ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
The increasingly widespread use of cannabinoids in the management of acute and chronic pain generates an urgent need to study how cannabinoids act on CB1 and CB2 receptors and what their effects are on the organism. It is important to understand the difference in action between natural cannabinoids (cannabidiol, delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabigerol, cannabinoil, terpenes) and synthetic ones, so that the appropriate choice is made in each case, and depending on the pathophysiology of pain, one or the other active is more indicated.
CONTENTS:
Studies collected in the Pubmed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases were analyzed. These studies focus were on natural cannabinoids (cannabidiol, delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabigerol, cannabinoil, terpenes) and synthetic cannabinoids in the use for the treatment of chronic pain, their action on the endocannabinoid system through the activation of the CB1 and CB2 receptor and their effect after activating this receptor, aiming to compile which cannabinoid is more indicated in the treatment of pain pathology.
CONCLUSION:
The subject still requires much study and new articles are being published daily. The analysis of the studies must be carried out with criteria to evaluate their seriousness. The endocannabinoid system is closely linked to the treatment of chronic pain and some cannabinoids such as: cannabidiol, delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabigerol, cannabinoil, as well as some terpenes are already considered important in the treatment of chronic pain inferring sparing effect of opioids, anticonvulsants, antidepressants among others.
Keywords:
Cannabidiol; Cannabigerol; Chronic pain; Chronic pain treatment with medical cannabis; Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol; Synthetic cannabinoids; Terpenes