Opioids and Cannabinoids for Osteoarthritis: Either, Both, or Neither

Pain is a prevailing symptom in osteoarthritis (OA) and greatly impacts quality of life. Pain-relieving strategies over thousands of years have included opioids and cannabinoids but require critical evaluation of efficacy and risks in this twenty-first century. This review will examine the most up-to-date evidence for use of these two categories of drugs. Contrary to the previous concept that opioids would be advantageous for OA, the emerging...