A recent study has found acute migraine treatment with THC + CBD together may be superior to either cannabinoid alone.
Migraine goes beyond a “normal” headache and the pain can last for days. It can be accompanied by symptoms such as light and/or sound sensitivity, visual disturbances, nausea, and vomiting. Migraines can be debilitating and seriously impact the overall quality of life of the sufferer; particularly those with a chronic condition.
Globally, migraine affects an estimated more than 10% of people. Treatments include acetaminophen, NSAIDs and triptans; but overuse of these medications can progress migraine from episodic (<15 events per month) to a chronic condition.
Cannabis has been tapped as as a tool that can be used to treat/manage migraines, and this application is among the common medicinal uses of cannabinoids. Previous research has indicated positive findings on the therapeutic effects, coupled with fewer side effects and a good safety profile . However, it should be noted overuse of cannabis for migraine relief may also be associated with “rebound” headaches.
Cannabis contains over a hundred cannabinoids, with the most commonly used and best studied being delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9 THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Researchers from the University of California conducted a study to assess the efficacy of vaporized versus placebo cannabis using different formulations, being:
- 6% Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-dominant)
- 11% cannabidiol (CBD-dominant)
- 6% THC + 11% CBD
- Placebo cannabis flower
Participants consumed one of each in a vaporized form in a randomized order.
The results indicate THC + CBD was superior to placebo at achieving pain relief, pain freedom, and most bothersome symptom (MBS) freedom at 2 hours. Additionally, THC + CBD provided sustained pain freedom at 24 hours and sustained MBS freedom at 24 and 48 hours.
While THC-dominant was superior to placebo for pain relief, it wasn’t in relation to pain freedom or MBS freedom at 2 hours. As for CBD-dominant, there was no superiority to placebo for pain relief, pain freedom or MBS freedom at 2 hours.
The researchers report there were no serious adverse events associated with any of the formulations, and in their conclusion stated:
“Future research should include multicenter studies and long-term studies of benefits and risks with repeated use.”
It’s important to note the study report at the time of writing was still at pre-print status – it has not yet been peer reviewed by a journal.
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