The Duke University School of Medicine has published a review of medical evidence that cannabis users might require higher doses of anaesthetic Propofol when undergoing surgery.
In 40 out of the 50 US States, medical cannabis and recreational marijuana are legal. Even where cannabis is not legal, the drug is widely used. Anaesthetists are faced with additional challenges as cannabis is increasingly used for medical or recreational reasons.
Propofol, a commonly used anaesthetic, works by depressing your central nervous system. The drug has rapid recovery and onset. Duke researchers claim that cannabis users require higher doses of sedation. Some cases may even need higher doses than for non-cannabis use.
However, a major challenge is there’s no consensus on how much cannabis use may alter propofol’s effectiveness, making surgeries and procedures riskier — particularly given its impact on heart function. There is still no consensus on how cannabis compounds such as cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol may affect the way that anesthesia works in the body.
The review states that “further research will be needed to confirm causality, confirm dose adjustments, identify perioperative effects of cannabis, and explain the mechanisms behind them to ensure safety and establish clinical guidelines.” published Current Opinions in Anesthesiology.
Ruba Sjdeya MD PhD is the author of this article. reminds health professionals The use of cannabis is an important factor when planning for anesthesia.
We urge clinicians to regularly ask this question and make plans accordingly.
They also caution that some patients might be reluctant to disclose their marijuana use because of lingering stigma or may not consider it worthwhile to mention before surgery.
Cannabis users may also experience complications after surgery. A patient guide was published by the American Society of Anesthesiologists in 2023. which in part states:
Researchers have found that cannabis users may be more sensitive to pain and nausea following surgery. This increased sensitivity may be caused by prolonged cannabis use because the cannabinoid and opioid receptors are located in the same region of the spine.