Ananda Professional studies CBD’s effect on tapering opioid usage
Ananda Professional, a hemp-derived CBD grower and manufacturer, has announced their sponsorship of an ongoing opioid reduction study.
“The first step to successfully reducing a patient’s opioid intake, is the patient’s willingness to taper down,” says, Dr. James Murphy, co-director of the study, adding, “pain is a physical and psychological condition – believing that tapering down is possible is huge.”
Alongside James Murphy of New Albany, Indiana’s Murphy Pain Center is collecting data showcasing how incorporating hemp-derived CBD can affect a patient’s willingness to taper their opioid usage in a positive way, the Cynthiana, K.Y.-based company said.
“We are very excited with initial findings,” Alex Capano, Ananda Professional’s chief medical director and study co-director, said. “Industry research, including NIH studies, support CBD’s unique ability to exert analgesic effects across multiple pain conditions. Moreover, its safety profile is better than that of opioids and is extremely well tolerated as an adjunct therapy.”
The study, which is being conducted with guidance from the Institutional Review Board, or IRB, enrolled 140 participants over a two-month period. Participants with initial intake had to participate in follow-up visits and questionnaires at four and eight weeks. Participants also must have been stable for one year or longer or above 30 morphine equivalent, or MME, daily, the company said.
“Pain is a complicated diagnosis with many components,” Murphy said. “CBD offers several peripheral benefits including increased relaxation, increased sleep, and an increase in activity ability, all which affect pain and pain perception.”
“Independent pharmacists have strong relationships with their patients, understand their treatment regiments and are uniquely capable of recommending CBD formulations based on the patient’s history and underlying health issue,” Chuck Schneider, Ananda Professional’s chief revenue officer, said.
“It should be noted that public health records indicate that states with medical cannabis laws had a 24.8% lower mean annual opioid overdose mortality rate compared to states without medical cannabis access,” Capano said. “Medicare prescriptions for drugs to treat pain, depression, anxiety, nausea, psychoses, seizures and sleep were reduced in states with cannabinoids. We are extremely optimistic this study will provide data that can change lives.”
“The first step to successfully reducing a patient’s opioid intake, is the patient’s willingness to taper down,” says, Dr. James Murphy, co-director of the study, adding, “pain is a physical and psychological condition – believing that tapering down is possible is huge.”
Alongside James Murphy of New Albany, Indiana’s Murphy Pain Center is collecting data showcasing how incorporating hemp-derived CBD can affect a patient’s willingness to taper their opioid usage in a positive way, the Cynthiana, K.Y.-based company said.
“We are very excited with initial findings,” Alex Capano, Ananda Professional’s chief medical director and study co-director, said. “Industry research, including NIH studies, support CBD’s unique ability to exert analgesic effects across multiple pain conditions. Moreover, its safety profile is better than that of opioids and is extremely well tolerated as an adjunct therapy.”
The study, which is being conducted with guidance from the Institutional Review Board, or IRB, enrolled 140 participants over a two-month period. Participants with initial intake had to participate in follow-up visits and questionnaires at four and eight weeks. Participants also must have been stable for one year or longer or above 30 morphine equivalent, or MME, daily, the company said.
“Pain is a complicated diagnosis with many components,” Murphy said. “CBD offers several peripheral benefits including increased relaxation, increased sleep, and an increase in activity ability, all which affect pain and pain perception.”
“Independent pharmacists have strong relationships with their patients, understand their treatment regiments and are uniquely capable of recommending CBD formulations based on the patient’s history and underlying health issue,” Chuck Schneider, Ananda Professional’s chief revenue officer, said.
“It should be noted that public health records indicate that states with medical cannabis laws had a 24.8% lower mean annual opioid overdose mortality rate compared to states without medical cannabis access,” Capano said. “Medicare prescriptions for drugs to treat pain, depression, anxiety, nausea, psychoses, seizures and sleep were reduced in states with cannabinoids. We are extremely optimistic this study will provide data that can change lives.”