THC-spray ga betydelig smertelindring hos pasienter med kroniske smerter

A new study raises hope for patients with chronic pain who have not had enough effect from standard treatments. The researchers behind the work believe that a THC-based oral spray could become a more practical and evenly dosed alternative for medical cannabis.

Nanotechnology behind the new formulation

The study, published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, was conducted by researchers at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli and the University of Naples Federico II in Italy. De utviklet en nanoemulsjon for bukkal administrering, noe som betyr at sprayen tas opp via munnslimhinnen. The product is based on an extract from Cannabis sativa from Bedrocan, a medical cannabis variety with a high THC content.

The researchers developed the formulation to get around several well-known problems with THC-based drugs: low water solubility, uneven bioavailability and unpredictable absorption. The new nanoemulsion, called THC-NE, had a very uniform droplet size of about 73 nanometers, remained stable at 4 degrees for at least 90 days, and worked well in a regular spray bottle.

Better absorption and more controlled release

Laboratory tests showed that the nanoemulsion released THC over time, while the oil-based variant released essentially nothing under the same forhold. Den viste også sterkere mucoadhesive egenskaper og penetrerte grisens munnslimhinne bedre. After 24 hours, approximately nine times higher THC levels were present in the recipient chamber compared to the oil formulation.

This is relevant because consistent absorption is often one of the major challenges in cannabis-based treatment. A spray that stays stable and is absorbed more predictably can make treatment easier for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Pain levels dropped in patient study

In an observational study, researchers followed 18 patients with chronic pain who did not respond well enough to standard treatment. Etter en median oppfølging på 189 dager, falt smerteskårene i gjennomsnitt fra 8,6 til omtrent 5,4 på den numeriske vurderingsskalaen. 83 percent of patients achieved at least a 20 percent pain reduction, and among those who responded to treatment, the average reduction was about 45 percent.

Treatment persistence was also relatively high. Seks måneder senere hadde 64 prosent av de som svarte fortsatt med behandlingen. Average daily dose was 19.1 puffs, equivalent to approximately 10.7 milligrams of THC per day.

“The results suggest that buccal THC nanoemulsion may be a promising, patient-friendly alternative for cannabis-based therapy,” write the researchers.

Side effects did occur, but were mostly mild

A total of 17 side effects were reported in 11 pasienter. De vanligste var svimmelhet, munntørrhet, døsighet, hoste og økt appetitt. Three people discontinued treatment due to side effects, including hallucinations, nausea and dissociative symptoms.

The researchers emphasize that the study is small and exploratory. For å bekrefte resultatene kreves større, kontrollerte kliniske studier med lengre oppfølging. Likevel peker funnene mot en lovende fremtid for medisinsk cannabis i form av en mer brukervennlig munnspray.