cannabisnews.com: Oral Cannabis Beneficial To MS, Study Suggests 





Oral Cannabis Beneficial To MS, Study Suggests 
Posted by CN Staff on November 26, 2003 at 11:59:11 PT
By Barbara Kermode-Scott
Source: Medical Post 
Calgary -- The first large-scale randomized trial to assess if cannabis really does have potential benefit in treating multiple sclerosis symptoms has produced mixed results. There's some evidence that cannabis could be clinically useful in the treatment of symptoms related to MS, but more work is necessary using outcome measures that more adequately assess the effect of symptoms in chronic disease, concluded principal investigator Dr. John Zajicek, a neurologist at Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, England.
In a study published in the Lancet, 630 patients with stable MS and muscle spasticity were treated at 33 centres for 15 weeks. They received oral cannabis extract (211 patients), D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, 206 patients) or placebo (213). The study's primary outcome was a change in overall spasticity scores, using the Ashworth scale.The researchers found no evidence of a difference in spasticity scores between patients given cannabinoids compared with those given placebo. However, the patients given cannabis did report some improvements in spasticity and pain.Improvement in spasticity was reported in 61%, 60% and 46% of participants on cannabis extract, THC and placebo, respectively. These findings are consistent with those of smaller studies which have shown some subjective, but not observer-verified, improvement in disease-related spasticity with the use of cannabinoids, said Dr. Zajicek.One unexpected finding was that there were fewer hospital admissions for relapses in the two active treatment groups compared with placebo. Also, there was an improvement in walking time in all three groups (12% in the patients who received THC compared with 4% in both the cannabis extract and placebo groups)."We now have evidence that what our patients have been telling us about smoked cannabis holds up in a clinical trial," said neurologist Dr. Luanne Metz, associate professor in the department of clinical neurosciences at the University of Calgary. Further studies to evaluate cannabis as a treatment for MS are needed, suggested Dr. Metz, author of a commentary that accompanied the publication of the study . "I realize the primary outcome of the study was not met but that outcome measured one aspect of spasticity only. It doesn't correlate with function. We need to keep that in mind when we look at other things that we now know this drug does for people." Current treatments for the symptom of spasticity are very limited and of limited benefit, suggested Dr. Metz. "They're wonderful for some people but we run up against the wall of dose-limiting side-effects in most people that have significant spasticity," she said in an interview. "We need other treatments. If we have another choice that we can add after we've tried the standard treatments, I think that we need to consider that like we would any other treatment, not back off because it's cannabis."It's important to do further studies to evaluate the risks and benefits of cannabinoids, she added, pointing out there are still legal issues and real risks associated with smoking cannabis. "I cannot promote smoking." Note: However, further studies and more treatment options are still neededSource: Medical Post (CN ON)Author: Barbara Kermode-ScottPublished: November 25, 2003 Vol. 39 Issue 43Copyright: 2003 The Medical PostContact: medpost rmpublishing.comWebsite: http://www.medicalpost.com/Related Articles & Web Site:GW Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.gwpharm.com/Cannabis Helps Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosishttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17750.shtmlGW and Bayer Announce Marketing Agreement http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17741.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 10, 2004 at 14:39:58 PT
News Article from MedicalPost.com
Mental Disorders, Marijuana Don't Mix, Society Warns Schizophrenia Society urges caution when providing medical weed exemptionsBy Deana DriverFebruary 10, 2004 Volume 40 Issue 06REGINA – The Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan has sent a letter to the provincial college of physicians and surgeons urging doctors to be careful in providing exemptions for medical marijuana. Sections of the letter were reprinted in a college newsletter, suggesting physicians take a careful and complete patient history before considering an exemption.The letter said the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and its provincial counterparts put forward a very emphatic protest against the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. "This strong opposition was based on both supportive research findings and first-hand experience of care-giving families that marijuana (and other street drug usage) has been found to trigger symptoms of schizophrenia if one is genetically or otherwise predisposed to it," said the letter."Stressful life events, including marijuana usage, have been known to both bring on the symptoms initially as well as predispose one to experience repeated episodes of the onset of acute symptoms of schizophrenia. Those patients who have been known to try to cover up these symptoms by using marijuana and/or alcohol have usually suffered serious consequences, including relapsing to the point that they require hospitalization," the letter said."Very recently, members of our society reported that their ill relatives have been hinting at their interest to seek out medical specialists . . . in an effort to have marijuana prescribed for their chronic pain. Since many of these consumers can be very persuasive and manipulative, we felt we should make you and your members aware in the event that some of these persons whose medical history is unknown to your members, come shopping around for such prescriptions."The college advised any physicians assisting applicants in their bid for exemption for medical marijuana "should be aware there are a number of conditions in which the use of this product is contraindicated, one of which is a history of serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia and/or depression. Physicians assisting applicants should take a full history, including a psychiatric history, to rule out any such disorders."Copyright: 2004 The Medical Posthttp://www.medicalpost.com/mpcontent/article.jsp?content=20040210_112641_5632
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 26, 2003 at 14:44:16 PT
Thanks Gary!
Keep up the good work! MS patients need a group like the one you have. Maybe Montel will sign up! I always try to look for the possibilities.
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Comment #1 posted by Gary Storck on November 26, 2003 at 14:38:40 PT
Introducing the MS Patients Union
Some of the people who organized the Cheryl Miller Memorial Project (cheryldcmemorial.org) in Washington DC in September have joined forces to create a new organization specifically for MS patients and caregivers, the MS Patients Union.Our goal is to build on the momentum from the Memorial, which brought over a dozen MS patients and caregivers, along with other patients and supporters to DC to honor the memory of Cheryl.The first thing we did as a group in DC was to visit the local chapter of the US MS Society so patients could tell their stories. It was very moving, and very educational. Clearly, cannabis is superior to conventional MS medicines. With MS patients and caregivers working together, there will now be a voice to get the truth out about how cannabis can be an essential medicine for MS sufferers.
MS Patients Union
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