Oxford, United Kingdom: Medicinal cannabis extracts significantly reduce spasticity and other symptoms compared to placebo in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), according to clinical trial data published in the August issue of the journal Multiple Sclerosis, Clinical and Laboratory Research.
One hundred and sixty patients participated in the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Volunteers were administered cannabis extracts containing equal amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound in marijuana, or placebo via an oromucosal spray. Researchers used a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to evaluate the extracts’ impact on patients most troublesome symptom, as well as other MS-associated disabilities, including pain, tremor, and fatigue.
Authors found that cannabis extracts reduced patients’ primary mean symptom score compared to placebo. In particular, spasticity VAS scores were “significantly reduced” by the extracts in comparison to placebo.
Extracts had “no significant adverse effects on cognition or mood and intoxication was generally mild,” authors added.
Previous clinical data published last year in the journal Clinical Rehabilitation concluded that cannabis extracts can improve neurogenic symptoms unresponsive to standard treatments, including MS-associated pain, impaired bladder control, muscle spasms and spasticity.
British authorities are currently reviewing the medicinal cannabis extract Sativex, produced by GW Pharmaceuticals, for licensing and regulatory approval in the UK.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Multiple Scelrosis, Clinical and Laboratory Research is available online at:
http://www.arnoldpublishers.com/journals/pages/mul_scl/