Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Challenges
Chronic pain represents a complex and debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide, significantly compromising their quality of life. The conventional approach to treating this type of pain often relies on the use of opioid analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. While these agen...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Carla Matos Ana Teresa Pereira Maria João Dias Carla Sousa Ana Ferreira Vinha Carla Moutinho Márcia Carvalho |
| author_facet | Carla Matos Ana Teresa Pereira Maria João Dias Carla Sousa Ana Ferreira Vinha Carla Moutinho Márcia Carvalho |
| author_sort | Carla Matos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chronic pain represents a complex and debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide, significantly compromising their quality of life. The conventional approach to treating this type of pain often relies on the use of opioid analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. While these agents are effective in the short term, they present several limitations, including the risk of dependence, severe side effects, and, in some cases, ineffectiveness in reducing pain. In this context, medical cannabis has emerged as a promising therapeutic alternative, given its potential ability to relieve pain effectively with a favorable safety profile. This work aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the existing literature on the effects of medical cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain. <i>Cannabis sativa</i> contains several pharmacologically active compounds, the most prominent of which are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆<sup>9</sup>-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, thereby modulating the pain response. Clinical evidence has shown that cannabinoids can significantly reduce the intensity of chronic pain, particularly in cases of neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and other painful conditions that are unresponsive to conventional treatments. However, the full integration of medical cannabis into clinical practice faces significant obstacles, including the need for standardized dosing, long-term safety data, and regulatory frameworks. These issues, alongside concerns over adverse effects and drug interactions, must be addressed to unlock the full therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, particularly for chronic pain patients, who endure both physical suffering and the added burden of stress. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6b4c697f0a2143dc81acf3083ea58a43 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-7140 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Stresses |
| spelling | doaj-art-6b4c697f0a2143dc81acf3083ea58a432025-08-20T02:15:42ZengMDPI AGStresses2673-71402025-01-0151710.3390/stresses5010007Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic ChallengesCarla Matos0Ana Teresa Pereira1Maria João Dias2Carla Sousa3Ana Ferreira Vinha4Carla Moutinho5Márcia Carvalho6Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, PortugalFaculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, PortugalFaculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, PortugalFaculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, PortugalFaculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, PortugalFaculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, PortugalFaculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, PortugalChronic pain represents a complex and debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide, significantly compromising their quality of life. The conventional approach to treating this type of pain often relies on the use of opioid analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. While these agents are effective in the short term, they present several limitations, including the risk of dependence, severe side effects, and, in some cases, ineffectiveness in reducing pain. In this context, medical cannabis has emerged as a promising therapeutic alternative, given its potential ability to relieve pain effectively with a favorable safety profile. This work aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the existing literature on the effects of medical cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain. <i>Cannabis sativa</i> contains several pharmacologically active compounds, the most prominent of which are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆<sup>9</sup>-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, thereby modulating the pain response. Clinical evidence has shown that cannabinoids can significantly reduce the intensity of chronic pain, particularly in cases of neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and other painful conditions that are unresponsive to conventional treatments. However, the full integration of medical cannabis into clinical practice faces significant obstacles, including the need for standardized dosing, long-term safety data, and regulatory frameworks. These issues, alongside concerns over adverse effects and drug interactions, must be addressed to unlock the full therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, particularly for chronic pain patients, who endure both physical suffering and the added burden of stress.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7140/5/1/7<i>Cannabis sativa</i>?<sup>9</sup>-tetrahydrocannabinolcannabidiolchronic painendocannabinoid systemadverse effects |
| spellingShingle | Carla Matos Ana Teresa Pereira Maria João Dias Carla Sousa Ana Ferreira Vinha Carla Moutinho Márcia Carvalho Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Challenges Stresses <i>Cannabis sativa</i> ?<sup>9</sup>-tetrahydrocannabinol cannabidiol chronic pain endocannabinoid system adverse effects |
| title | Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Challenges |
| title_full | Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Challenges |
| title_fullStr | Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Challenges |
| title_short | Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Challenges |
| title_sort | cannabis for chronic pain mechanistic insights and therapeutic challenges |
| topic | <i>Cannabis sativa</i> ?<sup>9</sup>-tetrahydrocannabinol cannabidiol chronic pain endocannabinoid system adverse effects |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7140/5/1/7 |
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