Abstract
Objectives: Despite expanded legalization and utilization of medical cannabis (MC) internationally, there is a lack of patient-centered data on how MC is used by persons living with chronic conditions in tandem with or instead of prescription medications. This study describes approaches to use of MC vis-à-vis prescription medications in the treatment of selected chronic conditions. Design: Participants completed semistructured telephone interviews with open-ended questions. Content analysis of qualitative data identified themes and subthemes relating to patient approaches to using MC products. Participants: Thirty persons (mean age = 44.6 years) living with a range of chronic conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, spinal cord injury/disease, and cancer) who had qualified for and used MC in Illinois. Results: Participants described a range of approaches to using MC, including (1) as alternatives to using prescription or over-the-counter medications; (2) complementary use with prescription medications; and (3) as a means for tapering off prescription medications. Motives reported for reducing or eliminating prescription medications included concerns regarding toxicity, dependence, and tolerance, and perceptions that MC improves management of certain symptoms and has quicker action and longer lasting effects. Conclusions: MC appears to serve as both a complementary method for symptom management and treatment of medication side-effects associated with certain chronic conditions, and as an alternative method for treatment of pain, seizures, and inflammation in this population. Additional patient-centered research is needed to identify specific dosing patterns of MC products associated with symptom alleviation and produce longitudinal data assessing chronic disease outcomes with MC use.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 146-153 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- cannabis/cannabinoids
- harm reduction
- medical marijuana
- pain
- symptom management
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Complementary and alternative medicine
Cite this
Preferences for medical marijuana over prescription medications among persons living with chronic conditions : Alternative, complementary, and tapering uses. / Bruce, Douglas; Brady, John P.; Foster, Elissa; Shattell, Mona.
In: Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol. 24, No. 2, 01.02.2018, p. 146-153.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Preferences for medical marijuana over prescription medications among persons living with chronic conditions
T2 - Alternative, complementary, and tapering uses
AU - Bruce, Douglas
AU - Brady, John P.
AU - Foster, Elissa
AU - Shattell, Mona
PY - 2018/2/1
Y1 - 2018/2/1
N2 - Objectives: Despite expanded legalization and utilization of medical cannabis (MC) internationally, there is a lack of patient-centered data on how MC is used by persons living with chronic conditions in tandem with or instead of prescription medications. This study describes approaches to use of MC vis-à-vis prescription medications in the treatment of selected chronic conditions. Design: Participants completed semistructured telephone interviews with open-ended questions. Content analysis of qualitative data identified themes and subthemes relating to patient approaches to using MC products. Participants: Thirty persons (mean age = 44.6 years) living with a range of chronic conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, spinal cord injury/disease, and cancer) who had qualified for and used MC in Illinois. Results: Participants described a range of approaches to using MC, including (1) as alternatives to using prescription or over-the-counter medications; (2) complementary use with prescription medications; and (3) as a means for tapering off prescription medications. Motives reported for reducing or eliminating prescription medications included concerns regarding toxicity, dependence, and tolerance, and perceptions that MC improves management of certain symptoms and has quicker action and longer lasting effects. Conclusions: MC appears to serve as both a complementary method for symptom management and treatment of medication side-effects associated with certain chronic conditions, and as an alternative method for treatment of pain, seizures, and inflammation in this population. Additional patient-centered research is needed to identify specific dosing patterns of MC products associated with symptom alleviation and produce longitudinal data assessing chronic disease outcomes with MC use.
AB - Objectives: Despite expanded legalization and utilization of medical cannabis (MC) internationally, there is a lack of patient-centered data on how MC is used by persons living with chronic conditions in tandem with or instead of prescription medications. This study describes approaches to use of MC vis-à-vis prescription medications in the treatment of selected chronic conditions. Design: Participants completed semistructured telephone interviews with open-ended questions. Content analysis of qualitative data identified themes and subthemes relating to patient approaches to using MC products. Participants: Thirty persons (mean age = 44.6 years) living with a range of chronic conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, spinal cord injury/disease, and cancer) who had qualified for and used MC in Illinois. Results: Participants described a range of approaches to using MC, including (1) as alternatives to using prescription or over-the-counter medications; (2) complementary use with prescription medications; and (3) as a means for tapering off prescription medications. Motives reported for reducing or eliminating prescription medications included concerns regarding toxicity, dependence, and tolerance, and perceptions that MC improves management of certain symptoms and has quicker action and longer lasting effects. Conclusions: MC appears to serve as both a complementary method for symptom management and treatment of medication side-effects associated with certain chronic conditions, and as an alternative method for treatment of pain, seizures, and inflammation in this population. Additional patient-centered research is needed to identify specific dosing patterns of MC products associated with symptom alleviation and produce longitudinal data assessing chronic disease outcomes with MC use.
KW - cannabis/cannabinoids
KW - harm reduction
KW - medical marijuana
KW - pain
KW - symptom management
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042000086&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85042000086&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/acm.2017.0184
DO - 10.1089/acm.2017.0184
M3 - Article
C2 - 28945457
AN - SCOPUS:85042000086
VL - 24
SP - 146
EP - 153
JO - Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
JF - Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
SN - 1075-5535
IS - 2
ER -