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Does CBD Oil work for pain relief?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 7, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound that is usually extracted from industrial hemp.

Many plants contain cannabinoids, and people often confuse CBD with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is another type of cannabinoid. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause a “high” or euphoric effect because it does not affect the same receptors as THC.

By law, industrial hemp from which CBD is extracted must contain no more than 0.3 percent THC to be considered hemp, otherwise, growers are at risk of prosecution under federal law.

CBD has been credited with relieving anxiety, inflammation, insomnia, and pain, although currently, the most scientific proof rests with its effects in people with epilepsy. Epidiolex is a prescription CBD oil that was FDA approved in June 2018 for two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome.

Preliminary studies have shown a favorable effect for CBD for reducing pain; however, more research is needed in the form of larger well-designed trials of longer duration to determine its long-term efficacy and safety.

CBD is thought to work by reducing inflammation in the brain and nervous system via an effect on cannabinoid and other receptors, ion channels, anandamide (a substance that regulates our response to pain) and enzymes.

An extensive 2018 review on the use of cannabis and cannabidiol products for pain relief stated:

Most studies involved cannabis use or combination CBD/THC products; few studies involved only CBD oil. Many manufacturers of CBD products have based their claims on cannabis studies which have shown a favorable effect; however, it is not apparent whether CBD by itself does have these effects. More trials are needed.

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Does Epidiolex contain marijuana?

Epidiolex contains just one of the many chemical substances found in marijuana, a cannabinoid called cannabidiol (CBD). Continue reading

What type of drug is Epidiolex?

Epidiolex is a small molecule drug that contains the active ingredient cannabidiol (CBD), which is one of the many cannabinoids and other chemicals found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Continue reading

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