Chronic Pain – Cannabis Research

Chronic Pain Research Dashboard

266

Primary Studies

288

Related Studies

554

Total Studies

Clinical Studies

33

Clinical Meta-analyses

24

Double-blind Clinical Trials

31

Clinical Trials

Pre-Clinical Studies

141

Meta-analyses/Reviews

33

Animal Studies

4

Laboratory Studies

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CannaKeys has 554 studies associated with Chronic Pain.

Here is a small sampling of Chronic Pain studies by title:


Components of the Chronic Pain Research Dashboard

  • Dosing information available for Chronic Pain
  • Chemotype guidance for treating Chronic Pain with cannabis
  • Synopsis of cannabis research for Chronic Pain
  • Individual study details for Chronic Pain

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Overview - Chronic Pain

Description of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can be described as a persistent discomfort or discomfort that lasts for an extended period, defined as longer than three months. It is a complex condition with diverse root causes affecting various body parts, such as the muscles, joints, or nerves. As many as 1 in 4 people may suffer from chronic pain, with half of them enduring chronic pain for over ten years.


Unlike acute pain, which is typically a response to an injury or illness and subsides once the underlying cause is treated, chronic pain persists even after the initial injury or disease has healed. It can significantly impact a person's daily life, making it difficult to perform regular activities and affecting their overall quality of life.


Chronic pain requires a comprehensive approach to management, including medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. These are essential because chronic pain often comes with comorbid conditions like anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD, and substance use disorders involving opioids and alcohol.

Disease Classification

Condition: Pain - Chronic
Disease Family: Chronic Condition
Organ System: Cardiovascular System, Digestive System, Endocrine System, Immune System, Integumentary System, Mental/Emotional System, Muscular System, Nervous System, Reproductive System, Respiratory System, Skeletal System, Urinary System
ICD-10 Chapter: Diseases of the Nervous System
ICD-10 Code: G89.2

Chronic Pain Symptoms:

Pain that lasts longer than three months, associated symptoms can include muscle spasms, aches, changes in sensing temperature, abnormal sensations, phantom limb pain, decreased range of motion and strength, stiffness, and weakness.

Also known as:

Chronic Pain syndrome

Drug Interactions

THC Interaction with Pharmaceutical Drugs

  • Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can enhance the effects of drugs that cause sedation and depress the central nervous system, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol. 
  • THC is metabolized by an inhibitor of several enzymatic liver pathways referred to as cytochrome P450 (aka CYP450). There are more than 50 enzymes belonging to this enzyme family, several of which are responsible for the breakdown of common drugs such as antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, doxepin, fluvoxamine), antipsychotics (haloperidol, clozapine, Stelazine), beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol), bronchodilators (e.g., theophylline), or blood thinners (e.g., warfarin). Thus, patients taking these medication classes may find that THC increases the concentration and effects of these drugs and the impact duration.
  • Clinical observation (not yet confirmed by clinical trials) suggests no likely interactions with other pharmaceuticals at a total daily dose of up to 20mg THC.

If you are interested in the interaction potential of specific pharmaceuticals with THC, consider visiting these free drug interaction checkers: Drugs.com or DrugBank Online.

CBD Interaction with Pharmaceutical Drugs

  • Cannabidiol (CBD) may alter the action of metabolic enzymes (specific drug-transport mechanisms) and alter interactions with other drugs, some of which may produce therapeutic or adverse effects. For instance, CBD interacts with the enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 and cytochrome P450 2C19, increasing the bioavailability of anti-epileptic drugs such as clobazam (a benzodiazepine). This makes it possible to achieve the same results at significantly lower dosages, reducing treatment costs and risks of adverse effects. 
  • Groups of drugs affected include anti-epileptics, psychiatric drugs, and drugs affecting metabolic enzymes.
  • Clinical observations (not yet confirmed by clinical trials) suggest no likely interactions with other pharmaceuticals at a total daily dose of up to 100mg CBD.

If you are interested in the interaction potential of specific pharmaceuticals with CBD, consider visiting these free drug interaction checkers: Drugs.com or DrugBank Online.

THC/CBD Interaction with Pharmaceutical Drugs

In general, when using cannabinoid-based therapeutics that contain both THC and CBD consider the ratio between them and weigh the relevant information displayed in the individual THC and CBD Drug Interaction windows accordingly.

If you are interested in the interaction potential of specific pharmaceuticals with both primary cannabinoids and THC/CBD, consider visiting these free drug interaction checkers: Drugs.com or DrugBank Online.

Concerns about Cannabis and Cancer-related Immunotherapies:
Some recent clinical observational studies have suggested that the co-administration of cannabinoid-based therapeutics and immunotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of certain types of cancer has been associated with worse overall survival rates (T. Taha et al., 2019; A. Biedny et al., 2020; G. Bar-Sela et al., 2020).

However, other studies have suggested that the co-commitment use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and cannabis-induced no such deleterious effects. More specifically, one trial was conducted on animals resulting in data suggesting that cannabis did not negatively affect the properties of immune checkpoint inhibitors (B. Waissengrin et al., 2023). The same authors compared the previous study results with findings from a cohort of 201 patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who received treatment with monotherapy pembrolizumab as a first-line treatment and adjunct cannabis to treat mainly pain and loss of appetite. Their time to tumor progression was 6.1 versus 5.6 months, and overall survival differed between 54.9 versus 23.6 months in cannabis-naïve patients and cannabis-using patients, respectively. However, while numerically different, the authors write that these differences were not statistically significant, leading them to suggest that “These data provide reassurance regarding the absence of a deleterious effect of cannabis in this clinical setting.”

Dosing Considerations

THC Dosage Considerations

  • THC micro dose:  0.1 mg to 0.4 mg
  • THC low dose:  0.5 mg to 5 mg
  • THC medium dose:  6 mg to 20 mg
  • THC high dose:  21 mg to 50+ mg

CBD Dosage Considerations

  • CBD low dose:  0.4 mg to 19 mg
  • CBD medium dose: 20 mg to 99 mg
  • CBD high dose:  100 mg to 800+ mg (upper limits tested ~1,500mg)
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Disclaimer
Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own licensed physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. If using a product, you should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider.

Information on this site is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your physician, nutritionally oriented health care practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications.