Sativex

Sativex by GW Pharmaceuticals
Sativex by GW Pharmaceuticals

Sativex, the first marijuana derivative to be sold in the market

Sativex is an extract of cannabis developed by the British drug company GW Pharmaceuticals.

In July 2010, the sale of Sativex was approved by the Spanish Ministry of Health. In Canada, Sativex has been on the market since 2005, in June 2010 its sale was authorised in the UK, and it's now available in most European countries. GW Pharmaceuticals distributes Sativex in 23 countries, including 17 countries in Europe. It is approved in the UK, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Israel, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Italy and Finland. The pharmaceutical company announced a few months ago that Sativex would be also sold in other 8 European countries, as well as Australia, New Zealand and Kuwait.

Sativex is the first marijuana-derived drug that has been approved by the Law and paves the way for other medical cannabis-based drugs.

 Use of Sativex

Sativex is used as a complementary drug for the treatment of spasticity (uncontrollable stiffness, muscle tension and spasms) in patients with multiple sclerosis, also acting against neuropathic pain. Then, according to a statement by the FAC in relation to the approval of Sativex, why is it approved only for patients with multiple sclerosis? What about cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy or those who suffer from neuropathic pain or anorexia-cachexia syndrome? All of them would be delighted if they could get hold of Sativex to alleviate their pain. We hope that logic prevails and Sativex can be used for other purposes in the future.

Sativex is a mouth spray applied under the tongue with a nozzle. Doses vary from 8 to 12 daily sprays.

GW Pharmaceuticals

GW Pharmaceuticals submitted the drug for approval in 2003, but the UK agency responsible for the standards of safety, quality and performance (Medicine Control Agency) didn't approve it until June 2010!

To launch Sativex on the market,  GW Pharmaceuticals has partnered with three major pharmaceutical companies: Otsuka, Almirall and Bayer. The latter acquired the rights to sell Sativex in the UK and Canada in 2003.

In the UK, Sativex is now funded by the National Health Service (NHS) in Wales for people with multiple sclerosis, as it has been approved by the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG). However, it is not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) in England. This means that, while the drug is available in Wales, patients in England have no access to it. (source: The Telegraph).

Also in the UK, a trial of Sativex for cancer related pain is underway. According to Cancer Research UK, advanced cancer pains can't be controlled with other strong painkillers, so this is why researchers are looking for new ways to help patients, as cannabis-based drugs can be of help.


The articles published by Alchimiaweb, S.L. are reserved for adult clients only. We would like to remind our customers that cannabis seeds are not listed in the European Community catalogue. They are products intended for genetic conservation and collecting, in no case for cultivation. In some countries it is strictly forbidden to germinate cannabis seeds, other than those authorised by the European Union. We recommend our customers not to infringe the law in any way, we are not responsible for their use.
2014-11-20 Medical marijuana

Comments in “Sativex” (1)

avatar

Sami cibo 2020-05-27
I have a chronic pains that I'm suffering is it good for me to control my pain I'm on fentanyl patch but it's not completely controlling my pains?

Alchimia Staff

Tim Alchimia 2020-05-28
Hi Sami, thanks for your question. I'm not sure about the interactions between cannabis and Fentanyl, but I would have thought that it'd be fine to use the two together. Sativex is very expensive, but its ratio of 1:1 THC to CBD is quite effective at pain relief and other therapeutic uses so would probably be of some help to you, although to be honest, you may need something more concentrated if Fentanyl isn't doing the trick. We have an interesting blog article about a patient's experience with Sativex that could offer some insights for you. The cannabinoids in Sativex are diluted at 50% with alcohol, so it's quite likely that a homemade FECO (Full Extract Cannabis Oil, also known as RSO or Rick Simpson Oil) made with a 1:1 ratio cannabis variety would offer more profound relief. In the face of poor medical access to cannabis, many patients have taken things into their own hands and started to cultivate their own medicine. We strongly believe that this is the best way to have a supply of therapeutic cannabis and the only way to be 100% certain of what exactly you're putting into your body! I hope that helps you out, best wishes and good luck!

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