title: Cannabinoids for neuropathic pain.
abstract: Treatment options for neuropathic pain have limited efficacy and use is fraught with dose-limiting adverse effects. The endocannabinoid system has been elucidated over the last several years, demonstrating a significant interface with pain homeostasis. Exogenous cannabinoids have been demonstrated to be effective in a range of experimental neuropathic pain models, and there is mounting evidence for therapeutic use in human neuropathic pain conditions. This article reviews the history, pharmacologic development, clinical trials results, and the future potential of nonsmoked, orally bioavailable, nonpsychoactive cannabinoids in the management of neuropathic pain.
authors.affiliation: Pain Research and Management Centers, School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, Suite 200, 615 Arapeen Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA, perry.fine@hsc.utah.edu.
authors.forename: Perry G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D002186:Cannabinoids