of the journal "Neurology," looked at 50 HIV patients with HIV-associated sensory neuropathy, a painful and often debilitating condition that is the most common peripheral nerve disorder that occurs as a complication of HIV infection. Occurring usually in the feet and characterized at times by tingling, numbness, the sensation of pins and needles, burning, and sharp intense pain, severe peripheral neuropathy can make walking or standing difficult.

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

how do they do that study. I mean how objective is it? It's probably double-blind but the patients know that they could be smoking marijuana right? So this anticipatory delight might make people feel better be it placebo or not?

I'm not saying all would have this anticipatory delight, a some might.

[clee1]

how do they do that study. I mean how objective is it? It's probably double-blind but the patients know that they could be smoking marijuana right? So this anticipatory delight might make people feel better be it placebo or not?

I'm not saying all would have this anticipatory delight, a some might.

Who cares which component of the canabis-smoking provides relief? As far as I'm concerned, if the PT feels that an action/medication/intervention is beneficial to them, who are we to say nay?

Our screwed up, partially puritanical, partially libertine society and heavy-handed governmental nannies are responsible for denying utilization of a particularly useful plant.

For the record... I do NOT use marijuana.

[RN BSN 2009]

Who cares which component of the canabis-smoking provides relief? As far as I'm concerned, if the PT feels that an action/medication/intervention is beneficial to them, who are we to say nay?

Our screwed up, partially puritanical, partially libertine society and heavy-handed governmental nannies are responsible for denying utilization of a particularly useful plant.

For the record... I do NOT use marijuana.

[burn out]

Let me get this straight. While every hospital across the US is banning smoking anywhere on their property and forcing employees to go stop smoking seminars, we are going to start promoting the smoking of pot for medicinal purposes in the hospital? What about the second hand smoke? What are we doing to the patients lungs. Why not also give an end stage CPOD'er a cigarette on their death bed becasue it makes them feel better too. I don't think this is going to fly well..to many against smoking tobacco let alone pot.

[gitterbug]

This is news? Too many issues to handle.

[Cattitude]

i presently have about 10 hiv pt's on my caseload. 2 with advanced neuropathy that have smoked marijuana for pain control. both have said it works better than prescribed opiates.

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[color=#483d8b]i also have a type 1 diabetic with severe neuropathy who is on beaucoup narcs. very little work for her but on the rare occasion she smoke a joint she is almost pain free.

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[hippiems]

i presently have about 10 hiv pt's on my caseload. 2 with advanced neuropathy that have smoked marijuana for pain control. both have said it works better than prescribed opiates.

[color=#483d8b]i also have a type 1 diabetic with severe neuropathy who is on beaucoup narcs. very little work for her but on the rare occasion she smoke a joint she is almost pain free.

i have a friend with ms and pot is the best med. for her.. all other meds make her go crazy,,, pot to me would be less harmful than narcs or barbs!!!! there should be an exceptions to allievate the pts pain!!!

pot is also less additive!!!!

[S.N. Visit, BSN, RN]

My mother is a recent uterine cancer survivor. She smoked street pot to relieve her pain & nausea. She preferred it to the outrageous costs of the RX meds and the way it controlled her pain . Also, my grandfather (mom's dad) was one of the first cancer victims in Calif. who was prescribed cannabis. He only lived 2 weeks after his DX, but he got relief from smoking his pot. I'm all for making the pt. comfortable . It's a shame these wonderful medicinal plants are illegal. If I had cancer, I know I would be willing to take that chance of "what will it do to your lungs?", over having the nausea, vomiting and pain.

........I would give the end-stage COPDer a cig on request too!

[blueheaven]

Let me get this straight. While every hospital across the US is banning smoking anywhere on their property and forcing employees to go stop smoking seminars, we are going to start promoting the smoking of pot for medicinal purposes in the hospital? What about the second hand smoke? What are we doing to the patients lungs. Why not also give an end stage CPOD'er a cigarette on their death bed becasue it makes them feel better too. I don't think this is going to fly well..to many against smoking tobacco let alone pot.

NAAA, I'm sure the drug companies will jump on the bandwagon and produce an overpriced pill version of it. I think there is already one on the market now. Hey, my dad died of COPD (caused from many factors-not just smoking) and if he wanted a cigarette...I would have given it to him.

[ShaunES]

I know I would be willing to take that chance of "what will it do to your lungs?", over having the nausea, vomiting and pain.

While cannabis smoke has been implicated in respiratory dysfunction, including the conversion of respiratory cells to what appears to be a pre-cancerous state [5], it has not been causally linked with tobacco related cancers [6] such as lung, colon or rectal cancers. Recently, Hashibe et al [7] carried out an epidemiological analysis of marijuana smoking and cancer. A connection between marijuana smoking and lung or colorectal cancer was not observed. These conclusions are reinforced by the recent work of Tashkin and coworkers [8] who were unable to demonstrate a cannabis smoke and lung cancer link, despite clearly demonstrating cannabis smoke-induced cellular damage.

Furthermore, compounds found in cannabis have been shown to kill numerous cancer types including: lung cancer [9], breast and prostate [10], leukemia and lymphoma [11], glioma [12], skin cancer [13], and pheochromocytoma [14]. The effects of cannabinoids are complex and sometimes contradicting, often exhibiting biphasic responses. For example, in contrast to the tumor killing properties mentioned above, low doses of THC may stimulate the growth of lung cancer cells in vitro [15].

...it should be noted that with the development of vaporizers, that use the respiratory route for the delivery of carcinogen-free cannabis vapors, the carcinogenic potential of smoked cannabis has been largely eliminated.

I think that just about covers it.

[hippiems]

I think that just about covers it.

They are sick anyway!!!!! If cannabis decreases their pains physically or mentally.....Let them be!!