Pubdate: Thu, 12 Feb 2004
Source: Reuters (Wire)
Copyright: 2004 Reuters Limited

MARIJUANA EASES HIV-RELATED NERVE PAIN

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters Health) - For people with nerve damage that can
result from HIV infection, smoking marijuana seems to relieve the pain
they experience, according to the results of a small pilot study.

Diffuse nerve pain, or polyneuropathy, is a significant problem for
many people with HIV infection. Pre-clinical research findings suggest
that cannabis-like compounds may be effective for treating neuropathic
pain, Dr. Cheryl Jay of the University of California, San Francisco
and colleagues noted this week at the 11th Annual Retrovirus Conference.

In a trial, 16 HIV-infected subjects with neuropathy were given three
marijuana cigarettes each day for seven days. The cigarettes were
dispensed by the pharmacy at San Francisco General Hospital. All of
the patients reported previous experience smoking marijuana but had
not done so for 30 days prior to the trial.

Fourteen of the participants were men, and their average age was 43
years. They had had neuropathy for an average of 6 years.

Reductions in pain were assessed using a 0-to-100 visual scale. The
aim was to achieve a 30 percent reduction in average daily pain,
"which is a pretty typical standard used in pain studies, and is
considered a clinically meaningful amount of pain relief," Jay told
Reuters Health.

Average pain scores dropped from 47 at the start of the study to 20 at
the end of the seven-day period. Twelve of the 16 participants reached
the 30-percent goal in reduction of pain, Jay said.

A trial with participants randomized to receive marijuana or an
inactive placebo has now been started, she added, and 20 out of 50
participants have been enrolled so far.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake