A recent study published in the Journal of Women’s Health revealed that 23% of patients who participated in the research reported using cannabis to ease their symptoms.
“The majority consumed [du cannabis] at least once a week… Most users… reported improvement in symptoms including pain, cramps, muscle spasms, anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, sex drive and irritability”the study authors wrote.
The researchers noticed that a quarter of the participating patients reported regularly using cannabis in addition to their prescribed treatment. But that despite most reported side effects, most also said cannabis improved their quality of life.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study in the United States that has assessed the prevalence of cannabis use among women with chronic pelvic pain. Our results show a clinically significant percentage of women using cannabis in addition to or as an alternative to traditional therapy for chronic pain,” the authors wrote.
“Consumers reported that cannabis improved symptoms related to chronic pelvic pain, decreased need for a doctor, and helped reduce the use of opioid medications. Our results provide important additional evidence, and we hope to pave the way for the acceptance and consideration of cannabis as a treatment option for patients with incapacitating pain to improve their quality of life. »
This study is not the first to show that patients who use cannabis to relieve themselves of certain illnesses end up reducing their drug consumption.
Different studies have found that the administration of medical cannabis leads to a reduction in chemical medications, emergency room visits and hospital admissions for chronic pain.
Another study published in the spring found that “behavioral economic evidence that access to cannabis may slightly reduce the demand for chemical drugs in people who suffer.
