Study: Cannabis Cream Reduces Chronic Kidney Disease-Related Itching in Hemodialysis Patients

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A new double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Kidney Medicine found that a cannabis-containing cream significantly reduced itching in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis.

The study, conducted by researchers from Thammasat University in Thailand, involved 60 participants, all experiencing moderate to severe CKD-associated pruritus.

The participants were divided into two groups: one received the cannabis cream, while the other received a placebo. After four weeks, those using the cannabis cream experienced a notable reduction in itching severity. The average worst itching intensity numerical rating scale (WI-NRS) score dropped from 6.7 at the start of the study to 2.6. In comparison, the placebo group’s score dropped to 3.6. After adjusting for baseline differences, the cannabis group showed a statistically significant improvement over the placebo group, with a mean difference of -1.1 (P = 0.02).

While Skindex-10 scores, which assess the impact of skin conditions on quality of life, also improved in the cannabis group, the difference was not statistically significant after accounting for baseline scores. No side effects were reported in either group during the study.

“In conclusion, this study demonstrated that a cannabis-containing cream might be an effective treatment for CKD-associated pruritus in hemodialysis patients with limited adverse side effects”, concludes the study.
“Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations of follow-up are suggested to ensure the reliability of the results, especially regarding itch-related quality of life.”

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