Hospitalized patients using a metered-dose cannabis inhaler consumed about 95% less cannabis than their pre-hospitalization amounts while reporting significant pain reduction and high satisfaction.
Hospital pharmacists and clinicians considering cannabis-based pain management, medical cannabis patients facing hospitalization, and researchers studying precision cannabinoid dosing.
95% reduction in daily cannabis consumption with precision inhaler
What the researchers found
Daily cannabis consumption dropped from a median of 1,000 mg to 51 mg when using the SYQE Inhaler. Pain intensity fell from a median of 7 to 4 (out of 10) within 30-60 minutes of inhalation. Patient satisfaction was rated 6 out of 7. Only mild cough was reported as an adverse event in 3 participants.
Why it matters
Cannabis by combustion is not feasible in hospitals. A precision inhaler that delivers consistent microdoses could make medical cannabis accessible to hospitalized patients while dramatically reducing the amount consumed.
The numbers in context
Median daily dose: 51 mg (range 20-96) vs. 1,000 mg pre-hospitalization (range 660-3,300). Pain: 7 to 4 on a 0-10 scale. Satisfaction: 6/7. Hospital stay: median 5 days (range 3-7). 3 patients had mild cough.
How the study worked
Pilot open-label study of the SYQE Inhaler in hospitalized medical cannabis patients. Each dose delivered 500 micrograms THC from 16 mg cannabis. Patients received up to 4 scheduled and 4 as-needed doses daily. Pain, nausea, and satisfaction were assessed by questionnaire.
What this study cannot tell us
Pilot study with no control group. Small sample size (not specified in abstract). Open-label design and self-reported outcomes. Patients were already experienced cannabis users, so results may not generalize to cannabis-naive patients.
How to read the evidence
Small pilot study without controls. Promising feasibility data but no comparator group to assess placebo effect.
When this study was published
2020 pilot study. Demonstrates feasibility of precision cannabis dosing in hospital settings.
The bigger picture
Precision dosing technology could bridge the gap between the uncontrolled dosing of traditional cannabis consumption and the pharmaceutical standards expected in hospital settings.
Questions still open
- Would cannabis-naive patients respond similarly to microdosed THC? Could this device replace opioids for certain types of hospital pain management? What is the minimum effective THC dose for different pain conditions?
Common questions
How much THC was in each dose?
Why can't patients smoke cannabis in the hospital?
Read the original research
Cannabis treatment in hospitalized patients using the SYQE inhaler: Results of a pilot open-label study.
Palliative & supportive care, 18(1), 12-17
Citation
Vulfsons, Simon; Ognitz, Miriam; Bar-Sela, Gil; Raz-Pasteur, Ayelet; Eisenberg, Elon. (2020). Cannabis treatment in hospitalized patients using the SYQE inhaler: Results of a pilot open-label study.. Palliative & supportive care, 18(1), 12-17. https://doi.org/10.1017/S147895151900021X
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