Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume 39, Issue 2, February 2010, Pages 167-179
Cancer pain is a common problem, and 70%–90% of patients with advanced cancer experience significant pain.1 Opioids remain the keystone for the treatment of moderate to severe cancer pain; however, some patients experience inadequate pain relief with opioids and standard adjuvant analgesics despite dose adjustments, and unacceptable side effects are common.2, 3
Cannabis contains 60 or more cannabinoids (CBs). The main ones include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).4, 5 There is evidence that both THC and CBD show promise in relieving cancer-related pain.6, 7 Sativex®(THC:CBD), an endocannabinoid system modulator, is produced by GW Pharma Ltd, United Kingdom. It is derived from strains of Cannabis sativa L. plants developed to produce high and reproducible yields of principal CBs (THC and CBD), with minor amounts of other CBs and terpenes in a solution containing ethanol, propylene glycol, and peppermint oil flavoring.5 The named CBs constitute at least 90% of the total CB content of the extracts.
