A US study has found an orally absorbed tablet containing CBD reduces pain after shoulder surgery with no side effects.
New York University researchers told delegates at the 2022 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons that the Oravexx tablet safely managed pain after minimally invasive rotator cuff procedures.
The phase 1/2 clinical trial randomly sorted 99 participants across two study sites between the ages of 18 and 75 into a group receiving oral-absorbed CBD and placebo group.
Participants were prescribed a low-dose of oxycodone/paracetamol (brand name Percocet), told to wean off the drug as soon as possible, and to take the placebo or CBD three times a day for 14 days after surgery.
On the first day, those receiving CBD experienced on average 23% less pain as measured by the visual analog scale pain score compared to those receiving the placebo.
And on both the first and second days, patients receiving CBD reported 22 to 25% greater satisfaction with pain control compared to the placebo group.
Further analysis showed patients receiving 50mg of CBD reported lower pain and higher satisfaction with pain control with no major side effects.
Lead investigator Dr Michael J. Alaia said: “There is an urgent need for viable alternatives for pain management, and our study presents this form of CBD as a promising tool after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
“It could be a new, inexpensive approach for delivering pain relief, and without the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs and addiction risks linked to opiates.”
The team has launched a second study to establish whether Oravexx can treat chronic pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
