A study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine indicated that vaporized cannabis containing standardized percentages of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produced sustained improvements in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Roughly 2.8 million people worldwide live with this chronic inflammatory neurodegenerative disease. Symptoms include vision problems, cognitive difficulties, muscle weakness, and spasms.
The research team evaluated the efficacy of a vaporized cannabis formulation containing 13% CBD and 9% THC administered to MS patients. The researchers followed a cohort of 69 MS patients recruited from the Multiple Sclerosis Outpatient Clinic of the Second Department of Neurology at Attikon University Hospital. The participants range in age from 18 to 60 years old. They had a confirmed MS diagnosis and a disease duration of roughly three or more years. In addition, the participants experienced symptoms of muscle spasticity in the upper or lower extremities and engaged in physical therapy sessions at least twice a week.
The research team assessed participants’ symptoms of bladder dysfunction, muscle spasticity, and disability progression rate at baseline, at three months, and at six months. The study also included evaluations such as the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), the Post Void Residual (PVR) volume, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The researchers also documented cannabis use frequency and dose amounts, as well as the occurrence of adverse effects.
The research team observed significant improvement across all outcome assessments following patient cannabis use. The EDSS score decreased over time, which signified a reduction in disability progression rate. MAS scores highlighted substantial improvement in muscle spasticity. PVR volume improved over the six months. Urine bladder function also significantly improved.
This study provided key insights into how vaporized THC: CBD formulations help manage MS symptoms. Many studies have highlighted how medical cannabis improves the quality of life for MS patients. However, more research on the efficacy and safety of cannabis formulations is needed to understand how cannabis products can reduce MS symptoms.
Sources: Journal of Clinical Medicine, NORML
