THC and CBD may reduce tics and psychiatric comorbidity associated with severe Tourette syndrome
In a study published in NEJM Evidence, researchers found that oral 1:1 THC: CBD (9-tetrahydrocannabinol: cannabidiol) formulation titrated upward over six weeks up to a daily dose of 20 mg of THC and 20 mg of CBD led reduces tics as measured by the total tic score on the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale or YGTSS. It also reduces obsessive-compulsive symptoms and anxiety without major adverse effects.
Speaking about the strengths of the research, Mosley et al. and colleagues said that tic reduction was observed in both interviewer-led and video-based assessments of tic severity.
The characteristic of Tourette syndrome is chronic motor and vocal tics. Based on previous evidence, it is known the benefits of cannabis products containing THC and the coadministration of CBD improve the side-effect profile and safety.
In the present study, severe Tourette syndrome patients were randomly assigned to a 6-week treatment period with escalating doses of an oral oil. This contained THC and CBC, both at 5 mg/ml. This was followed by a 6-week course of a placebo, or vice versa, separated by a 4-week washout period.
The primary outcome was the total tic score on YGTSS. The range is from 0 to 50; the higher the score, the more the severity of the symptoms.
Video-based assessment of tics, global impairment, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms were the secondary outcomes measured by them.
The key results of the study are:
- Researchers enrolled 22 participants.
- In the active and placebo group, the reduction in total tic scores was 8.9 and 2.5, respectively.
- In active treatment, there was a more significant decrease in tics.
- Researchers reported a correlation between plasma 11-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol levels and the primary outcome. This was attenuated after the exclusion of an outlier.
- In the placebo group, the common adverse effect was headache.
- The cognitive difficulties, slowed mentation, memory lapses, and poor concentration were the reported adverse effects in the active group.
They said treating severe Tourette syndrome with THC and CBD reduced tics. This treatment also reduces impairment due to tics, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
As acknowledged, Wesley Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, and the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics funded the study.
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