Using cannabis for the treatment of cramps in MND
04 November 2008
Many people living with MND experience cramps, yet to date there has not been any medication proven as a treatment.

Markus Weber from St. Gallen, Switzerland presented the findings from his randomized placebo controlled trial to determine the safety and effectiveness of using THC (taken from the cannabis plant) for the treatment of cramps in people with MND.

The trial follows hypothetical evidence that the severity of cramps lessen significantly in people treated with cannabis compared to a placebo. THC has also shown to prolong survival in mouse models.

Weber began by stating that 10 per cent of MND patients already use cannabis for symptom control and to help with appetite loss and drooling.

People with severe cramps were eligible for the trial and a total of 27 patients were involved. Three quarters of the patients believed that their cramps lessened during the treatment. However it is difficult to conclude that THC was the sole reason for the lessening of the cramps. As Weber outlined, cramps lessen over time anyway. Also some patients reported an improvement not during the treatment, but afterwards, during the washout period.

Weber concluded that for the treatments of cramps in MND a dosage of THC 5 mg is well tolerated and safe. However the results that THC is effective for cramps is inconclusive.

Other aspects of the trial that Weber will analyse in the future will look at the patient’s quality of life, sleep and loss of appetite.

http://www.mndassociation.org/resear..._cannabis.html