A Plant-Made Approach to Pain Management

As we age, aches and pains are inevitable – but did you know that more than 1 in 5 Canadians suffer from chronic pain¹ ? If you’re one of the 7+ million Canadians managing pain, keep reading to learn more about the options available to improve your quality of life.

We spoke to pain management expert, Dr. Lionel Marks de Chabris, Chief Medical Officer at ZYUS Life Sciences, a Canadian company leading research and development of the next generation of plant-made therapeutics, to learn more about how cannabinoid formulations may be a pain management option for Canadians looking to transition off of prescription pain killers and opioids.

An Additional Option

Managing chronic pain continues to be a daily challenge for millions of Canadians. Up until recently, many patients suffering from chronic or acute pain were often prescribed opioids – contributing to the global opioid epidemic. As healthcare practitioners and the public have become more aware of the potential adverse effect of opioids and pain medications, interest in other pain management options have only grown.

While cannabinoids have been used in medicine for thousands of years, they have not been a focus of medical research. Now, companies like Saskatoon-based ZYUS are working to shift the paradigm from conventional strategies to focus on improving patient quality of life by harnessing the power of cannabinoids. “As someone who lives with chronic pain myself, I understand the need for targeted healthcare solutions that alleviate pain and suffering without the risk of opioids,” said Dr. Marks de Chabris. “Cannabinoids offer patients an additional option to manage their chronic and neuropathic pain. Canadian companies like ZYUS are actively working to develop targeted, plant-made therapeutics that help address the unmet needs of patients here in Canada and around the world.”

Talk to Your Healthcare Practitioner

If you’re interested in exploring cannabinoids as a therapeutic option “always start by talking to your healthcare practitioner,” said Dr. Marks de Chabris. Treating medical conditions is different than using cannabis recreationally and consulting with your healthcare practitioner is important so they can tailor a  personalized management strategy for your condition.”

Start Low and Go Slow

Recent clinical studies have shown a strong link between cannabinoid use and a reduction in chronic pain. In fact, a 2010 Study² found that in some cases one puff is all it takes to reduce the intensity of pain, improve sleep and improve mood. “The results of this study found that one puff (or one single inhalation) of 25mg of THC three times a day for five days reduced the intensity of pain and was well tolerated,” said Dr. Marks de Chabris. “This demonstrates how effective cannabinoid formulations can be in alleviating pain, and that a small dosage can be all that is required for some patients to experience improvements in quality of life and symptom management. While this study focused on high THC flower, there are a range of cannabinoid formulations (both THC and CBD) with delivery methods that allow for more controlled and precise dosing, including oils and soft gels.”

“When you find the right treatment plan and therapy for your needs, the impact on quality of life can be truly transformative,” added Dr. Marks de Chabris. Ready to transform your chronic pain management? Cannabinoids could offer a more sustainable, plant-made solution to help you manage your symptoms.

Talk to your healthcare practitioner and visit zyus.ca to find out more.

_{¹ Anderson, M., Campbell, F., Choinière, M., El-Gabalawy, H., Hudspith, M., Laliberté, J., Swidrovich, J., Wilhelm, L. (2019). Chronic Pain in Canada: Laying a Foundation for Action. Canadian Pain Task Force Report: June 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2020.} 

_{² Bennett, G., Collet, J-P., Ducruet, T., Gamsa, A., Huynh, T., Robinson, A., Shapiro, S., Wang, T., Ware, M. (2010). Smoked Cannabis for Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. CMAJ. 182 (14) E694-E701; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.091414. Retrieved October 5, 2020.}