Cannabis Shows Promise for Managing Symptoms in Advanced Kidney Disease
Patients with advanced kidney disease experience significant symptoms that are often undertreated, and preliminary evidence suggests cannabinoids could help with pain, nausea, appetite loss, and itching.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The review found emerging evidence supporting potential benefits of medical marijuana for four common symptoms in advanced CKD and dialysis patients: chronic pain, nausea/vomiting, anorexia/cachexia, and pruritus (itching). The endocannabinoid system appears to play a role in kidney function and disease.
Key Numbers
29 US states had medical marijuana programs at time of publication. CKD/ESRD patients experience chronic pain, nausea, appetite loss, and itching at rates far exceeding the general population.
How They Did This
Narrative review of available evidence on medical marijuana use for symptom management in chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease.
Why This Research Matters
Patients on dialysis often suffer from symptoms that are difficult to treat with conventional medications due to altered drug metabolism and increased side effect risk. Cannabinoids represent a potential alternative, especially as legal access expands.
The Bigger Picture
As more patients with kidney disease live longer on dialysis, symptom management becomes increasingly important for quality of life. Cannabinoids could fill a therapeutic gap, but the altered pharmacokinetics in kidney disease make careful research essential.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review based on limited direct evidence in CKD/ESRD populations. Most cannabinoid research has been in other patient populations. No clinical trials specific to kidney disease patients were available.
Questions This Raises
- ?How is cannabinoid metabolism affected by impaired kidney function?
- ?Are there specific dosing considerations for dialysis patients?
- ?Could cannabinoids interact with common medications used in CKD?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Four common symptoms in advanced kidney disease - pain, nausea, appetite loss, and itching - may respond to cannabinoid treatment based on evidence from other populations.
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary - narrative review largely extrapolating from non-kidney-disease populations with limited direct evidence.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2018. Cannabis research in kidney disease remains an emerging field.
- Original Title:
- Marijuana and Cannabinoids in ESRD and Earlier Stages of CKD.
- Published In:
- American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, 71(2), 267-274 (2018)
- Authors:
- Rein, Joshua L, Wyatt, Christina M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01809
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research without a strict systematic method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis help with kidney disease symptoms?
This review found preliminary evidence that cannabinoids could help with pain, nausea, appetite loss, and itching - common problems in advanced kidney disease. However, most evidence comes from other patient populations, and kidney disease may affect how the body processes cannabinoids.
Is cannabis safe for people on dialysis?
The review notes that impaired kidney function alters drug metabolism, and specific safety data for cannabinoids in dialysis patients is lacking. Research into the kidney's own endocannabinoid system is still in early stages.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01809APA
Rein, Joshua L; Wyatt, Christina M. (2018). Marijuana and Cannabinoids in ESRD and Earlier Stages of CKD.. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, 71(2), 267-274. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2017.06.020
MLA
Rein, Joshua L, et al. "Marijuana and Cannabinoids in ESRD and Earlier Stages of CKD.." American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2017.06.020
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Marijuana and Cannabinoids in ESRD and Earlier Stages of CKD..." RTHC-01809. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rein-2018-marijuana-and-cannabinoids-in
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.