Reduction of Benzodiazepine Use in Patients Prescribed Medical Cannabis
Purcell et al.·Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchImpact 2.5
Klarer NutzenGRADENiedrig54 Zitate
Stichproben = 146 Pat.
Dauerdurchschnittlich 6 Monate
EndpunktBenzodiazepin-Abbruchrate
Verblindungn.a.
DesignRetrospektive Beobachtungsstudie
Cannabinoidvollspektrum
”Kernaussage
45,2% der Patienten setzten Benzodiazepine erfolgreich ab, mit stabiler Abstinenzrate über durchschnittlich 6 Monate.
Zusammenfassung
n=146 medizinische Cannabis-Patienten (Ø 47 Jahre, 61% weiblich) mit Benzodiazepin-Vormedikation. Nach durchschnittlich 2 Monaten Cannabis-Therapie hatten 30,1% Benzodiazepine abgesetzt; nach drei Verschreibungszyklen (Ø 6 Monate) insgesamt 45,2% (n=66) dauerhaft abgesetzt. Indirekte Evidenz für anxiolytische Wirkung über Benzodiazepin-Substitution.
P
PopulationErwachsene Patienten einer medizinischen Cannabis-Klinik mit Benzodiazepin-Einnahme bei Therapiebeginn, n=146, Durchschnittsalter 47 Jahre, 61% weiblich
I
InterventionVerschriebenes medizinisches Cannabis (Klinik-Programm, Canabo Medical), durchschnittlich 3 Verschreibungskurse über ca. 6 Monate
O
OutcomeNach durchschnittlich 2 Monaten (1. Verschreibung) hatten 30,1% die Benzodiazepine abgesetzt; nach 2 Verschreibungen 44,5% (n=65); nach 3 Verschreibungen 45,2% (n=66) — stabile Abbruchrate über ca. 6 Monate
Vertrauen in die Evidenz
Sehr niedrigNiedrigModeratHoch
Niedrig
Zweite von vier GRADE-Stufen, die Effektschätzung ist begrenzt verlässlich.
Background: Benzodiazepines are a class of medication with sedative properties, commonly used for anxiety and other neurological conditions. These medications are associated with several well-known adverse effects. This observational study aims to investigate the reduction of benzodiazepine use in patients using prescribed medical cannabis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on a cohort of 146 medical cannabis patients (average age 47 years, 61% female, 54% reporting prior use of cannabis) who reported benzodiazepine use at initiation of cannabis therapy. These data are a part of a database gathered by a medical cannabis clinic (Canabo Medical). Descriptive statistics were used to quantify associations of the proportion of benzodiazepine use with time on medical cannabis therapy. Results: After completing an average 2-month prescription course of medical cannabis, 30.1% of patients had discontinued benzodiazepines. At a follow-up after two prescriptions, 65 total patients (44.5%) had discontinued benzodiazepines. At the final follow-up period after three medical cannabis prescription courses, 66 total patients (45.2%) had discontinued benzodiazepine use, showing a stable cessation rate over an average of 6 months. Conclusion: Within a cohort of 146 patients initiated on medical cannabis therapy, 45.2% patients successfully discontinued their pre-existing benzodiazepine therapy. This observation merits further investigation into the risks and benefits of the therapeutic use of medical cannabis and its role relating to benzodiazepine use.