Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids
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Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids
#2In many cases, though, cannabis and CBD oil aren't nearly as effective as opioids for relief from severe pain, right? How often is this a viable alternative for patients?
This study only looked at 250 people who already have medical cannabis prescriptions for pain, so this shouldn't be extrapolated too heavily.
Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids
#3In many cases, though, cannabis and CBD oil aren't nearly as effective as opioids for relief from severe pain, right? How often is this a viable alternative for patients? This study only looked at 250 people who already have medical cannabis prescriptions for pain, so this shouldn't be extrapolated too heavily.
It may not be as simple as all or nothing you know. It could be adjunct therapy for people who would normally reach for another pill. Truthfully though, I also wonder which pain cannabis is most effective for, compared to opiates. The truth seems to be that opiates are broadly ineffective at the relief of severe pain in many people too, but they're also toxic. It may be that this is better if only because of the lack of toxicity.
Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids
#4In many cases, though, cannabis and CBD oil aren't nearly as effective as opioids for relief from severe pain, right? How often is this a viable alternative for patients? This study only looked at 250 people who already have medical cannabis prescriptions for pain, so this shouldn't be extrapolated too heavily.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/
A few queries resulted in this, which is pretty informative as far as cannabioid treatments go. You're right, the benefits and potency aren't very clear cut, but, unlike opioids, THC-based treatments can produce desirable side benefits, which result in overall better outcomes (if we treat patient satisfaction as a major factor)
Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids
#5In many cases, though, cannabis and CBD oil aren't nearly as effective as opioids for relief from severe pain, right? How often is this a viable alternative for patients? This study only looked at 250 people who already have medical cannabis prescriptions for pain, so this shouldn't be extrapolated too heavily.
If even 250 people are taking cannabis (not physically addictive, limited health impact, no tolerance buildup) over opiates (highly addictive, rapid tolerance buildup, very risky) then that's a good thing, right?
Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids
#6In many cases, though, cannabis and CBD oil aren't nearly as effective as opioids for relief from severe pain, right? How often is this a viable alternative for patients? This study only looked at 250 people who already have medical cannabis prescriptions for pain, so this shouldn't be extrapolated too heavily.
Treating chronic pain has less to do with pain relief and more to do with mental health. Sometimes people just want to forget or feel different for a while. Also, opiates suck!
Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids
#7In many cases, though, cannabis and CBD oil aren't nearly as effective as opioids for relief from severe pain, right? How often is this a viable alternative for patients? This study only looked at 250 people who already have medical cannabis prescriptions for pain, so this shouldn't be extrapolated too heavily.
It may not be as simple as all or nothing you know. It could be adjunct therapy for people who would normally reach for another pill. Truthfully though, I also wonder which pain cannabis is most effective for, compared to opiates. The truth seems to be that opiates are broadly ineffective at the relief of severe pain in many people too, but they're also toxic. It may be that this is better if only because of the lack…
Opioids reduce, but don't block extreme pain so much as make you not care about it. They work really well for short term, less extreme pain, but they become less effective over time and they side effects are nasty.
So my guess is people with long term pain are probably better off with canibis long term even if Opiods work really well for post operation pain for example.
Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids
#8In many cases, though, cannabis and CBD oil aren't nearly as effective as opioids for relief from severe pain, right? How often is this a viable alternative for patients? This study only looked at 250 people who already have medical cannabis prescriptions for pain, so this shouldn't be extrapolated too heavily.
I think the authors say that the pain relief itself is only part of it:
> Lucas suggests the main reasons for the switch to cannabis from prescribed meds is due to reduced side effects, better symptom management and a feeling that cannabis is safer than prescription drugs.
Also, looking at http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/understanding-pai..., it seems like chronic pain doesn't necessarily (?) mean severe pain, but maybe I'm wrong about that.
Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids
#9The timing of this is interesting. A few days ago, the White House press sec claimed cannabis is a gateway to opioid use: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/02/2...
Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids
#10In many cases, though, cannabis and CBD oil aren't nearly as effective as opioids for relief from severe pain, right? How often is this a viable alternative for patients? This study only looked at 250 people who already have medical cannabis prescriptions for pain, so this shouldn't be extrapolated too heavily.
I was diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome, and when given the opportunity, had my doctor switch my prescription from opioids to cannabis.
I don't think that one can appreciate how effective it is for chronic pain, until you've had to use it for that.