CANNABIS EXTRACT CAN HELP RELIEVE PAIN AMONG MS SUFFERERS

CANNABIS can help to reduce pain in patients with multiple sclerosis
(MS), scientists who carried out a study of its health benefits have
claimed.

Various clinical trials have looked at the use of cannabinoids -
extracts of cannabis - in drugs to help patients with illnesses such
as MS.

But opinion is divided over whether they offer any real benefit to
patients, despite some MS sufferers risking criminal charges to buy
the drug.

The latest study among 24 patients in Denmark used the cannabis
extract dronabinol to test its effect on pain relief.

The participants were given dronabinol capsules or placebo pills for
three weeks, after which they were asked to rate pain.

Pain intensity was significantly lower and relief was higher during
treatment with the cannabis extract.

The researchers, from Aarhus University Hospital, also found that
pressure-evoked pain also tended to decrease and patients reported a
better quality of life when on dronabinol.

There were some side-effects with the cannabis treatment - including
dizziness and headache - during the first week of treatment, but these
decreased as the trial went on.

The researchers said: "Dronabinol has a modest but clear and
clinically relevant analgesic effect in multiple sclerosis patients
with central pain."

They added: "Dronabinol should be available for patients whose central
pain is not sufficiently treated with alternative drugs such as
anti-convulsants, anti-depressants or opioids."

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is looking into the
practicalities and cost-effectiveness of cannabinoid-based products
for MS.