Brazilian Journal of Pain
https://brjp.org.br/article/doi/10.5935/2595-0118.20230025-en
Brazilian Journal of Pain
Review Article

Gaps in our knowledge and future research on the endocannabinoid system and the painful phenomenon

As lacunas do nosso conhecimento e as pesquisas futuras sobre o sistema endocanabinoide e o fenômeno doloroso

Angela Maria Sousa; Alexandre Slullitel; Thiago Siqueira Serra

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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This article aimed to discuss and point out the main gaps and bottlenecks in national and international clinical research regarding medicinal cannabinoid compounds and their respective relevance to pain management practices. Other objectives were to establish standards and regulations for testing the quality, efficacy, and safety of cultivation and manufacturing of cannabis products (similar to biopharmaceutical standards) before prescribing or marketing, and to investigate approaches in order to establish robust guidelines for cannabinoid-influenced driving.
CONTENTS: A search with the terms “cannabinoids” and “pain” in the domain www.clinicaltrials.gov, international data platform for registration of clinical research trials, found only two Brazilian studies, on fibromyalgia and chronic headache. The search for the term “cannabinoid” in Plataforma Brasil returned only nine mentions of studies related to pain, most of them being case reports or observational studies, without active intervention or control group.
CONCLUSION: There are still few clinical, randomized, controlled trials evaluating effective doses, routes and interval of administration, pharmacological interaction with opioids or among the various cannabinoids, interaction with adjunct analgesics, potential injury in the context of long-term use, and individual factors that predispose to indiscriminate cannabinoid use.

Keywords

Cannabis, Pain, Research on Health Services

Resumo

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O presente artigo teve como objetivo debater e apontar as principais lacunas e gargalos na pesquisa clínica nacional e internacional relativas aos compostos canabinoides de uso medicinal e suas respectivas relevâncias nas práticas relacionadas ao controle da dor. Outros objetivos foram estabelecer padrões e regulamentos para testar a qualidade, eficácia e segurança de cultivo e fabricação de produtos de cannabis (semelhantes aos padrões biofarmacêuticos) antes de prescrever ou comercializar, e investigar abordagens a fim de estabelecer orientações robustas para dirigir sob influência de canabinoides. 
CONTEÚDO: Uma pesquisa com os termos “canabinoides” e “pain” no domínio do www.clinicaltrials.gov, plataforma internacional de dados de registro de ensaios de pesquisa clínica, cita apenas dois estudos brasileiros, sobre fibromialgia e cefaleia crônica. A busca do termo “canabinoide” na Plataforma Brasil retornou apenas nove menções de estudos relacionados ao tema dor, sendo a maioria relatos de casos ou estudos observacionais, sem intervenção ativa, ou sem grupo controle. 
CONCLUSÃO: Ainda há poucos estudos clínicos, randomizados e controlados avaliando doses eficazes, vias e intervalo de administração, interação farmacológica com opioides ou entre os diversos canabinoides, interação com analgésicos adjuvantes, lesões potenciais no contexto do uso a longo prazo e fatores individuais que predisponham ao uso indiscriminado dos canabinoides.

Palavras-chave

Cannabis, Dor, Pesquisa sobre Serviços de Saúde

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Submitted date:
07/19/2022

Accepted date:
03/21/2023

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