Tinnitus, the perception of sound without an acoustic stimulus, affects various aspects of life, including sleep and mood, and can be debilitating. While current treatments consist of hearing amplification, anti-anxiolytics, and cognitive behavioral therapy, patients often experience persistent symptoms and impaired quality of life. However, a new study suggests that cannabis is commonly used among patients with tinnitus, with most users claiming it helps alleviate their symptoms.
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Understanding Cannabis Perception by Tinnitus Patients Can Help Healthcare Providers
Published in the Journal of Otolaryngology, the study was conducted by a neuro-otology clinic in Canada and surveyed 45 patients. Researchers found that 80% of respondents were actively using cannabis and reported that it helped with tinnitus-related symptoms like dizziness, anxiety, bodily pain, and sleep disturbances. Overall, 96% of respondents said that they would consider cannabis as a treatment option.
Most Tinnitus Patients Prefer Edibles, Capsules or Topicals
The survey found most patients prefer to use edibles, capsules, or topicals and about half of the respondents were concerned about potential physical health implications and psychosocial side effects. The cost of cannabis was also a concern among 29% of patients. Researchers suggest that understanding how cannabis is perceived by tinnitus patients can help healthcare providers provide appropriate patient education.
Patients Learn About Cannabis from Friends or Family Rather than Healthcare Providers
Researchers also found that more than half of the patients learned about cannabis from a friend or family member and less than a quarter had learned about cannabis from a physician or nurse. A 2020 survey conducted on 1,000 primary care patients by researchers at the University of Vermont found that only 18% of people felt their physician was a good source of information on cannabis, despite 45% reporting using cannabinoids in the past year.
Further Research is Needed to Improve Primary Care Providers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Cannabinoids
Published in The Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, the survey found that most patients viewed CBD and THC-infused products as being helpful in treating a range of symptoms, including depression, pain, arthritis, migraines, and insomnia. Investigators suggested that further research is needed to improve primary care providers’ knowledge and perceptions of cannabinoids to help them have informed conversations with patients about the risks and benefits of cannabis, especially in the setting of chronic pain.
Conclusion
The new study shows that cannabis is commonly used among patients with tinnitus, with most users claiming it helps alleviate their symptoms. This suggests that healthcare providers should consider including cannabis in their treatment options for tinnitus patients. Additionally, understanding how cannabis is perceived by tinnitus patients can help healthcare providers provide appropriate patient education.
FAQs
- What is tinnitus? Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an acoustic stimulus, which can affect various aspects of life, including sleep and mood.
- How is tinnitus currently treated? Current treatments consist of hearing amplification, anti-anxiolytics, and cognitive behavioral therapy, but patients often experience persistent symptoms and impaired quality of life.
- What did the Canadian study find about cannabis and tinnitus patients? The study found that 80% of respondents were actively using cannabis and reported that it helped with tinnitus-related symptoms like dizziness, anxiety, bodily pain, and sleep disturbances. Overall, 96% of respondents said that they would consider cannabis as a treatment option.
- How do most tinnitus patients prefer to use cannabis? Most patients prefer to use edibles, capsules, or topicals.
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