The analgesic effect of oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), morphine, and a THC-morphine combination in healthy subjects under experimental pain conditions
- 1 September 2003
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Pain
- Vol. 105 (1), 79-88
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3959(03)00163-5
Abstract
From folk medicine and anecdotal reports it is known that Cannabis may reduce pain. In animal studies it has been shown that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has antinociceptive effects or potentiates the antinociceptive effect of morphine. The aim of this study was to measure the analgesic effect of THC, morphine, and a THC-morphine combination (THC-morphine) in humans using experimental pain models. THC (20 mg), morphine (30 mg), THC-morphine (20 mg THC+30 mg morphine), or placebo were given orally and as single doses. Twelve healthy volunteers were included in the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, crossover study. The experimental pain tests (order randomized) were heat, cold, pressure, single and repeated transcutaneous electrical stimulation. Additionally, reaction time, side-effects (visual analog scales), and vital functions were monitored. For the pharmacokinetic profiling, blood samples were collected. THC did not significantly reduce pain. In the cold and heat tests it even produced hyperalgesia, which was completely neutralized by THC-morphine. A slight additive analgesic effect could be observed for THC-morphine in the electrical stimulation test. No analgesic effect resulted in the pressure and heat test, neither with THC nor THC-morphine. Psychotropic and somatic side-effects (sleepiness, euphoria, anxiety, confusion, nausea, dizziness, etc.) were common, but usually mild.Keywords
This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit:
- Are cannabinoids an effective and safe treatment option in the management of pain? A qualitative systematic reviewBMJ, 2001
- Tetrahydrocannabinol zur Therapie chronischer SchmerzenDer Schmerz, 2001
- Remifentanil inhibits muscular more than cutaneous pain in humansBritish Journal of Anaesthesia, 2000
- Analgesic action of i.v. morphine-6-glucuronide in healthy volunteersBritish Journal of Anaesthesia, 2000
- DIACETYLMORPHINE AND ITS METABOLITES IN PLASMA BY HPLC WITH DIODE-ARRAY AND ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRIC DETECTIONJournal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies, 1999
- Effect of racemic mixture and the (S+)-isomer of ketamine on temporal and spatial summation of painBritish Journal of Anaesthesia, 1996
- Electrophysiological and psychophysical quantification of temporal summation in the human nociceptive systemEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology, 1994
- Quantitative sensory examination in human epidural anaesthesia and analgesia: effects of lidocainePain, 1992
- Measurements of human pressure-pain thresholds on fingers and toesPain, 1989
- Effects of Moderate and High Doses of Marihuana on Thermal Pain: A Sensory Decision Theory AnalysisThe Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 1981