Pain Awareness Month
Pain Awareness Month
By Markita Wilburn, PharmD
September is Pain Awareness Month. Maitri advocates medical marijuana is not only safe but a practical option worth exploring for pain management.
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. It is often a debilitating symptom of many conditions and is even considered a medical disease when pain persists beyond recovery. Various causes of pain present acutely though various types may persist and develop into chronic pain.
Over 50 million people experience pain daily. Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons adults in America seek medical care. Of the 24 approved conditions for medical marijuana use in Pennsylvania, pain is a symptom for many of them.
Medical Marijuana + Pain
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can alleviate various types of pain — severe chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and visceral pain. This cannabinoid has proven to be effective, with fewer side effects than opioids. As marijuana use is associated with lower opiate use, it has also been observed that THC improves overall pain outcomes with sustained relief.
Cannabidiol (CBD) acts on the body differently than THC, with functions geared more toward muscular and inflammatory-related pain. Though CBD has about half the amount of analgesic effects observed in THC, it is a single or adjunct option in treating pain since it shows no abuse potential.
A systematic review of randomized controlled trials demonstrated significant analgesic effects with cannabinoid treatment. Significant improvements in sleep were also observed in these trials. Notably, the cannabinoid effects were mild to moderate, with adverse effects reported as mild and/or inconsequential.
Many patients use medical marijuana to manage pain, and some report substituting opioids and prescription drugs altogether for medical marijuana. In some cases, it is used as co-therapy since cannabinoids, THC and CBD have also been shown to manage the unwanted side effects of opiates.
Data collected from medical marijuana patients with chronic pain in Michigan included a 64% reduction in opioid use, a decrease in the number and side effects of medications, and a 45% overall improvement in their quality of life. Medical marijuana legalization overall has been associated with 23% and 13% reductions in hospitalizations related to opioid dependence or abuse and opioid pain-reliever overdose.
Inhaled medical marijuana treats acute, intermittent, or breakthrough pain best. Typically, these products require little preparation and offer immediate, short-acting relief. Chronic pain, however, should be managed, not treated. Longer-acting products, such as tinctures, troches, capsules, and RSO are ideal for pain management, provide up to 8 hours of action, and are advised for daily consumption.
Many patients look for products dominant in THC, such as Revel’s Alien Rifft RSO syringe, Maitri Genetics Melon 100mg Troches, or Moxie’s SS Kush Live Resin Dart Pod, and those preferring more CBD may achieve positive outcomes with Organic Remedies 1:3 Active Tincture.
Alien Rift RSO is not only packed with THC, but also with the pain-alleviating and muscle-relaxing terpene, caryophyllene, found in peppercorns. Alien Rift RSO is potent, indica dominant, and best consumed in the evenings.
Melon 100mg Troches are fast-acting sublingual options high in THC for any time of the day.
1:3 Active Tincture is a less psychoactive formulation that can be taken in multiple daily doses. It is favored for its ability to provide mood-enhancing, pain-alleviating effects at small intervals when needed.
SS Kush is packed with an inclusive terpene profile of b-caryophyllene, myrcene, limonene, linalool, and humulene for any time of the day to relax the mind and ease the body of acute pain.
Help us continue raising awareness about pain and pain management with medical marijuana. Our Pharmacists and Patient Advisors are relatable advocates to help patients and the community succeed in their health and wellness.
Please call, send an e-mail, schedule an appointment, or visit one of our dispensaries if you have any questions about the best approach to managing pain effectively with medical marijuana. It will be our pleasure to assist.
References:
Raja SN, Carr DB, Cohen M, et al. The revised International Association for the Study of Pain definition of pain: concepts, challenges, and compromises. Pain. 2020;161(9):1976-1982.
Yuyan Shi, Medical marijuana policies and hospitalizations related to marijuana and opioid pain reliever, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Volume 173, 2017, Pages 144-150
Medical Cannabis Use Is Associated With Decreased Opiate Medication Use in a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Survey of Patients With Chronic Pain, The Journal of Pain, Volume 17, Issue 6,2016, Pages 739-744 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2016.03.002