Substituting Medical Cannabis for Medications Among Patients with Rheumatic Conditions in the United States and Canada

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There are numerous reports of people substituting medical cannabis (MC) for medications. Our obejctive was to investigate the degree to which this substitution occurs among people with rheumatic conditions.In a secondary analysis from a cross-sectional survey conducted with patient advocacy groups in the US and Canada, we investigated MC use and medication substitution among people with rheumatic conditions. We subgrouped by whether participants substituted MC for medications and investigated differences in perceived symptom changes and use patterns, including methods of ingestion, cannabinoid content (cannabidiol vs delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]), and use frequency.

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Patient-Reported Outcomes of Pain, Stiffness, and Fatigue Reduction in Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis With Cannabinoid Use

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are autoimmune conditions that can progressively destroy joints, causing chronic, often debilitating pain, and drastically affecting the quality of life. Novel pharmaceutical remedies have recently been developed, which allow for better symptom management. However, the complex pain experienced is challenging to control fully, leading this patient population to seek alternative treatments.

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Medicinal cannabis for Australian patients with chronic refractory pain including arthritis

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To examine the tolerability and effectiveness of medicinal cannabis prescribed to patients for chronic, refractory pain, with a subset analysis on arthritis. This was an interim analysis of the CA Clinics Observational Study investigating self-reported adverse events (AEs) and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes over time after commencing medicinal cannabis. Patients were prescribed medicinal cannabis by a medical practitioner, containing various ratios of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD).

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A Randomized Controlled Trial of Topical Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Thumb Basal Joint Arthritis

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Since the passage of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, hand surgeons have increasingly encountered patients seeking counseling on over-the-counter, topical cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of pain. To this end, we designed a human clinical trial to investigate the therapeutic potential of CBD for the treatment of pain associated with thumb basal joint arthritis.

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Cannabidiol as a treatment for arthritis and joint pain: an exploratory cross-sectional study

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An estimated 54 million Americans currently suffer from debilitating arthritis. Patients who have exhausted conservative measures can be subject to chronic pain and resort to symptomatic management with anti-inflammatories, acetaminophen, and opioids. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has shown promise in preclinical studies to reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. The purpose of this study was to explore patient perceived effects of cannabidiol on symptoms of arthritis.

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The Effect of Medical Cannabis on Pain Level and Quality of Sleep among Rheumatology Clinic Outpatients

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Medical cannabis (MC) is becoming increasingly popular for the treatment of chronic pain conditions. In this study, we evaluated the effect of MC treatment on pain level and quality of sleep of patients with different medical conditions at the rheumatology clinic.

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Cannabinoid-based therapy as a future for joint degeneration. Focus on the role of CB2 receptor in the arthritis progression and pain: an updated review

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First-line therapies are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; in more advanced stages, stronger analgesics, such as opioids, are required, and in the most severe cases, joint arthroplasty is the only option to ensure joint mobility. Cannabinoids, both endocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoid receptor (CB) agonists, are novel therapeutic options for the treatment of arthritis-associated pain. CB1 receptors are mainly located in the nervous system; thus, CB1 agonists induce many side effects, which limit their therapeutic efficacy.

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Cannabis: An Emerging Treatment for Common Symptoms in Older Adults

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Authors: Kevin H Yang, Christopher N Kaufmann, Reva Nafsu, Ella T Lifset, Khai Nguyen, Michelle Sexton, Benjamin H Han, Arum Kim, Alison A Moore Published in Journal of the American…

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Δ9‐Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid alleviates collagen‐induced arthritis: Role of PPARγ and CB1 receptors

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Author: Belén Palomares Martín Garrido‐Rodriguez Claudia Gonzalo‐Consuegra María Gómez‐Cañas Suwipa Saen‐oon Robert Soliva Juan A. Collado Javier Fernández‐Ruiz Gaetano Morello Marco A. Calzado Giovanni Appendino Eduardo Muñoz Published in British Pharmacological Society …

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A double-blind randomized placebo controlled study assessing safety, tolerability and efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

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Authors: Elizabeth Steels, Ruchitha Venkatesh, Eleanor Steels, Gemma Vitetta, Luis Vitetta
Inflammopharmacology, June 2019
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BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) when dosed at 300 mg and 600 mg per day on symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: This was a single site, comparative, double-blind placebo controlled study i…

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Attitudes of Israeli Rheumatologists to the Use of Medical Cannabis as Therapy for Rheumatic Disorders.

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Authors: Jacob N. Ablin, Ori Elkayam, and Mary-Ann Fitzcharles
Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal, 19 April 2016
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BACKGROUND: While medical cannabis has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of pain and other symptoms, evidence-based use is limited and practitioners face multiple areas of uncertainty regarding the rational use of these compounds. Nonetheless, an increasing pub…

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Role of Endocannabinoid Activation of Peripheral CB1 Receptors in the Regulation of Autoimmune Disease.

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Authors: Jessica Margaret Sido, Prakash S. Nagarkatti, Mitzi Nagarkatti
International Reviews of Immunology, 2015
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The impact of the endogenous cannabinoids (AEA, 2-AG, PEA, and virodamine) on the immune cell expressed cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2, TRPV-1, and GPR55) and consequent regulation of immune function is an exciting area of research with potential implications in the preventio…

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