Effect of Cannabis for Pain in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease

One of the greatest challenges for prescribers is distinguishing between the legitimate and illegitimate use of controlled substances. To achieve this, medical professionals need to understand how to identify the signs, symptoms, and treatment of acute and chronic pain, as well as the indicators of patients misusing controlled substances.

Pain relief is a common reason for seeking medical care, and while there are many categories of pain medication, opioid analgesics are commonly used for moderate to severe pain. However, there is controversy surrounding their use for chronic pain due to inconclusive standards.

In the 1990s, opioid analgesic prescribing was expanded to address chronic pain due to the chronic failure of health professionals to effectively treat severe pain. Unfortunately, this led to increased overuse, drug diversion, opioid use disorder, and overdose.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a condition characterized by chronic pain and acute vaso-occlusive crises, which require high doses of opioids for extended periods. In recent studies, synthetic cannabinoids have shown promise in attenuating both chronic and acute hyperalgesia in humanized mouse models of SCD. However, the effect of cannabis on chronic pain in adults with SCD remains unknown.

A randomized clinical trial involving 23 participants was conducted to determine the effect of cannabis on chronic pain and associated symptoms in SCD patients. While vaporized cannabis did not significantly reduce pain and associated symptoms, it did show a statistically significant reduction in interference with mood, indicating a potential therapeutic benefit.

In conclusion, the use of cannabis for chronic pain in SCD patients is an area that requires further investigation. While the randomized clinical trial did not find statistically significant results in pain reduction, there is hope that cannabis may provide relief for mood interference. As research continues, we may gain a better understanding of the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain in patients with SCD.