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Acta medica Croatica : Časopis Akademije medicinskih znanosti Hrvatske, Vol. 73 No. Suplement 1, 2019.

Review article

CANNABIS IN CANCER PAIN MANAGEMENT

MIRJANA LONČARIĆ–KATUŠIN ; Karlovac General Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Medicine, Karlovac, Croatia
DAHNA ARBANAS ; Karlovac Pharmacy, Karlovac, Croatia
ANTONIO ŽILIĆ ; Karlovac General Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Medicine, Karlovac, Croatia
ERVIN JANČIĆ ; Karlovac General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Karlovac, Croatia
JOSIP ŽUNIĆ ; Karlovac General Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Medicine, Karlovac, Croatia

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Abstract

Cannabinoids, the active components of Cannabis sativa, mimic the effects of endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), activating specifi c cannabinoid receptors, particularly CB1 found predominantly in the central nervous system and CB2 found predominantly in the cells involved in immune function. Cannabinoids are effective in the treatment of pain in adults, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis. In cancer patients, cannabis has a number of potential benefi ts, especially in the management of symptoms. Medical cannabis reduces chronic or neuropathic pain in advanced cancer patients. Insuffi cient management of cancer-associated chronic and neuropathic pain adversely affects patient quality of life. In neuropathic pain and cancer pain, medical cannabinoids should only be considered for patients whose conditions are refractory to standard therapies. Medical cannabinoids are adjuncts to other prescribed analgesics. The potential harms and benefi ts should be discussed with the patient.

Keywords

medical cannabis; cancer; pain

Hrčak ID:

224659

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/224659

Publication date:

14.7.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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