Medical Cannabis in the Treatment of Neuropathy (4596)

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of medical cannabis (MC) in the treatment of neuropathy

Background: According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 20 million Americans suffer from neuropathy. With MC now legal in 33 states, MC presents as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agent that may help in treating neuropathy and associated symptoms.

Design/Methods: This retrospective chart analysis was conducted on patients with neuropathy as diagnosed by a board-certified neurologist in a comprehensive, neurologic outpatient setting in New York State. All patients were subsequently certified to use MC as part of New York State’s Medical Marijuana Program.

Results: 503 (247=male, 255= female) patients age 22–99 years with neuropathy were included for this analysis. 85.1% of the study population reported benefit from using MC, with 82.5% percent of patient population (n=415) reporting a decrease in neuropathic pain/symptoms. 77.3% of the study population was able to achieve these results using only one MC product. The majority of patients used MC in tincture form (77.1%), with ratios of 20:1 (THC:CBD) and 1:1 (THC:CBD) representing 79.5% of MC products. Average daily exposures to THC and CBD were 27.2mg and 19.4mg respectively. We found that 28.0% (n=141) of the population reported side effects which were generally mild in nature. The most commonly reported side effects were fatigue (n=29), increased appetite (n=24), drowsiness (n=20), and dizziness (n=19). Less than 1.0% (n=2) chose to stop MC treatment due to side effects. No severe AE were reported.

Conclusions: MC as a part of a comprehensive neuropathic pain care is well tolerated and may play a role in advancing conventional care plans. The most common MC ratios used to achieve such results were 20:1 (THC:CBD) and 1:1 (THC:CBD). Further investigations, including randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm these promising results in the treatment of neuropathy.

Disclosure: Mr. Hart has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $100,000-$499,999 for serving as a Consultant for Jushi Inc. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Amgen. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Novartis. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Allergan. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Eli Lilly. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Teva. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biohaven. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Lundbeck. Dr. Mechtler has received stock or an ownership interest from Jushi Co.. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from The Harry Dent Family Foundation, Inc. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Teva. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Novartis. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Eli Lilly. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Genetech. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Alder. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Acadia. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Avanir. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Boston Biomed. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Sensorion. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Allergan. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from ElectroCore. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Amgen. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Biohaven. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Xenon. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Miles for Migraine. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from American Migraine Foundation. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $100,000-$499,999 for serving as a Consultant for Jushi Inc. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Amgen. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Novartis. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Allergan. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Eli Lilly. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Teva. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biohaven. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Lundbeck. Dr. Mechtler has received stock or an ownership interest from Jushi Co.. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from The Harry Dent Family Foundation, Inc. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Teva. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Novartis. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Eli Lilly. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Genetech. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Alder. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Acadia. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Avanir. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Boston Biomed. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Sensorion. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Allergan. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from ElectroCore. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Amgen. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Biohaven. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Xenon. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Miles for Migraine. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from American Migraine Foundation. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $100,000-$499,999 for serving as a Consultant for Jushi Inc. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Amgen. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Novartis. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Allergan. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Eli Lilly. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Teva. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biohaven. Dr. Mechtler has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Lundbeck. Dr. Mechtler has received stock or an ownership interest from Jushi Co.. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from The Harry Dent Family Foundation, Inc. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Teva. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Novartis. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Eli Lilly. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Genetech. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Alder. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Acadia. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Avanir. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Boston Biomed. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Sensorion. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Allergan. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from ElectroCore. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Amgen. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Biohaven. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Xenon. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from Miles for Migraine. The institution of Dr. Mechtler has received research support from American Migraine Foundation. Alex Benyovszky has nothing to disclose. Yan Ting Wang has nothing to disclose. David Kerling has nothing to disclose.