(360) Can CBD Reduce the Use of Pain Medication? Lessons from a Survey in a Pain Clinic Environment

Abstract

During the past decade, Cannabis derivatives in pain medicine have been of increasing interest. Specifically, the non-psychoactive Cannabidiol (CBD) has received recent attention. CBD has been used as a treatment for childhood epilepsy, chronic pain, and anxiety disorders, and presents a unique situation in healthcare: patients may be more familiar with it than their physician. We asked patients and staff in the environment of seven pain clinics in Southern California about their knowledge, beliefs, and personal experience surrounding CBD products. After IRB review (exempt status) we utilized the internet survey platform SurveyMonkey to administer the survey online. Our participants were 45.26±14.02 (Mean±SD) years old, the majority identified as white, has an annual household income of less than $20,000, and is insured by Medicare or Medicaid. Among our participants, 63% report to have tried a CBD product (including products containing THC) and 37.30% of these answered that the used CBD product did not contain THC. Of these, the majority responded that CBD products have helped their condition (57.45%) and reduced their pain medication (61.7%), including opioids (44.68%). Among the pain conditions patients reported relieve were back pain (63.83%), nerve pain (38.30%), neck pain (38.30%), migraines (29.79%), limb pain (19.15%), fibromyalgia (19.15%), and other (19.15%). Overall, participants familiarity with the dosing of their CBD product varied. Generally, participants believe CBD is a good treatment option, and not harmful. The overall attitude and experience of participants regarding CBD products was positive and CBD only was reported to reduce pain medication, including opioids. With the voluntary nature of a survey design come some study limitations that warrant attention. However, studies like this can help identify areas of interest for future research and more controlled research has to follow. Supported by a grant from Versea Pharmaceuticals During the past decade, Cannabis derivatives in pain medicine have been of increasing interest. Specifically, the non-psychoactive Cannabidiol (CBD) has received recent attention. CBD has been used as a treatment for childhood epilepsy, chronic pain, and anxiety disorders, and presents a unique situation in healthcare: patients may be more familiar with it than their physician. We asked patients and staff in the environment of seven pain clinics in Southern California about their knowledge, beliefs, and personal experience surrounding CBD products. After IRB review (exempt status) we utilized the internet survey platform SurveyMonkey to administer the survey online. Our participants were 45.26±14.02 (Mean±SD) years old, the majority identified as white, has an annual household income of less than $20,000, and is insured by Medicare or Medicaid. Among our participants, 63% report to have tried a CBD product (including products containing THC) and 37.30% of these answered that the used CBD product did not contain THC. Of these, the majority responded that CBD products have helped their condition (57.45%) and reduced their pain medication (61.7%), including opioids (44.68%). Among the pain conditions patients reported relieve were back pain (63.83%), nerve pain (38.30%), neck pain (38.30%), migraines (29.79%), limb pain (19.15%), fibromyalgia (19.15%), and other (19.15%). Overall, participants familiarity with the dosing of their CBD product varied. Generally, participants believe CBD is a good treatment option, and not harmful. The overall attitude and experience of participants regarding CBD products was positive and CBD only was reported to reduce pain medication, including opioids. With the voluntary nature of a survey design come some study limitations that warrant attention. However, studies like this can help identify areas of interest for future research and more controlled research has to follow. Supported by a grant from Versea Pharmaceuticals