Morgantown, WV: THC possesses gastroprotective qualities and could potentially reduce incidences of NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)- induced hospitalizations, according to preclinical data published online in the European Journal of Pharmacology.
Investigators at West Virginia University assessed the impact of THC administration in an animal model of NSAID-induced gastric inflammation. They reported that low doses of THC provided gastroprotective effects, such as attenuating gastric hemorrhages and lesions, and reducing ulcers.
Researchers concluded: "The results of the present study suggest that delta-9-THC … may also possess gastroprotective effects in NSAID using patients. … As current antacid regimens may be associated with undesirable effects, … other approaches to prevent NSAID-induced gastric ulcers are needed. In addition to their gastroprotective effects, cannabinoids produce other beneficial effects, including pain reduction. … Thus, cannabinoids may have the added benefit of reducing the effective analgesic dose of NSAIDs, as well as reducing the incidence of NSAID-induced gastric ulcers."
NSAIDs such as ibuprofren are among the most widely used analgesic substances in the world, but their consumption is associated with various adverse and life-threatening side-effects such as heart-attack, stroke, and internal bleeding. According to a 2001 study conducted by the University of Illinois College of Medicine, in the United States, "gastrointestinal complications induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause more than 100,000 hospitalizations and an estimated 16,500 deaths annually."
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Acute delat-9-tetrahydrocannabinol blocks gastric hemorrhages induced by the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac sodium in mice," appears online in the European Journal of Pharmacology.