Epidemiological Characteristics, Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in the Elderly

European Journal of Internal Medicine, 2023

A prospective study that analyzed the use of cannabis treatment in the elderly, measuring for pain intensity, quality of life, and adverse effects at six months follow-up. The most common indications for cannabis treatment were pain (66.6%) and cancer (60.8%). The study found that the therapeutic use of cannabis is safe and efficacious in the elderly population.

Key Results:

  • Reported pain significantly reduced from a median of 8/10 to 4/10

  • Prior to treatment, 66.8% of patients reported high pain-intensity; at six months, this number decreased to only 7.6% of patients

  • 93.7% of patients reported that the cannabis treatment improved their condition

  • 35.1% of patients reported a decrease in the number of drugs taken or the dosage

  • 18.1% of patients stopped using opioid analgesics or reduced their dose

  • The most common reported side effects were dizziness (9.7%) and dry mouth (7.1%)

Strains:

Alaska Erez Avidekel

and other CBD-rich Tikun Olam strains (Raphael, Metatron, Michael)

Study Population:

2736 patients aged 65+; at 6 months, 901 patients were eligible for follow-up and completed the survey

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