A new study indicates that patients discontinue cannabis use at high rates.
As a remedy for chronic muscular-skeletal pain, medical cannabis is becoming more popular. Others don’t believe it is beneficial. Researchers from Rothman Institute Foundation for Opioid Research, USA have done a retrospective study to illustrate the differences.
The study involved 78 participants over a two-year period. They measured discontinuation rates at the three-month mark and after a year. At one year, the overall discontinuation rate for MC was 57.9%. 44.7% patients discontinued within their first three months.
Why?
While older age was significantly associated with higher discontinuation rates and overall health status at the time of medical cannabis certification did not influence a decision to discontinue or continue treatment, the researchers state:
The absence of significant differences between pain locations or health baseline scores may suggest that other factors than pain location or health general score could contribute to the decision not to continue MC.
The study did not capture THC/CBD, the specific methods for administering medicines or cognitive effects.
Researchers say that further studies are needed on the effects of cannabis medically on long-term pain relief and patient outcomes.
Study has been published PLOS One, the Journal of Public Library of Science.
Other research has produced different results.
A good example of this is another study Published earlier in the year, this study followed patients with chronic musculoskeletal problems over an entire year. It reported most patients used topical formulations, benefited from high levels of perceived efficacy, and experienced minimal cognitive or motor side effects. Nearly 80 percent of patients maintained stable use patterns.
It’s estimated In 2022, around 29% Australians will have chronic musculoskeletal disorders.
Australian Rheumatology Association believes that high-quality, randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence should precede any possible intervention for arthritis or other musculoskeletal disorders.
It is incorporated into clinical practice. It is adopted into clinical practice. position statementThe ARA has a statement:
The advice should also weigh the efficacy of RCT evidence against any harms that may have been detected by RCTs or longer-term observational data.