[Effect of the synthetic cannabinoid dronabinol on central pain in patients with multiple sclerosis--secondary publication]

Author(s): Svendsen KB, Jensen TS, Bach FW

Affiliation(s): Dansk Smerteforskningscenter, Neurologisk Afdeling F, Arhus Universitetshospital, Arhus Sygehus. kristina@akhphd.au.dk

Publication date & source: 2005-06-20, Ugeskr Laeger., 167(25-31):2772-4.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

Cannabinoids reduce allodynia/hyperalgesia in animal pain models, but few clinical studies evaluated the analgesic action in humans. We aimed to evaluate the effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) on central pain in MS patients. Twenty-four MS patients participated in a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial. Dronabinol reduced the spontaneous pain intensity significantly compared with placebo (4.0 (2.3-6.0) vs. 5.0 (4.0-6.4), median (25th-75th percentiles), p = 0.02). Though dronabinol's analgesic effect is modest, its use should be evaluated considering the general difficulty in treating central pain.