Scientists Develop Cannabis Pain Patches for Fibromyalgia
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According to a press release from Cannabis Science, a firm that specializes in the creation of marijuana-based therapeutics, the company has developed two new cannabis-based medications for patients suffering from fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy nerve pain.
How They Work
The medications, which are essentially cannabis-based painkillers, will be dosed into the patient’s bloodstream through transdermal adhesive patches on the skin.
The transdermal method is considered ideal for patients because it can pinpoint exact dosages better than other traditional methods such as oral, topical, intravenous and intramuscular. It also facilitates treating a particular part of the body that is afflicted by the disorders, as opposed to the whole body.
Essentially, the patch creates an ultra-controlled release of the medication.
This can be done either by using a porous membrane to allow the medication slowly to be absorbed by the skin, or by implanting fine layers of the medicine in the adhesive that will ultimately melt with the user’s own body heat.
Cannabis Science CEO Raymond C. Dabney believes these two medications are just the beginning for his company and hopes to develop more cannabis-related medications in the near future.
“The development of these two new pharmaceutical medicinal applications are just the tip of the iceberg for what we see as the future for Cannabis Science.” Dabney said. “While we strive to increase our land capacity for growth and facilities to produce our own product to supply our scientists with proprietary materials to make these formulations, we are also busy researching more potential needs for cannabis-related medical applications and developing the methods for delivery of these medications,”
CBD As A Pain Reliever
CBD is one of the major active cannabinoids in cannabis, but unlike THC, it has no psychoactive effects. It has proven over time that it can be an effective pain reliever, particularly for inflammatory pain.
Inflammatory pain can affect those suffering from either fibromyalgia or peripheral neuropathy. Fibromyalgia, according to the Mayo Clinic, is “characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.” Peripheral neuropathy happens when your peripheral nerves are damaged and often causes weakness, numbness and chronic pain, mostly in the hands and feet.
Both diseases are typically painful, but studies have shown CBD can be an effective pain-relief treatment for either disorder, mostly due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Dabney believes that once medicinal cannabis undergoes widespread legalization in all 50 states, his products can better serve the medical community.
“As more states nationwide [in the U.S.] legislate for the legalization of cannabis and cannabis-derived medications, we here at Cannabis Science are focused on developing pharmaceutical formulations and applications to supply the huge growing demand expected over the coming few years,” Dabney said.
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