Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with cannabinoids but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials .
There was an increased risk of short-term AEs with cannabinoids , including serious AEs .
Common AEs included dizziness , dry mouth , nausea , fatigue , somnolence , euphoria , vomiting , disorientation , drowsiness , confusion , loss of balance , and hallucination .
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There was moderate- quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity .
There was low- quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy , weight gain in HIV infection , sleep disorders , and Tourette syndrome .
Cannabinoids were associated with an increased risk of short-term AEs
IMPORTANCE Cannabis and cannabinoid drugs are widely used to treat disease or alleviate symptoms , but their efficacy for specific indications is not clear .
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the benefits and adverse events ( AEs ) of cannabinoids .
Randomized controlled trial of cannabis-based medicine in spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis.
Symptoms relating to spasticity are common in multiple sclerosis ( MS ) and can be difficult to treat . We have investigated the efficacy , safety and tolerability of a st and ardized oromucosal whole plant cannabis-based medicine ( CBM ) containing delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) and cannabidiol ( CBD ) , upon spasticity in MS . A total of 189 subjects with definite MS and spasticity were r and omized to receive daily doses of active preparation ( n = 124 ) or placebo ( n = 65 ) in a double blind study over 6 weeks . The primary endpoint was the change in a daily subject-recorded Numerical Rating Scale of spasticity . Secondary endpoints included a measure of spasticity ( Ashworth Score ) and a subjective measure of spasm . The primary efficacy analysis on the intention to treat ( ITT ) population ( n = 184 ) showed the active preparation to be significantly superior ( P = 0.048 ) . Secondary efficacy measures were all in favour of active preparation but did not achieve statistical significance . The responder analysis favoured active preparation , 40 % of subjects achieved > 30 % benefit ( P = 0.014 ) . Eight withdrawals were attributed to adverse events ( AEs ) ; six were on active preparation and two on placebo . We conclude that this CBM may represent a useful new agent for treatment of the symptomatic relief of spasticity in MS
Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with cannabinoids but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials .
There was an increased risk of short-term AEs with cannabinoids , including serious AEs .
Common AEs included dizziness , dry mouth , nausea , fatigue , somnolence , euphoria , vomiting , disorientation , drowsiness , confusion , loss of balance , and hallucination .
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There was moderate- quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity .
There was low- quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy , weight gain in HIV infection , sleep disorders , and Tourette syndrome .
Cannabinoids were associated with an increased risk of short-term AEs
IMPORTANCE Cannabis and cannabinoid drugs are widely used to treat disease or alleviate symptoms , but their efficacy for specific indications is not clear .
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the benefits and adverse events ( AEs ) of cannabinoids .