Researchers create a protocol for cannabinoid-based treatments for the elderly

Israeli researchers have attempted to develop a roadmap for the use of Cannabis by older adults suffering from conditions such as chronic pain, loss of appetite, insomnia and sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, or nausea.

Scientists at the Cannabis Clinical Research Institute from Soroka University Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) hope that their new «pragmatic» treatment protocol will help «assess the benefits of cannabis-based treatments» and reduce the use of medications such as benzodiazepines and opioids, which have potentially more harmful side effects.

Published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, The study titled «Medical Cannabis for Elderly Patients—Treatment Protocol and Initial Results» offers suggestions regarding treatments based on cannabinoids in older adults.

According to the scientists who conducted the study, administering THC and CBD A cautious and controlled approach has significantly improved the lives of many of their patients in their eighties.

«Since there are no well-established and evaluated protocols for treating older adults with medical cannabis, we have developed our own approach based on closely monitoring effects and adverse events while slowly introducing THC oil, CBD oil, or a combination of the two.»

For the study, 184 patients with an average age of 82 began cannabinoid-based treatments at a geriatric clinic. Six months after the start of the trial, more than 58% of the patients were still using cannabis as a treatment.

Of these 58%, nearly 89% reported a moderate to significant improvement in their overall condition. However, nearly 34% reported experiencing adverse effects, such as dizziness and fatigue.

The protocols established by researchers urge doctors to take extra precautions when treating older patients with cannabinoids, noting that complications such as drug interactions, an increased cardiovascular risk, and other issues may arise in older users.

«Our experience shows that cannabis has the potential to lead to a reduction in the use of [certain] medications,» said Dr. Abuhasira. «Therefore, we call for the implementation of our protocol in clinical practice to evaluate the benefits of cannabis treatment.»