Muscle Spasms and Spasticity
Dr. Michael Duplessie, FRCS Ophth (Glasgow), M.B., B.Ch., L.R.C.P. & S.I., B.A.O., B.A.
Muscle Spasms and Spasticity
Medical marijuana has been shown to have promising effects in treating a variety of symptoms related to Huntington’s Disease (HD). A systematic review was conducted on PubMed and EBSCO electronic databases to identify relevant studies reported after 2002. The review analyzed the effects of medical marijuana on tremor, spasm, spasticity, chorea, sleep quality, and HD-specific rating scales. The study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed by three reviewers.
The results of the review revealed strong evidence for significant improvement in neurological symptoms of spasms, tremors, spasticity, chorea, and quality of sleep following treatment with medical marijuana. The analysis of specific motor symptoms also revealed significant improvement after treatment in tremors and rigidity. Furthermore, all pretreatment and post-treatment measures indicated a significant increase in the average number of hours slept.
Although the results of this review are encouraging, larger scale studies are necessary to fully explore the benefits of medical marijuana in HD patients. In the meantime, clinicians may consider prescribing medical marijuana as part of their strategy for better symptomatic treatment of patients with HD. This offers hope to those suffering from HD, and highlights the importance of continued research in this area.
Medical marijuana has also been explored as a potential treatment for benign essential blepharospasm (BEB), as an adjunct to botulinum toxin. A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients certified for medical cannabis use for BEB. The study collected patient demographics, cannabis history, severity indices, and responses. Out of ten patients certified for medical cannabis use, five met the inclusion criteria, and four discontinued use. However, 75% of the remaining patients reported symptomatic improvement, highlighting the potential of medical marijuana as an accepted therapy for muscle spastic disorders. Further investigations are necessary to fully explore the potential of medical marijuana as an adjunctive therapy for BEB.
Medical Marijuana
Safe & Legal
Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to breaking conventions and helping those in need. My passion for medicine began during my time working in refugee camps in Thailand, and since then, I have made it my mission to provide care and support to those who need it most.
As a pioneer in the field of ophthalmology, I have made numerous contributions and innovations in the field of corneal transplantation and laser surgery. I am comfortable challenging conventions.
I have seen firsthand the positive impact medical marijuana can have on patients struggling with pain and anxiety.
My experiences have shown me that medical marijuana can offer significant benefits with minimal side effects, providing patients with an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical medications. Despite its potential, the government’s stance on marijuana is outdated and in need of revision.
Through my observations, I have seen prescription rates for pain, stress, insomnia, anxiety to name just a few, drastically decrease among patients who have obtained a medical marijuana card, and I believe that this is a testament to its effectiveness.
