A preliminary controlled study to determine whether whole-plant cannabis extracts can improve intractable neurogenic symptoms.

OBJECTIVES:

To determine whether plant-derived cannabis medicinal extracts (CME) can alleviate neurogenic symptoms unresponsive to standard treatment, and to quantify adverse effects.

DESIGN:

A consecutive series of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled single-patient cross-over trials with two-week treatment periods.

SETTING:

Patients attended as outpatients, but took the CME at home. Subjects: Twenty-four patients with multiple sclerosis (18), spinal cord injury (4), brachial plexus damage (1), and limb amputation due to neurofibromatosis (1). Intervention: Whole-plant extracts of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), 1:1

CBD:

THC, or matched placebo were self-administered by sublingual spray at doses determined by titration against symptom relief or unwanted effects within the range of 2.5-120 mg/24 hours. Measures used: Patients recorded symptom, well-being and intoxication scores on a daily basis using visual analogue scales. At the end of each two-week period an observer rated severity and frequency of symptoms on numerical rating scales, administered standard measures of disability (Barthel Index), mood and cognition, and recorded adverse events.

RESULTS:

Pain relief associated with both THC and CBD was significantly superior to placebo. Impaired... (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)