3. Umbruch 4.4..2005 - Online Pot

The development of Sativex ® – a natural cannabis-based medicine 257
Figure 10. Intoxication produced by Sativex ® [58]. BL, baseline; DB, randomized, double-blind period
(weeks 1–6). Placebo crossed over to Sativex ® in weeks 7–10. Adapted from Wade et al. [58].
As can be seen from Figure 10, the maximum severity of intoxication experienced
by patients (measured using a VAS) was only approximately 20 out of
100 mm following initial exposure to Sativex ® . This severity occurs early on
in their initial titration period (within the first 2 weeks) and rapidly diminishes
over time to scores less than 5 out of 100 mm. Figure 10 also shows that the
picture is repeated in placebo patients who were then switched over to
Sativex ® . The long-term intoxication data presented in Table 3 also support
this (see also Fig. 11).
So, although a relatively small amount of intoxication may occur initially in
patients who use Sativex ® , it subsides over time, and may be easily managed
using patient self-titration, to minimize levels even further.
Table 3. Long-term intoxication produced by Sativex ® [64]
Study week No. of Mean VAS SD Median Minimum Maximum
patients score
4 330 4.84 11.69 1 0 75
12 268 3.08 8.33 0 0 62
20 211 2.04 4.75 0 0 35
28 205 2.46 6.26 0 0 42
36 184 2.83 6.77 0 0 45
44 150 3.69 10.54 0 0 77
52 121 2.26 7.29 0 0 50
60 90 1.37 6.02 0 0 53
68 62 1.92 8.94 0 0 69
VAS scale is 0–100 mm, where 0 means no intoxication and 100 is extreme intoxication.