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The420Guy
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Low doses of cannabis can relieve severe pain for people with multiple
sclerosis and spinal cord injuries, the largest clinical trial into the drug
has found.
Tests on three medicines derived from the plant helped 28 out of 34
patients.
GW Pharmaceuticals, the company given a licence by the Government to grow
cannabis in Britain and run clinical trials, said none of the patients had
responded well to conventional drugs.
Dr Willy Notcutt, of the James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, who is
running the trial, said: "Patients in this trial are suffering from severe
pain. It dominates their lives.
"Given the previously intractable nature of their pain symptoms, the
improvements provided by cannabis-based medicines are all the more
remarkable.
"Many of those with chronic pain also suffer from a poor quality of sleep
which over time can have profoundly negative effects on them and their
families. By bringing about improvements in their sleep regime, as well as
their pain, we can have a major positive impact on their quality of life."
Patients were given three drugs containing cannabinoids, the active
ingredients in the cannabis plant. One spray contained the cannabinoid CBD,
another THC and a third an equal amount of both.
Cannabis-based drugs worked better than a dummy placebo for 28 of the
patients, all of whom asked to continue on the drug. Twenty-five are still
on the trial and have been taking the drugs for two years. Only six felt no
benefit.
The drugs are administered with an inhaler under the tongue at low levels
designed to avoid intoxicating effects. Dr Geoffrey Guy, of GW
Pharmaceuticals, said: "We believe there will be a market for all three
medicines in pain treatment."
The company will announce preliminary results from a bigger trial in
November involving 400 people. If cannabis derived drugs get approval, they
will be delivered by a smart inhaler which stops patients getting too high a
dose.
Pubdate: Fri, 28 Feb 2003
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2003 Telegraph Group Limited
Contact: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk
Website: Telegraph
sclerosis and spinal cord injuries, the largest clinical trial into the drug
has found.
Tests on three medicines derived from the plant helped 28 out of 34
patients.
GW Pharmaceuticals, the company given a licence by the Government to grow
cannabis in Britain and run clinical trials, said none of the patients had
responded well to conventional drugs.
Dr Willy Notcutt, of the James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, who is
running the trial, said: "Patients in this trial are suffering from severe
pain. It dominates their lives.
"Given the previously intractable nature of their pain symptoms, the
improvements provided by cannabis-based medicines are all the more
remarkable.
"Many of those with chronic pain also suffer from a poor quality of sleep
which over time can have profoundly negative effects on them and their
families. By bringing about improvements in their sleep regime, as well as
their pain, we can have a major positive impact on their quality of life."
Patients were given three drugs containing cannabinoids, the active
ingredients in the cannabis plant. One spray contained the cannabinoid CBD,
another THC and a third an equal amount of both.
Cannabis-based drugs worked better than a dummy placebo for 28 of the
patients, all of whom asked to continue on the drug. Twenty-five are still
on the trial and have been taking the drugs for two years. Only six felt no
benefit.
The drugs are administered with an inhaler under the tongue at low levels
designed to avoid intoxicating effects. Dr Geoffrey Guy, of GW
Pharmaceuticals, said: "We believe there will be a market for all three
medicines in pain treatment."
The company will announce preliminary results from a bigger trial in
November involving 400 people. If cannabis derived drugs get approval, they
will be delivered by a smart inhaler which stops patients getting too high a
dose.
Pubdate: Fri, 28 Feb 2003
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2003 Telegraph Group Limited
Contact: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk
Website: Telegraph