Anyone who has multiple sclerosis and who has thought about using marijuana for symptom relief, especially for spasticity, should consider the results of three new reports on the oromucosal spray marijuana (Sativex®).
One review identified which MS patients are most likely to benefit from using the THC:CBD combination in spray form. The investigators considered patients who had moderate to severe spasticity that had resisted usual therapies. They found that use of the marijuana product resulted in relevant improvements in both the quality of life and in the ability to perform typical daily activities in some patients. The benefits were significant enough to allow the MSers to return to social and physical activities. The second study evaluated data from more than 1,000 patients with spasticity who participated in clinical trials (most participants were in post-marketing studies) of the THC:CBD combination versus placebo. In addition to positive results, the researchers reported that use of spray was not associated with depression or significant mood changes nor cognitive problems after 1 year of treatment. The authors of this second study also noted that in a pilot study, use of Sativex did not have a negative impact on driving ability among users. They also pointed out that among the studies reviewed, patients tended to use lower dosages than what was reported in clinical studies (average of 5-6.4 sprays vs more than 8) and that they still were able to achieve significant improvements.
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