Arthritis patients report “substantial reductions” in pain and other symptomatic improvements following their use of medical cannabis products, according to data published in the journal Cureus. Investigators affiliated with the University of Central Florida, College of Medicine assessed the perceived efficacy of cannabis in a cohort of 290 patients diagnosed with either rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Patients reported their pain levels prior to cannabis treatment and following the sustained use of the substance. Patients with RA typically inhaled cannabis flower, while participants with PSA typically administered topical formulations of cannabis.
Patients reported “a substantial reduction in pain severity post-taking cannabis products compared to baseline levels.” Specifically, patients’ mean pain levels fell from 6.16 prior to cannabis treatment to 3.89 following treatment. Many patients also reported improvements in stiffness, fatigue, and joint swelling.
Our study also found that inhaled cannabinoids were the most common form used by RA patients, likely due to their rapid systemic absorption and quicker pain relief. In contrast, PsA patients predominantly used topical formulations, which may provide localized effects beneficial for cutaneous symptoms,” the study’s authors concluded.
Survey data reports that an estimated one in five arthritis patients use cannabis to mitigate their symptoms and that many reduce their use of prescription opioids following their initiation of medical marijuana.
