Delta-9-THC based monotherapy in fibromyalgia patients on experimentally induced pain, axon reflex flare, and pain relief.
OBJECTIVE
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by a distinct mechanical hyperalgesia and chronic pain. Recently, cannabinoids have been demonstrated as providing anti-nociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic effects in animal and human studies. Here, we explored in nine FM patients the efficacy of orally administered delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on electrically induced pain, axon reflex flare, and psychometric variables.


METHODS
Patients received a daily dose of 2.5-15 mg of delta-9-THC, with a weekly increase of 2.5 mg, as long as no side effects were reported. Psychometric variables were assessed each week by means of the West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Medical outcome survey-short form (MOS SF-36), the Pain Disability Index (PDI), and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). In addition, patients recorded daily, in a diary, their overall pain intensity on a numeric scale. Each week, pain and axon reflex flare was evoked experimentally by administration of high intensity constant current pulses (1 Hz, pulse width 0.2 ms, current increase stepwise from 2.5-12.5 mA every 3 minutes) delivered via small surface electrodes, attached to the volar forearm skin.


METHODS
Daily pain recordings by the patient, experimentally induced pain, and axon reflex flare recorded by a laser Doppler scanner.


RESULTS
Five of nine FM patients withdrew during the study due to adverse side effects. Delta-9-THC had no effect on the axon reflex flare, whereas electrically induced pain was significantly attenuated after doses of 10-15 mg delta-9-THC (p < 0.05). Daily-recorded pain of the FM patients was significantly reduced (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study demonstrated that a generalized statement that delta-9-THC is an analgetic drug cannot be made. However, a sub-population of FM patients reported significant benefit from the delta-9-THC monotherapy. The unaffected electrically induced axon reflex flare, but decreased pain perception, suggests a central mode of action of the cannabinoid.
Schley
Marcus
M
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
Legler
Andreas
A
Skopp
Gisela
G
Schmelz
Martin
M
Konrad
Christoph
C
Rukwied
Roman
R
D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D013759:Dronabinol