Research suggests that a large proportion of people living with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are using cannabis to self-manage symptoms, or at least believe there are potential benefits in using this drug. Since community nurses are frontline caregivers, they are likely to encounter PwMS who use cannabis within the home setting. The literature base surrounding this topic is largely driven by quantitative research examining the effectiveness of cannabis as a medicine. This review found that qualitative research exploring the experiences of PwMS who use cannabis is lacking worldwide and is completely absent within UK nursing literature. PwMS using cannabis may not feel safe discussing this with health professionals, as they might fear being judged. This literature review discusses how people perceive the effectiveness of cannabis in helping symptoms associated with MS, while also considering the stigma and legal concerns people face. This review may help community nurses inform their practice and enhance person-centred relationships between them and PwMS.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2019.24.6.265 | DOI Listing |
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Efficacy of cannabinoids compared to the current standard treatments on symptom relief in persons with multiple sclerosis (CANSEP trial): study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.
Front Neurol
July 2024
Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada.
Article Synopsis
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease affecting over 90,000 Canadians, and current treatments only offer limited relief; many patients turn to cannabis for symptom management despite the lack of solid scientific backing.
- This clinical trial seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of various doses of cannabinoids (THC and CBD), both individually and in combination, for alleviating spasticity in MS patients, comparing results against a placebo group.
- The study will involve 250 participants and utilize a double-blind, randomized design, measuring outcomes such as self-reported spasticity, pain, and quality of life over a period of four weeks, with potential for an additional 12-week treatment phase for those who respond well.
A preliminary investigation of sex differences in cognitive and fMRI changes following 28 days of cannabis abstinence.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
September 2024
Sunnybrook Research Institute, Division of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:
Background: Previous studies have investigated the influence of cannabis on cognition among people with MS (pwMS), yet the influence of sex in the context of cannabis use remains unexplored. We aim to fill this gap by investigating cannabis-sex related differences in verbal learning, memory and processing speed in association with fMRI (resting state, and task-based) metrics.
Method: Our sample consisted of 19 long-term, frequent cannabis users (8 males, 11 females).
The effects of cannabis abstinence on cognition and resting state network activity in people with multiple sclerosis: A preliminary study.
Neuroimage Clin
September 2024
Sunnybrook Research Institute, Division of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:
We previously reported that people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) who have been using cannabis frequently over many years can have significant cognitive improvements accompanied by concomitant task-specific changes in brain activation following 28 days of cannabis abstinence. We now hypothesize that the default Mode Network (DMN), known to modulate cognition, would also show an improved pattern of activation align with cognitive improvement following 28 days of drug abstinence. Thirty three cognitively impaired pwMS who were frequent cannabis users underwent a neuropsychological assessment and fMRI at baseline.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCharacterizing cannabis use in a sample of adults with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain: An observational study.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
July 2023
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle WA, USA.
Background: Although cannabis has become an increasingly common method for pain management among people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the types of cannabis products used as well as the characteristics of cannabis users. The current study aimed to (1) describe the prevalence of cannabis use and the routes of administration of cannabis products in adults with an existing chronic pain condition and MS, (2) to examine differences in demographic and disease-related variables between cannabis users and non-users, and (3) to examine differences between cannabis users and non-users in pain-related variables, including pain intensity, pain interference, neuropathic pain, pain medication use, and pain-related coping.
Methods: Secondary analysis of baseline data from participants with multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic pain (N = 242) enrolled in an RCT comparing mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and usual care for chronic pain.
Nabiximols oromucosal spray in patients with multiple sclerosis-related bladder dysfunction: A prospective study.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
June 2023
Department of Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Via Celoria n° 11, Milan 20133, Italy.
Background: Spasticity and urinary disturbances can profoundly impact the daily lives of persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Cannabis has been associated with improvement in sphincteric disturbances. To our knowledge, few studies have evaluated the effect of nabiximols oromucosal spray (Sativex®) on urinary disturbances by instrumental methods.
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