CANNABIDIOL AS A THERAPEUTIC ALTERNATIVE FOR CHRONIC PAIN

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Chronic pain represents one of the greatest public health challenges, affecting approximately 45% of the Brazilian population, predominantly adult and elderly women. Traditionally, the treatment of this condition involves analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and opioids, drugs that, although effective in the short term, are associated with significant adverse effects such as dependence and tolerance. In this context, cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound derived from Cannabis sativa, emerges as a promising therapeutic alternative due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic properties. Thus, this study aimed to analyze recent scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of CBD in the management of chronic pain. METHODOLOGY: This study was configured as an exploratory literature review, based on research published between 2019 and 2025, obtained from the BVS, PubMed, and SciELO databases. Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) such as "Cannabidiol," "Chronic pain," "Pain treatment," and "Cannabinoids" were used. After screening, articles addressing the use of cannabidiol in different clinical contexts were included, while those with inconclusive or duplicate results were excluded. The data were organized in a table containing authors, year, objectives, and main findings, allowing for a comparative analysis between the selected studies. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results showed that cannabidiol has significant efficacy in reducing pain and improving quality of life in patients with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Furthermore, CBD proved capable of reducing anxiety and improving sleep. Studies have shown that CBD acts by modulating the endocannabinoid system, inhibiting inflammatory mediators and decreasing nociceptive sensitivity. Compared to conventional drugs, cannabidiol has shown a lower risk of dependence and adverse effects, being considered a safe and promising therapeutic option. However, some studies have reported variations in efficacy according to the dose and formulation used, indicating the need for standardization in clinical protocols. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that cannabidiol constitutes an effective and safe therapeutic alternative for the treatment of chronic pain, promoting clinical and emotional benefits to patients. Its use can complement traditional therapies, reducing the use of opioids and other high-risk analgesics. However, it is recommended that long-term, controlled clinical trials with standardized doses be conducted in order to consolidate the scientific evidence and establish safer clinical guidelines for the use of CBD in pain management.