[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”CBD Versus Opioids” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2381d742″ google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”579″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1589986317528{margin-top: 25px !important;}”]
Below is an abstract from the NCBI website (sponsored by the National Institutes of Health) that addresses a clinical trial of the effect of CBD from hemp on opioid use for chronic pain patients:
Postgrad Med. 2020 Jan;132(1):56-61. doi: 10.1080/00325481.2019.1685298. Epub 2019 Nov 12.
Evaluation of the effects of CBD hemp extract on opioid use and quality of life indicators in chronic pain patients: a prospective cohort study.
Capano A1,2, Weaver R3, Burkman E3.
Author information
1.Ecofibre Ltd, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
2.Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis & Hemp Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
3.University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
Abstract
Context: Chronic pain is highly prevalent in most of the industrialized nations around the world. Despite the documented adverse effects, opioids are widely used for pain management. Cannabinoids, and specifically Cannabidiol, is proposed as an opioid alternative, having comparable efficacy with better safety profile.
Objectives: We aim to investigate the impact of full hemp extract cannabidiol (CBD) on opioid use and quality of life indicators among chronic pain patients.
Methods: An initial sample of 131 patients was recruited from a private pain management center’s investigative population. Ninety-seven patients completed the 8-week study. The primary inclusion criteria included patients between 30 and 65 years old with chronic pain who have been on opioids for at least 1 year. Data were collected at three different time points: baseline, 4, and 8 weeks. Opioid and other medication use were evaluated via the medication and psychiatric treatment receipt. Improvement was evaluated using four indices: Pain Disability Index (PDI-4); Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Pain Intensity and Interference (PEG); and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4).
Results: Over half of chronic pain patients (53%) reduced or eliminated their opioids within 8 weeks after adding CBD-rich hemp extract to their regimens. Almost all CBD users (94%) reported quality of life improvements. The results indicated a significant relationship between CBD and PSQI (p = 0.003), and PEG (p = 0.006). There was a trend toward improvement but no significant relationship between CBD use and PHQ and PDI.
Conclusion: CBD could significantly reduce opioid use and improve chronic pain and sleep quality among patients who are currently using opioids for pain management.
Key Message: This is a prospective, single-arm cohort study for the potential role of cannabinoids as an alternative for opioids. The results indicate that using the CBD-rich extract enabled our patients to reduce or eliminate opioids with significant improvement in their quality of life indices.
KEYWORDS:
Cannabinoid; cannabidiol; cannabis; chronic pain; opioids; sleep
PMID: 31711352 DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2019.1685298
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Read claims for treatment carefully. CBD impacts chronic pain, not opiod addiction. The Internet is full of misinformation.
An April 23, 2020 FDA news release states: “The opioid crisis continues to be a serious problem in the United States, and we will continue to crack down on companies that attempt to benefit from selling products with unfounded treatment claims,” said FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy, M.D., Ph.D. “CBD has not been shown to treat opioid addiction. Opioid addiction is a real problem in our country, and those who are addicted need to seek out proper treatment from a health care provider. There are many unanswered questions about the science, safety, effectiveness and quality of unapproved products containing CBD, and we will continue to work to protect the health and safety of American consumers from products that are being marketed in violation of the law.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
