A company-sponsored trial of GW Pharma's cannabis-based medicine, Sativex, in rheumatoid arthritis patients, shows the drug works as a painkiller and may also slow disease progression, according to research published online in Rheumatology on Wednesday.
In the first ever controlled trial of a cannabis-based medicine (CBM) in rheumatoid arthritis, significant pain-relieving effects were observed and disease activity was significantly suppressed following Sativex treatment, according to researchers
"Whilst the differences are small and variable across the population, they represent benefits of clinical relevance and show the need for more detailed investigation in this indication," researchers led by the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, in Bath, England concluded.
Of the 56 patients in the five-week randomized study, 31 were given Sativex daily by fixed delivery oromucosal spray and 27 received placebo.
Each spray of Sativex delivers Tetrahydrocannabinol (2.7mg) and cannabidiol (2.5mg).
Assessment of pain on movement, pain at rest, morning stiffness and sleep quality was measured using a numerical scale, the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the DAS28 measure of disease activity.
The cannabis-based drug produced statistically significant improvements in pain of movement, pain at rest, quality of sleep, and disease activity.
Source
In the first ever controlled trial of a cannabis-based medicine (CBM) in rheumatoid arthritis, significant pain-relieving effects were observed and disease activity was significantly suppressed following Sativex treatment, according to researchers
"Whilst the differences are small and variable across the population, they represent benefits of clinical relevance and show the need for more detailed investigation in this indication," researchers led by the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, in Bath, England concluded.
Of the 56 patients in the five-week randomized study, 31 were given Sativex daily by fixed delivery oromucosal spray and 27 received placebo.
Each spray of Sativex delivers Tetrahydrocannabinol (2.7mg) and cannabidiol (2.5mg).
Assessment of pain on movement, pain at rest, morning stiffness and sleep quality was measured using a numerical scale, the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the DAS28 measure of disease activity.
The cannabis-based drug produced statistically significant improvements in pain of movement, pain at rest, quality of sleep, and disease activity.
Source