Trial Evaluating Medical Canna

[gerald]

It is good to see it studied from a clinical point of view to see if it really does make a difference


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Tilray Announces Support for Clinical Trial Evaluating Medical Cannabis Efficacy in COPD Patients
JUNE 20, 2017 Carolina Henriques
COPD News Today

The effects of vaporized cannabis on symptoms associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the target of a new clinical trial that stems from a partnership between medical cannabis products company Tilray and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) in Montreal, Canada.

The company estimates that 45–90% of adults with advanced COPD suffer from chronic and impairing breathlessness related to physical activity despite optimal treatment of their lung disease with bronchodilators or corticosteroids.

The Phase 2 study titled, “CAN BREATHE in COPD Trial,” (NCT03060993), will study the efficacy of medical cannabis on breathlessness and exercise tolerance in people with advanced COPD. One patient group will receive 35 mg of cannabis (tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol) in vaporized form, and another will receive a placebo.

Primary outcomes include changes in the intensity ratings of perceived breathlessness during cycle exercise testing and changes in cycle exercise endurance.

Secondary outcomes include changes in spirometry (a test assessing lung function), changes in impulse oscillometry (a measure of pulmonary resistance and reactance), changes in physiological responses during exercise, plasma cannabinoid levels, psychoactive effects, mood effects, and cognitive effects.

Dennis Jensen and Jean Bourbeau will lead the trial’s research team at the McConnel Centre for Innovative Medicine at RI-MUHC.

“Adjunct therapies targeted to relieve breathlessness and improved exercise tolerances are needed to enhance health outcomes for adults with advanced COPD, and medical cannabis is a potential therapy of interest,” Jensen said in a press release.

Recruitment of 20 participants already is underway. The trial is expected to be concluded by April 30, 2018. More information about the trial is available here. clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03060993

“Tilray is proud to support this important research,” said Catherine Jacobson, director of clinical research at Tilray. “If we find that vaporized cannabis is safe, well-tolerated, and effective, we can conduct further research to help people with COPD and other medical conditions manage their symptoms effectively.”

COPD is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burden in Canada and around the world. The management of COPD symptoms is crucial for patients to ensure that their condition remains stable and that quality of life is maintained.

copdnewstoday.com/2017/06/20/tilray-announces-support-for-clinical-trial-evaluating-medical-cannabis-efficacy-in-copd-patients/

[jarca]

i'm glad they are studying 'vaporized' cannabis as it seems to me that gets it directly into our lungs, like our inhalers.
on the other hand, i have wondered if inhaling it would irritate the lungs (like smoking a cigarette after all these years, i imagine would have me coughing like the 1st time i smoked & it burned my lungs so bad)
From things i have read about the oil it isn't very effective & i've wondered if that is due to it having to go thru the whole digestion process.
This will be interesting!

[todd]

I am glad that you posted this and they are finally looking at it. I am on O2 and have tried cannibis edibles. My experience is that it helps tremendously with anxiety, and that makes life much easier as we all know. Marijuanna is a natural bronchial dialator and expectorant, isn't that what we take inhalers for ?
 I used to have a bad "bloating" problem, haven't changed my diet  or eating habits but its gone, can breathe better. I feel I can take better, bigger breaths. I take my meds religiously in morning, symbicort and spiriva, I used to wake up and clock watch until med time, now, I have to put my inhalers on the dining table to remind myself to take, I wake up refreshed and feeling good, no hangover or medy feeling. I am able to handle stress 100% better.
Because I am on O2 going out was difficult for me, stigma and all that jazz. Now no issue's.

I have access to REAL edible gummies  from a lab and take 25mg in morning and 25mg around supper for 6 months. At first I wasn't sure but after research decided to try, strains, dosages. I wanted to try the "oil" everyone talks about  but to difficult to aquire in Canada. My doc. doesn't know but I feel I will be testing him on his thoughts about this. I want to see my next test results first. 

The reason I decided to try this is it will be legal here next year, what you hear in the news, and I need to explore all options before my next pulm. visit. My last one he asked if I wanted to get a lung transplant and research on that was not overly impressive but I have to give him an answer in Aug.
I am in NO way recommending or suggesting people to try this, read the article and wanted to share my experience. Sorry for rambling.

[gerald]

Todd, thank you for your input. 

One thing that makes this group so valuable is getting first hand
experience from people who have already tried things out.

And regardless of what the trials can document it is people experience
that will tell whether it is effective.

[lavishgail]

Thanks Todd, very interesting. Nice to meet you!