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UK: Cannabis turns out a winner in pain trials

Jasper Copping

Evening News, Norwich

Friday 04 Oct 2002

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A NORFOLK_BASED trial of cannabis-based medicines has produced powerful
evidence of their painkilling potential, say scientists.

The Government has given a special license to firm GW Pharmaceuticals to carry
out tests on a range of cannabis-based prescription medicines.

The latest research has been carried out by Dr Willy Notcutt at his pain clinic
at the James Paget Hospital, in Gorleston.

It focused on 34 patients - with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and
other severe conditions causing severe pain - who had not responded well to
current medications.

When they were treated with the cannabis-based medication, 28 said it had
reduced pain and helped them sleep better.

Each patient was treated with three different types of medication, containing
different levels of the active ingredients of cannabis.

All out-performed a dummy medication.

Dr Notcutt said: "Patients in this trial are suffering from severe pain - it
dominates their lives.

"Given the previously intractable nature of their pain symptom,s. 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."

The trial is on pilot scale and more extensive research is needed before
cannabis-based medications are made widely available.

But Dr Geoffrey Guy, GW executive chairman, said: "We are delighted with the
results of this study in patients with severe pain.

"The data shows improvements with all three of our cannabis-based medicines and
we therefore believe that there will be a market for all three medicines in
pain treatment in due course."

The Medicinal Cannabis Research Foundation (MCRF) welcomes the results.

Its lead trustee Lord Rea said: "We are encouraged that patients in this study
have gained significant benefit and that the medicines appear to be well
tolerated."

 

 

 

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