The Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Treating Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis: a Systematic Review of Reviews

@article{Nielsen2018TheUO,
  title={The Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Treating Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis: a Systematic Review of Reviews},
  author={Suzanne Nielsen and Rada Germanos and Megan Weier and John David Pollard and Louisa Degenhardt and Wayne D. Hall and Nicholas S. Buckley and Michael Farrell},
  journal={Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports},
  year={2018},
  volume={18},
  pages={1-12}
}
Purpose of ReviewPharmaceutical cannabinoids such as nabiximols, nabilone and dronabinol, and plant-based cannabinoids have been investigated for their therapeutic potential in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. This review of reviews aimed to synthesise findings from high quality systematic reviews that examined the safety and effectiveness of cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis. We examined the outcomes of disability and disability progression, pain, spasticity, bladder function… 
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71 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
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Background Citations
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Methods Citations
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71 Citations

Citation Type

Citation Type

Cannabinoids for the treatment of spasticity
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Paediatric studies of spasticity provide low quality evidence and are inadequate to inform clinical practice, and should be considered in the context of the narrow therapeutic index of cannabinoids forSpasticity and adverse effects.
Cost-Effectiveness of Medicinal Cannabis for Management of Refractory Symptoms Associated With Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations.
  • D. Erku, S. Shrestha, P. Scuffham
  • Medicine
    Value in health : the journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research
  • 2021
TLDR
Medicinal cannabis-based products may be cost-effective treatment options for MS spasticity, Dravet syndrome, and neuropathic pain, although the literature is nascent.
Medical Cannabis for Older Patients
TLDR
A pragmatic clinical approach to a rational dialogue with older patients is proposed, highlighting the importance of individual benefit–risk assessment and shared patient–clinician decision making.
Efficacy of cannabinoids for treating paediatric spasticity in cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury: what is the evidence?
TLDR
Until there is better evidence of effectiveness and safety in paediatric spasticity related to CP, it would be prudent not to use nabiximols to treat this condition, and the burden is placed on advocates of the use of nabixomols in this condition to provide better evidence.
Cannabinoids for the Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
TLDR
Treatment efficacy was associated with baseline dementia severity and dose, but not dementia subtype, age, or sex, and preliminary evidence for the efficacy and tolerability of cannabinoids as treatments for NPS is found.
The Role of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Chronic Pain Management: An Assessment of Current Evidence
TLDR
It is difficult to make a recommendation for the use of CBD in chronic pain management, but it is important to note that there are many CBD products currently available as supplements, but these products are non-pharmaceuticals and lack the appropriate clinical studies to support their efficacy claims.
An Update of Current Cannabis-Based Pharmaceuticals in Pain Medicine
TLDR
Clinicians are provided with an update of currently available and promising developmental cannabis pharmaceutical derivatives which may stand to greatly benefit patients with otherwise difficult-to-treat chronic conditions.
Understanding the evidence for medical cannabis and cannabis-based medicines for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain
TLDR
The current evidence for medical cannabis and cannabis-based medicines in the treatment and management of chronic non-cancer pain is outlined and limits on generalisability of previous findings are discussed.
Prospects for the Use of Cannabinoids in Oncology and Palliative Care Practice: A Review of the Evidence
TLDR
There is an increased interest in the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of symptoms in cancer and palliative care patients, and their multimodal action may make them an attractive alternative, particularly in patients with multiple concomitant symptoms of mild and moderate intensity.
A Mapping Literature Review of Medical Cannabis Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Evidence in Approved Conditions in the USA from 2016 to 2019
TLDR
The body of evidence for medical cannabis requires more rigorous evaluation before consideration as a treatment option for many conditions, and evidence necessary to inform policy and treatment guidelines is currently insufficient for many condition.
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