87% of Parkinson's Patients Reported Symptom Improvement With Medical Cannabis | Research

The takeaway

In a retrospective review of 69 Parkinson's disease patients treated with medical cannabis, 87% reported improvement in at least one symptom, with cramping, pain, spasticity, and dyskinesia showing the highest rates of improvement, and 56% of opioid users reduced or stopped opioids.

Parkinson's patients and neurologists considering medical cannabis as adjunct therapy

87% reported improvement

What the researchers found

87% of patients (60/69) reported improvement in at least one PD symptom after starting medical cannabis (most commonly 1:1 THC:CBD tincture). Symptoms with highest improvement rates included cramping/dystonia, pain, spasticity, lack of appetite, dyskinesia, and tremor. Among opioid users, 56% (14/25) reduced or discontinued opioids, with average morphine milligram equivalents dropping from 31 to 22. Medical cannabis was well-tolerated with no severe adverse events.

Why it matters

Parkinson's disease management is challenging, and many patients experience side effects from standard medications. The high rate of reported improvement and the reduction in opioid use suggest medical cannabis may serve as a useful adjunct therapy.

The numbers in context

69 patients; 87% reported symptom improvement; most started on 1:1 THC:CBD tincture; 56% of opioid users reduced/discontinued; average MME from 31 to 22; 4 patients discontinued MC due to AEs; no severe AEs

How the study worked

Retrospective chart review of 69 Parkinson's disease patients treated with medical cannabis in routine clinical practice. Documented MC ratio/formulation changes, symptom improvements, adverse events, and changes in concomitant medications including opioids, benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, and PD medications.

What this study cannot tell us

Retrospective chart review without placebo control or blinding. Patient-reported outcomes are subjective and subject to expectancy effects. No standardized PD rating scales used. Selection bias: patients who continued MC may be overrepresented.

How to read the evidence

Retrospective chart review without controls or blinding; promising results need confirmation in randomized trials

When this study was published

2023 study

The bigger picture

The opioid reduction finding is particularly notable, as chronic pain is common in Parkinson's and opioid side effects (constipation, sedation, fall risk) are especially problematic in this population. Medical cannabis as an opioid substitute could improve quality of life.

Questions still open

Would a placebo-controlled trial confirm these symptom improvements? Which THC:CBD ratio works best for specific PD symptoms? Does medical cannabis slow disease progression or only manage symptoms?

Common questions

Which Parkinson's symptoms improved most with cannabis?

Cramping/dystonia, pain, spasticity, lack of appetite, dyskinesia, and tremor showed the highest rates of improvement. Most patients started on a 1:1 THC:CBD tincture formulation.

Could medical cannabis replace opioids for Parkinson's pain?

56% of patients who were taking opioids were able to reduce or discontinue them after starting medical cannabis. However, this was an uncontrolled observation and patients should work with their doctors before changing medications.

Read the original research

Medical Cannabis in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease.

Clinical neuropharmacology, 46(3), 98-104

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Aladeen, Traci S; Mattle, Anna G; Zelen, Kory; Mesha, Moustafa; Rainka, Michelle M; Geist, Tanya; Myers, Bennett; Mechtler, Laszlo. (2023). Medical Cannabis in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease.. Clinical neuropharmacology, 46(3), 98-104. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNF.0000000000000550