Pubdate: Mon, 14 May 2012
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 Paul Irish
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Paul Irish
Referenced: Smoked cannabis for spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a
randomized, placebo-controlled trial: 
http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2012/05/14/cmaj.110837.full.pdf+html

MARIJUANA RELIEVES MUSCLES TIGHTNESS, PAIN OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: STUDY

Smoking marijuana can relieve muscle tightness, spasticity
(contractions) and pain often experienced by those with multiple
sclerosis, says research out of the University of California, San
Diego School of Medicine.

The findings, just published in the Canadian Medical Association
Journal, included a controlled trial with 30 participants to
understand whether inhaled cannabis would help complicated cases where
existing pharmaceuticals are ineffective or trigger adverse side effects.

MS is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous
system, which is made up of the brain and spinal cord.

The disease attacks the myelin, the protective covering wrapped around
the nerves of the central nervous system, and - among other symptoms -
can cause loss of balance, impaired speech, extreme fatigue, double
vision and paralysis.

The average age of the research participants was 50 years with 63 per
cent of the study population female.

More than half the participants needed walking aids and 20 per cent
used wheelchairs.

Rather than rely on self-reporting by patients regarding their muscle
spasticity - a subjective measure - health professionals rated each
patient's joints on the modified Ashworth scale, a common objective
tool to evaluate intensity of muscle tone.

The researchers found that the individuals in the group that smoked
cannabis experienced an almost one-third decrease on the Ashworth
scale - 2.74 points from a baseline score of 9.3 - meaning spasticity
improved, compared to the placebo group.

As well, pain scores decreased by about 50 per cent.

"We saw a beneficial effect of smoked cannabis on treatment-resistant
spasticity and pain associated with multiple sclerosis among our
participants," says Dr. Jody Corey-Bloom of the university's
department of neuroscience.

Researchers found that, although generally well-tolerated, the
cannabis had the expected short-term but acute cognitive effects.

Corey-Bloom says larger, long-term studies are needed to confirm
findings and determine whether lower doses can result in beneficial
effects with less cognitive impact.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada says Canadians have one of
the highest rates of the disease in the world. The disease is the most
common neurological diseases affecting young adults in this country
and every day three more people in Canada are diagnosed with MS.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D