title: Cannabis use in HIV for pain and other medical symptoms.
abstract: Despite the major benefits of antiretroviral therapy on survival during HIV infection, there is an increasing need to manage symptoms and side effects during long-term drug therapy. Cannabis has been reported anecdotally as being beneficial for a number of common symptoms and complications in HIV infections, for example, poor appetite and neuropathy. This study aimed to investigate symptom management with cannabis. Following Ethics Committee approval, HIV-positive individuals attending a large clinic were recruited into an anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire study. Up to one-third (27%, 143/523) reported using cannabis for treating symptoms. Patients reported improved appetite (97%), muscle pain (94%), nausea (93%), anxiety (93%), nerve pain (90%), depression (86%), and paresthesia (85%). Many cannabis users (47%) reported associated memory deterioration. Symptom control using cannabis is widespread in HIV outpatients. A large number of patients reported that cannabis improved symptom control.
authors.affiliation: Magill Department of Anesthesia, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woolridge
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Jonathon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: Jess
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osorio
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holdcroft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002188:Cannabis; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D028321:Plant Preparations