Sativex for Neuropathic Pain - Literature Review; Alexander DeLuca; War on Doctors/Pain Crisis blog of the Pain Relief Network; 2007-11-15.

This essay refers to Sativex for neuropathic pain
by Rosiele, Sinclair and Quinn; posted to Pallimed blog; 2007-11-20.
See also:
Medical Marijuana archives - War on Pain Sufferers #3

Pallimed blog¹ has posted a review of very recent research on the medical use of cannabinoids, which are the medically useful, psychoactive, molecules derived from the marijuana plant including THC which is available in the U.S. in pill form as dronabinol (Marinol). Sativex, an “Oromucosal Spray,” is not available for prescription use in the U.S., and differs from Marinol because it is a whole extract of marijuana (cannabis), and therefore contains therapeutically active cannabidiols in addition to just THC. Sativex and Marinol are significantly different pharmaceutical products, with Sativex being pharmacologically more similar to smoked or vaporized dried cannabis bud, which naturally contain a mixture of THC and cannabidiols. Marinol is THC in sesame oil; period.

Just to get the terminology and basic facts straight: cannabidiols are a family, if you will, of similar molecules with similar pharmacological properties that differ somewhat from those of THC, which is not a cannabidiol. Both cannabidiols and THC are cannabinoids. Sativa strains of cannabis have higher THC concentrations, while Indica strains are higher in cannabidiols, and are historically more valued as medicinals than are Sativa strains. Various Sativa/Indica hybrids exist and are produced, mostly, in indoor “grow-ops.”

The very best article explaining the modern understanding of the endocannabinoid receptor system and its functions and peculiarities, in my opinion, is available from doctordeluca.com and is entitled: The Brain’s Own Marijuana. Very highly recommended to give you a firm neurological understanding upon which you can consider culturally charged issues like medical marijuana and end-of-life care. The graphics are spectacular. This Scientific American article is part of an actively maintained archive: Medical Marijuana, which is special collection #3 in The War on Pain Sufferers collections, to which I will be adding the recent articles reviewed by Pallimed, as soon as I can get around to it.

Thank you to Drs. Rosiele, Sinclair and Quinn for your brief literature review of recent studies on the clinical utility of cannabinoids for the treatment of pain.

Footnotes

1. Pallimed is a blog targeted at professionals and administrators working in the field of palliative medicine aka “end of life care,” but, as they explain in their New Visitors FAQ page, they welcome all readers including patients and pain relief advocates (presumably). ↩