CBD in multiple sclerosis: what does the research say
Cannabis extracts have recently been investigated for their potential role in treating disease and its symptoms, and the results are promising. In this article, you will learn how CBD and THC are used in the treatment of MS and its symptoms, and the limitations associated with this natural medicine.
Can CBD oil help with MS? What are its benefits?
In 2018, a pharmaceutical product using CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) called Sativex® was approved by FDA for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Sativex® (a pharmaceutical combination of CBD and THC) has been shown to help with muscle spasms, bladder dysfunction and neuropathic pain - all common symptoms of MS. CBD has also been shown to inhibit the ability of immune cells to attack the myelin sheath on our nerve cells, which is the primary cause of MS progression. It is important to note that there is still no cure for MS. CBD and other remedies can help slow the progression of the disease and manage individual symptoms.
Benefits of using CBD in MS
- Reduces neurological inflammation
- Reduces muscle spasms
- Prevents T-cell
- infiltration and slows disease progression
- Relieves neuropathic pain
- Slows the development of autoimmune problems
- Supports bladder control
1. Inhibits brain inflammation
MS, like many other health conditions, is characterized by an underlying inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation itself is an extremely complex process and often involves dozens of inflammatory messengers, each interacting differently. Researchers have identified key inflammatory messengers associated with MS. This designation is being used to develop new treatment options.
In MS, primary inflammatory markers include TNFa, IL-lp, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12 and IFNs. CBD has been shown to reduce the activity of all these inflammatory markers and activate other inflammatory processes in microglial cells, which are abundantly found in the human brain. The overall effect is to reduce neurological inflammation leading to the destruction of myelin, the primary cause of disease progression.
2. Reduces muscle spasticity
A 2012 meta-analysis looked at a series of clinical trials from 1980 to 2012 to assess the effects of CBD and THC on MS-related muscle spasticity. They found that, overall, CBD and THC extracts are well tolerated and offer symptom improvement even in patients who are not relieved by conventional anticonvulsant medications.
3. May prevent T-cell infiltration and slow disease progression
MS begins with low-grade inflammation in the brain. Specialized cells known as T-cells pass through the blood-brain barrier and gather around nerve fibers. These T-cells are one of the main components of our immune system. You can think of them as our immune soldiers deployed to fight infection.
In the case of MS, these T-cells choose to attack the myelin sheath around the nerve fibres, which they ultimately damage and destroy. One of the main goals of treatment is to stop these T-cells from damaging the body and prevent them from passing through the blood-brain barrier.
CBD has been shown to slow the movement of T-cells across the blood-brain barrier and reduce the inflammatory response associated with the disease.
4. Relieves neuropathic pain
Sativex® has been involved in a number of clinical trials to determine its effects on various MS symptoms, including neuropathic pain. This study found that patients taking Sativex® experienced a significant reduction in pain scores in the last week of treatment.
In other studies, CBD has been shown to be beneficial for various types of pain, including neuropathic pain, cancer pain, and arthritic pain.
Guide to using CBD in multiple sclerosis
CBD is a useful adjunct to alleviate the symptoms of MS and may even be able to slow the progression of the disease. Most of the research involving CBD in MS has used a combination of CBD and THC in a 1:1 ratio. The two cannabinoids appear to work synergistically and together provide relief from the symptoms of the disease. In many countries, products containing THC are illegal. However, MS is one of the few diseases for which medical cannabis is usually prescribed.
Tips on how to make the best use of CBD in multiple sclerosis
Be sure to check the quality of CBD products before buying - poor quality products often contain impurities that can make the disease worse. Look for certificates of analysis and products from companies that use organic hemp.
Don't rely on CBD gummies for your daily dose of CBD. These are high in sugar, which is linked to MS. A better option is oils, tinctures or capsules. Combine CBD with other dietary and lifestyle modifications that lead to the alleviation of MS symptoms.
Always talk to your doctor before taking CBD or other cannabis products, especially if you are taking other medications.
Even if you don't have the option to get products containing both THC and CBD or don't want the psychoactive effects of THC, you can still use most CBD products. CBD will provide relief from several key symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
What type of CBD products are best for RS?
The best solution is to get a full-spectrum CBD product. These products contain a variety of cannabinoids, terpenes and other phytochemicals from the cannabis plant. Each of these compounds along with the others create the overall effects of CBD oil.
With RS, it is especially important to find an oil that has had third party testing to ensure that it is free of contaminants. Contaminants such as arsenic, mercury or cadmium can worsen the disease by causing further damage to neurons.
There are several products that people with MS use to help combat the symptoms of the disease:
CBD oils - this is the most common form of CBD supplement for MS
CBD capsules - offer the same benefits as CBD oils without the need to measure the dose
CBD gummies - similar to CBD capsules but rarely available in broad-spectrum forms
CBD concentrates - shatters, waxes and dabs deliver large doses of CBD in a small volume of material
CBD vape pens - offer the fastest onset of effects but have the shortest duration
What is the dose of CBD in multiple sclerosis?
The dose of CBD varies from patient to patient, so it's important to take some time to find out what works best for each person. Most MS patients used a higher than usual dose (approximately 2 mg per kg or more) during the research.
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
MS is an autoimmune disease that disrupts the myelin sheath around nerve cells. Without myelin, nerves cannot transmit messages to the rest of the body or to the brain.
The cause of MS is difficult to determine in most cases, but usually involves an underlying autoimmune disorder. These occur when the body's immune system starts attacking and destroying myelin on nerve cells in the brain.
There is no cure for MS. Most treatment options are aimed at slowing progression and relieving symptoms.
MS can have different levels of severity. The severity of symptoms can range from mild to severe. However, the life expectancy of those affected is generally the same as that of people without the disease. Some reports suggest an approximately six-year difference between people with MS and those without the disease.
What are the symptoms of MS?
- Difficulty speaking (dysarthria)
- Involuntary eye movements (nystagmus)
- Tremor
- Constipation
- Sexual dysfunction
- Visual abnormalities
- Weakness- Spasticity
- Urinary dysfunction
- Cognitive impairment
- Tingling and pricking sensation
- Seizures
- Difficulty swallowing
- Breathing disorders
- Itching
- Headache
What causes MS?
Around 1 in 700 people are diagnosed with MS at some point in their lives. These figures are similar in all developed areas of the world. Twin studies on the disease have shown that although the causes of the disease have genetic components, the problem is much deeper. In identical twins, if one has MS, the other has only a 30% chance of developing the disease. It is much less than other genetic disorders.
It is difficult to pinpoint the individual causes of MS, it is more than likely that the onset of the disease is a combination of many different factors. There are several factors that medical researchers believe are related to the disability. The more risk factors present, the higher the chances of developing MS.
Risk factors for the development of MS
- Age (most common between 20 and 50 years of age)
- Gender (women are more than twice as likely to develop MS as men)
- Ethnicity (European descent carries the highest rate of RS)
- Genetics (mutations in the HLA-DR2 gene can develop MS)
- Vitamin D deficiency.
- Viral infection (EBV, cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster)
- Other autoimmune diseases
- Exposure to heavy metals
Four different types of RS
1. Clinically isolated syndrome
This is the first episode of MS symptoms. The first sign of the disease is usually a sudden onset of symptoms that last more than 24 hours. If this occurs only once, it is referred to as clinically isolated. When these symptoms return, we can start to classify them as one of the specific forms of MS listed below.
2. Relapsing-remitting MS
This form of MS is characterised by sudden attacks of intense symptoms followed by periods of remission. The condition gradually worsens over time, often over many years. Approximately 85% of people with MS have this form of the disease.
3. Primary progressive MS
This form of MS involves a steady progression of symptoms without remission. On average, it affects approximately 15% of MS cases. Primary progressive MS involves a steady attack on the myelin that produces a predictable worsening of symptoms over time.
Periods may occur from time to time during which the symptoms seem to remain the same for a long time. However, it is not clear why in some cases the progress of the disease stops for a time before continuing to progress. Good management of MS will encourage these periods to be more frequent, but this is not possible in all cases.
4. Secondary progressive MS
It is a hybrid of relapsing-remitting and primary progressive MS. Symptoms usually begin with initial episodes of relapse or remission, then progress to periods with a more stable course of symptoms.
How is MS treated?
The most debilitating symptoms of MS are fatigue, muscle spasms/weakness and neuropathic pain. Therefore, the primary goal of treatment, in addition to slowing disease progression, is to address these symptoms.
Opioid and corticosteroid analgesics are often used to treat severe cases of pain. Otherwise, other analgesics such as acetaminophen are preferred because they produce fewer side effects and have less potential for addiction.
Cannabis extracts - including CBD and THC - are also popular treatments for MS-related pain. Emotional changes are common in this condition, so antidepressants and mood stabilisers are often prescribed.
Drugs used in multiple sclerosis:
Antidepressants - to treat depression as a symptom of the condition.
Anti-inflammatory drugs - TNF-a, NF-kB, modulators of eicosanoid synthesis and glucocorticoids.
Aubagio (teriflunomide) - used in relapsing-remitting MS.
Cannabis extract (CBD) - helps relieve MS symptoms and may slow the progression of the disease.
Copaxone (Glatiramer) - prevents the immune system from attacking myelin.
Corticosteroids - used for acute attacks of symptoms.
Interferon beta 1a or 1b - slows the progression of the disease but can cause liver damage.
Mitoxantrone (Novantrone) - suppresses the immune system to stop attacks, but can damage the heart.
Tysabri (Natalizumab) - a drug of last resort because its use can lead to infection in the brain, however as research continues, new products are being discovered.
Vitamin D - is often given because vitamin D deficiency is considered a risk factor.
Cannabis concentrate
Final verdict: Can CBD help with multiple sclerosis?
MS is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting the myelin sheath on neuronal cells. As the myelin breaks down, neurons lose the ability to transmit electrical signals to other areas of the brain and body.
CBD and THC have been extensively tested, investigating their role in alleviating the symptoms of the disease. An even ratio of the two compounds seems to offer the greatest benefits, but products high in CBD also have positive effects.
For this disease, we recommend using a full-spectrum product in doses at the upper limit. It is also very important that the use of CBD is monitored by your doctor to avoid negative interactions with other medications and to ensure the best possible outcome.
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