title: Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: An Updated Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: An updated systematic review of randomized controlled trials examining cannabinoids in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews reporting on health care outcomes. Eleven trials published since our last review met inclusion criteria. The quality of the trials was excellent. Seven of the trials demonstrated a significant analgesic effect. Several trials also demonstrated improvement in secondary outcomes (e.g., sleep, muscle stiffness and spasticity). Adverse effects most frequently reported such as fatigue and dizziness were mild to moderate in severity and generally well tolerated. This review adds further support that currently available cannabinoids are safe, modestly effective analgesics that provide a reasonable therapeutic option in the management of chronic non-cancer pain.
authors: Departments of Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine and Perioperative Care, Psychiatry and Pharmacology Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, mary.lynch@dal.ca.
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Lynch
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Ware
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D002186:Cannabinoids