Marijuana Substitute for Medicines: How Often and Why

Almost two-thirds of patients with rheumatic conditions switched from medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids to medical marijuana; substitution was associated with greater self-reported improvement in symptoms than nonsubstitution.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence of switching from conventional medications to medical marijuana in patients with rheumatic conditions in the United States and Canada.
• The survey included questions about current and past medical marijuana use, sociodemographic characteristics, medications taken and changed, substance use, and patient-reported outcomes.
• Of the 1727 patients who completed the survey, 763 (mean age 59 years; 84.1% female) reported current marijuana use and were included in this analysis.
• Participants were asked whether they had replaced any medications with medical marijuana and were divided into subgroups accordingly.
• Also note any changes in symptoms after starting marijuana use, current and anticipated duration of medical marijuana use, methods of intake, cannabinoid Content and frequency of use.

TAKE AWAY:

• Overall, 62.5% used NSAIDs (54.7%), opioids (48.6%), sleep aids (29.6%), muscle relaxants (25.2%), benzodiazepines (15%). 5) and reported using medical marijuana as a substitute for certain medications, including gabapentinoids (10.5%). ).
• The most common reasons for using it as a substitute for medical marijuana include fewer side effects (39%), better symptom control (27%), and fewer side effects (12%).
• Participants who used medical marijuana reported significant improvements in symptoms such as pain, sleep, joint stiffness, muscle spasms and inflammation, and overall health, compared to those who did not use it instead of medication.
• The substitution group was more likely to use inhalation methods (smoking and vaporization) than the nonsubstitution group; they also use medical marijuana more frequently and prefer products containing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

IN APPLICATION:

“The changing legal status of cannabis has allowed for greater openness, with more people willing to try cannabis to relieve symptoms. These encouraging results of medication reduction and positive impact (of medical cannabis) require validation through more rigorous methods. Survey information at present The authors, general “It may be seen as a signal for effect rather than solid evidence applicable to those with musculoskeletal complaints,” he wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Kevin F. Boehnke, PhD, of the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and published online inside ACR Open Rheumatology.

LIMITATIONS:

The cross-sectional nature of the study limited the determination of causality between medical marijuana use and improvement in symptoms. Additionally, the anonymous and self-reported nature of the survey at a single time point may have introduced recall bias. The sample consisted predominantly of older white women, which may have limited the generalizability of the findings to other demographic groups.

REMARKS:

Some authors have received grant support from the National Institute. Drug Addiction and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Some received payments, fees, grant funding, consulting fees, and travel support, and reported other connections with pharmaceutical companies and other institutions.

This article was created using a variety of editorial tools, including artificial intelligence, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before it was published.