Opioid-sparing effects of medical cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and observational studies.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the efficacy and harms of adding medical cannabis to prescription opioids among people living with chronic pain.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

CENTRAL, EMBASE and MEDLINE.

Main outcomes and measures

Opioid dose reduction, pain relief, sleep disturbance, physical and emotional functioning and adverse events.

Study selection criteria and methods

We included studies that enrolled patients with chronic pain receiving prescription opioids and explored the impact of adding medical cannabis. We used Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation to assess the certainty of evidence for each outcome.

Results

Eligible studies included five randomised trials (all enrolling chronic cancer-pain patients) and 12 o

SUBMITTER: Noori A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8319983 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature