Medical Cannabis and Multiple Sclerosis
Medical Cannabis To Manage Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
- Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds secreted by cannabis flowers. Compounds called terpenes give cannabis its distinct smell. The concentrations and combinations of the cannabinoids and terpenes vary from plant to plant and among the different strains of cannabis. When inhaled, consumed as an edible or used on the skin as a topical preparation, the cannabinoids bind to cannabinoid docking sites, or receptors, in the human body and alter nerve transmission in the brain.The two major cannabinoids are:
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is thought to be the most psychoactive substance in cannabis. A psychoactive substance changes the way the brain functions and alters perception, mood, consciousness and/or behavior. The concentration of THC in cannabis varies between 1% and 24%.
- Cannabidiol (CBD) is the major non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. The concentration of CBD in cannabis is typically less than 1%, but many strains have higher CBD concentrations.
potential uses of medical cannabis is ongoing. " c-nmssatomrichtext_nmssatomrichtext-host=""> While cannabis refers to the plant cannabis sativa, medical cannabis — also called medical marijuana — is any cannabis-derived product used for medical purposes. There are multiple medical cannabis products. These include:- Inhaled products (smoked flower or vaporized extracts)
- Oral formulations (liquid oils, tinctures, sprays, extracts and edibles)
- Formulations for topical application (lotions, gels, creams, etc.)
- Certain forms of epilepsy
- Nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy treatments
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Glaucoma
- Some MS symptoms
- Other conditions and symptoms
Medical Cannabis and MS Symptoms
spasticity. Evidence from randomized controlled trials for the effectiveness of medical cannabis to manage spasticity suggests that treating MS-related spasticity with non-inhaled cannabinoids is a reasonable option that may produce a modest benefit. As with other treatment decisions, it is important to discuss this choice with your healthcare team." c-nmssatomrichtext_nmssatomrichtext-host=""> Many people living with MS experience spasticity. Evidence from randomized controlled trials for the effectiveness of medical cannabis to manage spasticity suggests that treating MS-related spasticity with non-inhaled cannabinoids is a reasonable option that may produce a modest benefit. As with other treatment decisions, it is important to discuss this choice with your healthcare team.ataxia (challenges with balance and gait), tremor and sleep issues. THC and THC with CBD have shown benefits for bladder dysfunction in some studies in people with MS. However, these findings were not consistent across all studies. Cannabinoids are not currently recommended for use in MS-related ataxia, tremor or sleep dysfunction." c-nmssatomrichtext_nmssatomrichtext-host=""> Some studies have evaluated the impact of cannabinoids for MS-related symptoms including bladder dysfunction, ataxia (challenges with balance and gait), tremor and sleep issues. THC and THC with CBD have shown benefits for bladder dysfunction in some studies in people with MS. However, these findings were not consistent across all studies. Cannabinoids are not currently recommended for use in MS-related ataxia, tremor or sleep dysfunction.
Potential Adverse Effects of Cannabis
- Short-term use leads to:
- Euphoria
- Impaired attention
- Impaired judgement
- Acute hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Tachycardia (increased heart rate)
- Hyperemesis syndrome (a cyclic vomiting syndrome)
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Chronic bronchitis
- Testicular cancer
- Depression, anxiety, psychosis and schizophrenia can occur in at-risk individuals
- Physiologic tolerance, dependence and withdrawal symptoms
- CBD is not intoxicating and has minimal psychotropic effects. Short-term dose-dependent side effects of CBD include drowsiness, diarrhea and loss of appetite. There are not enough existing studies about the long-term side effects of CBD.
- People living with MS may have a higher risk of vertigo, dry mouth, fatigue, imbalance, memory impairment and drowsiness in addition to the adverse effects that anyone may experience using cannabinoids.When used regularly and over time, whole-plant cannabis adversely impacts cognitive performance in people living with MS. However, in the short-term, medicinal cannabis does not adversely affect cognition and may even improve cognition when used to manage MS symptoms such as spasticity and/or pain.
