An innovative cannabis extract demonstrated efficacy in alleviating chronic low back pain according to a controlled trial in Europe. Canadian medical professionals emphasize the significance of well-designed studies like this to steer patients toward safer therapeutic options. Recently published in the journal Nature Medicine, the trial involved 820 adult participants with persistent low back discomfort. The study revealed that a cannabis extract named VER-01, mixed with sesame oil, provided more significant relief from pain intensity compared to a placebo.
Chronic low back pain, frequently stemming from muscle and joint injuries due to activities like lifting and twisting, becomes a concern when it persists for over three months. Treatment for chronic back pain typically involves a blend of education, medications, and rehabilitation techniques like physiotherapy exercises, as indicated by pain specialists.
Healthcare professionals stress the necessity for novel pain-relief solutions for chronic pain sufferers. Prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can lead to adverse effects such as ulcers, bleeding, and an elevated risk of heart attacks and strokes. Moreover, the overprescription of opioids for chronic pain contributed to the opioid crisis, resulting in widespread addiction and fatalities in North America.
Dr. Hance Clarke, Toronto General Hospital’s pain services director and Canadian Pain Society leader, noted that Canadian physicians are cautious about prescribing opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. He highlighted the potential of a safe, non-inhalational cannabis form as a beneficial alternative for Canadians grappling with chronic pain, emphasizing the significance of evidence from trials like this one to advance the field.
The clinical trial, sponsored by the German company Vertanical, involved 800 participants in Germany and Austria, half of whom received the cannabis oil containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. The other half received a placebo. The study demonstrated that THC was notably effective in managing neuropathic symptoms and long-term back pain outcomes.
Reportedly, after 12 weeks, individuals using the THC-infused oil experienced an average pain reduction of 1.9 points, whereas the placebo group’s pain reduced by less than one point. Although the difference may seem minor, co-author Dr. Winfried Meissner highlighted that it aligns with the efficacy of current pain medications, presenting a potential additional option for pain management.
Participants reported improvements in pain reduction, particularly those with nerve pain symptoms like burning or tingling. However, some participants experienced side effects such as dizziness, headache, fatigue, and nausea, leading over 17% to discontinue the medication prematurely, a lower dropout rate compared to opioids.
Vertanical has initiated the approval process for its drug in Europe and is collaborating with regulators to design a study supporting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Health Canada’s approval is also required before the medication can be prescribed in Canada. Dr. Clarke underscored the trial’s implications for medical benefits and mentioned upcoming trials in Canada involving cannabis for osteoarthritis pain.
Jason Busse, a McMaster University anesthesia department professor specializing in cannabis pain literature, noted that the pain relief effects observed in the trial were modest. Additionally, participants taking the VER-01 extract reported enhanced sleep quality and physical functioning, crucial factors affecting patients’ quality of life.
While the study demonstrated promising outcomes, further investigation with longer-term follow-up is essential to assess the drug’s sustained efficacy and safety for prolonged treatment durations.