Use of medical cannabis to reduce pain and improve quality of life in cancer patients.

198 Background: Early attention to pain and symptoms in those with cancer improves both quality of life and survival. Opioid medications are the mainstay treatment of cancer-related pain. Cannabinoids are increasingly used as adjunctive treatments for cancer pain, but clinical evidence supporting their use as an “opioid sparing agent” or to improve quality of life is as yet unknown. Our study sought to determine if the addition of cannabinoids (medical cannabis) resulted in the reduction of the average opioid dose required for pain control, and improve self-reported quality of life indices.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review of cancer patients followed in our CCMB Pain and Symptom Clinic was conducted.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

age over 18 years and formal enrollment in Health Canada’s Marihuana for Medical Purposes (MMPR) program (n = 24). Average dose of opioids were calculated in milligrams of morphine equivalent (ME) per day at the last documented visit prior to enrolment in the MMPR and then at the subsequent clinic visit. Averages of self-reported ESAS scores (pain, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, appetite, depression, anxiety, sense of wellbeing) were calculated for the same visits. Statistical analysis using the paired student’s t-test compared means and determined the significance of any changes.

RESULTS:

Following enrolment in the MMPR, the average opioid dose decreased by 70.375mg of MEs (p = 0.29). Self-reported ratings (10-point Likert scale) in pain (0.75, p = 0.23), tiredness (0.58, p = 0.21), drowsiness (1.125, p = 0.04), nausea (1.125, p = 0.04), appetite (1.42, p = 0.04), depression (1.29, p = 0.02) and anxiety (1.58, p = 0.004) improved after enrolment. Sense of wellbeing ratings did not change.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with cancer pain benefited from the addition of cannabinoids. The average opioid dose decreased following access to medical cannabis. Self-reported ratings of several quality of life indicators showed statistically significant improvement. Our study shows a signal that cannabinoids may reduce cancer patients’ reliance on opioids to control pain. Further prospective controlled studies are needed to further elucidate the role of cannabinoids in the treatment of cancer pain.