In a 12-week pilot trial, a combination of THC and palmitoylethanolamide reduced tic symptoms by more than 20% in 16 adults with treatment-resistant Tourette's syndrome, with improvement starting within one week.
People with Tourette's syndrome seeking treatment options, neurologists, researchers studying cannabinoids for movement disorders
Tic symptoms improved by more than 20% within one week of starting treatment
What the researchers found
THX-110 (combination of THC max 10 mg/day and PEA 800 mg/day) produced statistically significant tic improvement within one week. Average improvement exceeded 20%, representing a 7-point decrease on the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale. Twelve of 16 participants chose to continue into the extension phase.
Why it matters
Few effective pharmacological treatments exist for Tourette's syndrome, and many patients continue to have impairing tics despite available treatments. A cannabinoid-based option could fill an important treatment gap.
The numbers in context
16 adults; max THC dose 10 mg/day; PEA dose 800 mg/day; >20% improvement; 7-point YGTSS decrease; improvement significant within 1 week; 12 of 16 continued to extension; 2 dropouts
How the study worked
12-week uncontrolled trial of THX-110 in 16 adults with Tourette's syndrome, with primary outcome measured by Yale Global Tic Severity Scale total tic score. A 24-week extension phase was offered.
What this study cannot tell us
No control group or blinding, very small sample, side effects were common (managed by dose adjustment), psychoactive properties of THC make blinding future trials challenging.
How to read the evidence
Small uncontrolled pilot trial without blinding or placebo group
When this study was published
Published in 2021. Randomized controlled trials of cannabinoid treatments for Tourette's are needed.
The bigger picture
This adds to a small but growing body of evidence suggesting cannabinoids may help manage tics, potentially through the endocannabinoid system's role in motor control circuits.
Questions still open
- Would THX-110 show similar efficacy in a placebo-controlled trial? Is the PEA component contributing to the effect or is THC alone responsible? What are the long-term effects of daily THC use for tic management?
Common questions
Can THC help with Tourette's syndrome?
How quickly did the treatment work?
Read the original research
A Phase-2 Pilot Study of a Therapeutic Combination of Δ9-Tetrahydracannabinol and Palmitoylethanolamide for Adults With Tourette's Syndrome.
The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 33(4), 328-336
Citation
Bloch, Michael H; Landeros-Weisenberger, Angeli; Johnson, Jessica A; Leckman, James F. (2021). A Phase-2 Pilot Study of a Therapeutic Combination of Δ9-Tetrahydracannabinol and Palmitoylethanolamide for Adults With Tourette's Syndrome.. The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 33(4), 328-336. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.neuropsych.19080178
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