Table 6.
Observational studies: reported side effects from cannabinoids.
| Author, Year | Inclusion Criteria | Exclusion Criteria | Number of Participants (SCI/Total) |
Male/
Female/ Transgender |
Mean Age |
Tetraplegia/
Paraplegia |
Mean Time Since Injury | Side Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observational Studies | ||||||||
| Dunn & Davis, 1974 [63] | SCI patients using cannabis | - | 10/10 | 10/0 | NR | NR | NR | Urinary retention: 20% |
| Heinemann et al., 1991 [65] |
13-66 age, 2+ years since tSCI, English language, no cognitive impairment | - | 43/43 | 38/5 | NR | NR | NR | Marijuana use problems 6 months pre-SCI: 21%, post-SCI: 13% Needing help with marijuana use problems pre-and post-SCI: 1% |
| Grotenhermen & Schnellea, 2003 [51] | Members of Association for Cannabis as Medicine | No severe disease | 4/165 | 101/64 | Median age: 40.3 ± 12.4 (16-87) |
NR | NR | Side effects; none 73%, moderate 22%, no answer 4% Withdrawal; none 68%, moderate 18%, strong 3%, unknown 12% |
| Gortera, 2005 [52] | Members of Multiple Sclerosis society | - | ?/107 | 48/59 | Median age: 40.3 ± 12.4 (16-87) |
NR | NR | Dry mouth: 27%, sleepiness: 14%, euphoria: 13%, loss of concentration: 12%, feeling high: 11%; More frequent side effects in first few months of intake |
| Aggarwal et ala., 2009 [46] |
18+ age, pain clinic patients, access to MC with valid doctor documentation | Cannabinoid receptor 1 blocker drug rimonabant | 5/139 | 88/51 | Median age: 48 (18-84) | NR | NR | No side effects with MC |
| Shroff, 2015 [54] | 19-65 age, 1+ years since SCI, BC resident, member of paraplegic association | - | 53/53 | 42/11 | NR | NR | NR | Incapacitation |
| Andresen et al., 2017 [44] | Inclusion: 18+ age, acquired tSCI, rehab clinic patients | Incomplete questionnaires | 537/537 | 413/124 | 54.6 ± 14.6 (18-88) | 247/263, unknown: 27 | 18.2 ± 12.8 | Inertia: 63%, feeling subdued: 50%, absent-minded: 29%, risky behaviour: 27% |
| Clark et al., 2017 [47] | 18+ age, 1+ year since tSCI, some residual impairment | No painful condition, no prescription pain med | 1619/1619 | 1166/453 | 49.3 ± 14.2 | 453/1166 | 11.5 ± 9.2 | Frequent MC use 1.8x pain med misuse, occasional MC use 2.7x pain med misuse |
| Hawley et al., 2018 [49] | Cross-sectional | MC and recreational legal (Colorado, USA) | 51/116 | 95/21/0 | 47.1 ± 13.8 (22-74) | Tetra ABC: 38, para ABC: 31, tetra/para D: 41, unknown: 5 | 13.0 | Amotivation: 30%, social stigma: 26%, other: 22%, feeling dull: 19%, fatigue: 19%, paranoia: 19%, low blood pressure: 15%, physical instability: 11% |
| Bourke et al., 2019 [72] | 18+ age, SCI patients using cannabis for pain, residing in New Zealand, English speaking | Comorbid conditions inhibiting communication and participation in an interview | 8/8 | 6/2/0 | Age 20-39: n = 1, 40-59: n= 5, 60+: n=2 | Tetra: 6 Para: 2 |
NR | Dysphoria: detrimental effect on the mind and ability to participate within the community |
| Stillman et al., 2019 [75] | Cross-sectional | 39 states in USA, not disclosed; mixed legality | 353/353 | 183/107/3 | 52.74 (19-82) |
NR | 17.49 | Dry mouth: 55%, residual bad taste: 30%, dehydration: 29%, memory loss: 27%, lethargy: 26%, drowsiness: 22%, constipation: 17% |
Abbreviations: BC: British Columbia; MC: medical cannabis; min: minutes; NR: not reported; SCI: spinal cord injury; tSCI: traumatic spinal cord injury. adata listed not limited to people with SCI.