As we’ve said on the blog in the past, we’re a proponent of helping patients find a treatment plan that works to help prevent or control their unique chronic pain condition. For many individuals, medical marijuana plays a key role in their treatment, but it’s far from a perfect solution. As we’ve also said on the blog in the past, we want more studies to be conducted on medical cannabis so that we can begin to unwrap this complex component. A recent study did just that, and they found a potentially concerning side effect associated with its use for chronic pain patients.

According to a new study, more than half of all patients who used medical marijuana to help treat a chronic pain condition experienced withdrawal symptoms during even short consumption breaks. There have been documented studies that suggest among recreational users, with about 40 percent experiencing some sort of withdrawal symptoms when not using, but this study took a closer look at these effects on medical marijuana users. Withdrawal symptoms aren’t expressly projected as a user’s yearning for their next dosage, rather, these symptoms can manifest in a number of different ways that affect a person’s health. For example, withdrawal symptoms can affect a person’s sleep, mood, mental state, energy and appetite, and these issues are manifesting in roughly half of medical marijuana users.

Withdrawal Symptoms And Chronic Pain

For this study, researchers polled more than 520 individuals using medical marijuana to treat non-cancer-related chronic pain issues. They were asked if they experienced any of the symptoms after not using for a significant time: Craving for cannabis, anxiety, sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, restlessness, depressed mood, aggression, irritability, nausea, sweating, headache, stomach pain, strange dreams, increased anger and shakiness.

At baseline, 41 percent of people were classified in the mild withdrawal symptom group, 34 percent were in the moderate group, and 25 percent were in the severe group. Additionally, 13 percent of participants saw their withdrawal symptoms rise to the next level by the end of the first year of treatment, and eight percent transitioned upwards by the end of two years.

Interestingly, regardless of the group they were in, sleep problems were the most common symptom. And as we’ve said on the blog, inadequate sleep can have significant effects on your chronic pain condition. Poor sleep quality can worsen pain symptoms, so while some of these withdrawal symptoms may not seem all that bad, they can actually be making your pain condition worse.

At the end of the day, while they are two different treatment paths, a medical marijuana program needs to be implemented much like an opioid regimen for pain. A comprehensive patient profile needs to be developed, the patient needs access to educational material to ensure they understand the potential risks associated with the treatment, and regular checks need to be conducted along the way to ensure everything stays on track. If withdrawal symptoms or other issues are present, specific interventions need to be developed, because it’s unlikely that the problems will go away on their own. In fact, they oftentimes get worse.

So while medical marijuana can be a great addition to a chronic pain treatment plan, we doctors and patients need to be aware of the potential pitfalls to successful treatment so that they can be avoided and managed. If you’re dealing with a chronic pain condition and want help with treatment, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his experienced medical team for more information.