Researchers at Rutgers University, University of Texas and other institutions have published a study that suggests CBD, a component of cannabis, can relieve acute dental pain. It may be an alternative to opioids which is equally effective and safer.
The authors of the study published in this month’s Journal of Dental Research wrote, “Our results show that CBD can be as effective as analgesics currently used and manage dental emergency pain effectively.” The authors said that their study appears to be the “first randomized clinical test testing CBD for managing dental emergency pain.”
The team stated that “this novel study could catalyze use of CBD as an analgesic alternative to opioids for acute inflammation pain conditions,” which would ultimately help address the opioid crisis.
The study found that while over-the counter medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be used to relieve dental pain, others may not get enough relief.
It notes that “dental patients who are unable to receive NSAIDs, acetaminophen or acetaminophen because of underlying medical conditions or allergy have no other options to achieve pain relief without opioid prescriptions.”
Vanessa Chrepa is a Rutgers University professor, director of clinical research and translational science at the department of endodontics.
Chrepa stated in a Rutgers Press Release that “the rise in opioid addiction and deaths has everyone searching for better alternatives. Things that can alleviate severe pain without harming so many patients.” She said that while other research had focused on THC to date, they also studied CBD, because research in other specialties indicated it could relieve dental pain, without having any psychoactive effects. This is what everyone was looking for.
This randomized study provides the first clinical proof that oral CBD is an effective and safe pain reliever for dental problems.
Researchers used Epidiolex – an oral solution containing pure CBD – approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It is used for treating certain types of epilepsy. Adults suffering from moderate to severe toothache were given either a cannabinoid dose or a placebo and monitored for three hours. The CBD group was split into two, one receiving 10 milligrams of CBD per kilogram of weight and the other 10 mg/kg.
Both CBD groups reported significant reductions in pain compared to their baseline group and the placebo. The maximum pain reduction was experienced by both groups about 180 minutes following administration. However, researchers discovered that the higher CBD dose led to faster pain reduction – 15 minutes as opposed 30 minutes for the lower CBD dose.
The study determined that the maximum pain relief at 180 minutes was 73 percent.
The study showed that CBD treatment increased bite force in subjects, particularly among those who received a higher dose. It notes that a reduced bite force can compromise a patient’s nutritional status and quality of living.
The higher CBD dosage had a NNT of 2.4 and the lower dose had a NNT of 3.1.
The study states that, by comparison, previous research indicated an opioid mixture used in dentistry — 10 mg of oxycodone with 650 mg of acetaminophen — had an NNT of 2.
The authors note that the NNT of CBD treatment “falls within the range” both of the dentistry-standard opioid therapy and treatment with just ibuprofen.
Researchers noted that despite the positive results in reducing dental pain, some side effects were reported. “Sedation, diarrhea and abdominal pain” were all significantly linked to the CBD groups.
Chrepa stated that the study results are “strong enough to make an argument for using pure CBD such as Epidiolex to treat dental pain.”
She said that a larger phase 3 study will be required to obtain FDA approval for Epidiolex, or other pure CBD products to be used for dental pain relief. “I look forward to implementing this in common practice.” It will help patients with acute pain, including toothache.
Epidiolex is currently not approved by the FDA for use in dentistry. The FDA has approved Epidiolex for certain types of epilepsy. CBD non-pharmaceutical is a legal derivative of hemp that was legalized nationwide through the federal 2018 Farm Bill.
Chrepa stated in a Rutgers press release that “there are more things we can study.” Can CBD be used to treat postoperative pain in patients who have had a root canal or tooth extraction? “Can we achieve even greater pain relief by mixing it with other drugs like Tylenol?”
In a separate study conducted last month, allowed people to buy CBD legally. This resulted in 6.6 to 8.1 percent less opioid prescriptions.
Since federal legalization, the market has grown rapidly for hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD.
Although the U.S. is still largely unregulated. According to a recent report, the hemp industry will be larger in 2022 than all state marijuana markets put together, and sales of craft beer nationwide should roughly match that. According to the report, about $28,4 billion in hemp-derived cannabinoid product sales were made last year.
In response to FDA’s claim that it does not have the authority to regulate hemp derived cannabinoids, Congressional legislators have proposed new rules.
A group of House Democratic legislators who are pro-business and center-left is pushing for the use of the next Farm Bill to reduce regulatory burdens for hemp growers . This would include creating a difference between “industrial hemp” that’s grown to produce products such as fiber, and “hemp used for any purpose”, which would cover crops that were cultivated to extract CBD.
In a recent hearing of the House Subcommittee on Health, the focus was on the negative impact of FDA regulations. A separate bipartisan pair of health committees also sought expert opinion on this issue when they were considering possible legislative solutions.
Cannabis Regulators Association members from the states sent a similar letter to the leaders of the congressional agriculture committees, asking them to use the Farm Bill in order to modify the federal definition for the crop as well as the rules governing hemp-derived cannabinoids.
Federal Health Agency Releases Revised Drug Survey with New Data on Marijuana Products Preferences and CBD
Photo by Kimzy Nanny.
The post CBD Effectively treats Dental Pain and Could Provide a Useful Alternative to Opioids, Study shows appeared initially on Marijuana Moment.
