A new study found that medical marijuana pills and spray improve symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), such as pain and muscle rigidity. This will provide MS patients and doctors an alternative way to treat the symptoms.
According to the National Institutes of Health, multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the brain and the spinal cord affecting more women than men. The disorder becomes visible between 20 and 40 years old but can be observed at any age. MS attacks when nerve damage occurs because of inflammation on the brain area, optic nerve, and spinal cord. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the attack but common signs include muscle spasms, problems walking, frequent need to urinate, double vision, eye discomfort, hearing loss, and fatigue.
In this study, the researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University's MS Center found that man-made marijuana pills, known as dronabinol and nabilone, and spray are effective in reducing spasms and pain brought by MS.
They reviewed more than four decades of research on alternative medicine treatments for MS including use of marijuana, which are known to have severe side effects like seizures, dizziness, depression, and memory problems. They studied the use of tetrahydrocannabinol and oral cannabis extract (marijuana pill), and Sativex oromucosal cannabinoid spray (marijuana spray).
They found that the benefits of taking marijuana pills and spray outweigh the side effects of it. They suggest that it can also be prescribed to MS patients as an "off-label" use but under a medical practitioner's discretion.
They also found that an average of 56.5 percent MS patients, which were women, use different alternative therapies to treat their symptoms. However, since the therapies were not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the safety of it were unknown.
"It's a very common practice in the MS patient population to try alternative therapies," said Vijayshree Yadav, M.D. the author of the guidelines, to Healthday.
"The problem is there was never an evidence-based recommendation for MS patients or those taking care of patients," added Yadav. "This is a first step to educate each audience."
Further details of this study can be read in the March 25 issue of Neurology.
