MS Patients Reported Cannabis Improved Spasticity, Pain, Tremor, and Up to 11 Other Symptoms
In the first survey of cannabis use among people with multiple sclerosis, 112 respondents from the UK and USA reported improvement in up to 14 symptoms, with spasticity and chronic pain ranked as the most commonly improved.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
This was the first survey specifically asking people with MS about their cannabis use. One hundred twelve respondents (53 from the UK, 59 from the USA) reported using cannabis for symptom management.
The percentage reporting improvement ranged from 97% for the top-ranked symptom down to 30% for the lowest. In descending order, respondents reported cannabis improved: spasticity, chronic pain of extremities, acute paroxysmal phenomenon, tremor, emotional dysfunction, anorexia/weight loss, fatigue, double vision, sexual dysfunction, bowel and bladder dysfunction, vision dimness, walking and balance dysfunction, and memory loss.
The researchers noted that MS patients had specific, identifiable therapeutic reasons for using cannabis and recommended the findings be used to guide the design of controlled clinical trials.
Key Numbers
112 respondents (53 UK, 59 USA). 14 symptoms assessed. Improvement rates ranged from 97% to 30%. Top-ranked: spasticity and chronic pain.
How They Did This
Anonymous questionnaire survey of 112 people with MS (53 UK, 59 USA) who used cannabis. Respondents rated whether cannabis improved various MS symptoms. This was described as the first questionnaire specifically on cannabis use and MS.
Why This Research Matters
This survey provided systematic patient-reported evidence that cannabis helped multiple MS symptoms, not just the spasticity that had been the focus of earlier case reports. The breadth of symptoms reportedly improved suggested cannabinoids might have multiple therapeutic mechanisms in MS.
The Bigger Picture
This survey helped justify the clinical trials that eventually led to nabiximols (Sativex) being approved for MS spasticity. The range of symptoms reportedly improved, from pain to bladder dysfunction to fatigue, has been partially confirmed by subsequent controlled research.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-selected respondents who chose to use cannabis and believed it helped. No placebo control or blinding. Survey responses are subjective and subject to recall bias. Sample size was small and self-selected.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which of these self-reported benefits would be confirmed in controlled trials?
- ?Do the benefits reflect genuine pharmacological effects or placebo response?
- ?Are there MS subtypes that respond better to cannabis?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Up to 97% of respondents reported symptom improvement from cannabis
- Evidence Grade:
- An anonymous survey of self-selected cannabis users with MS. Valuable for identifying patterns but cannot establish efficacy due to lack of controls.
- Study Age:
- Published in 1997. Nabiximols (Sativex) was later developed and approved for MS spasticity, building partly on this kind of patient-reported evidence.
- Original Title:
- The perceived effects of smoked cannabis on patients with multiple sclerosis.
- Published In:
- European neurology, 38(1), 44-8 (1997)
- Authors:
- Consroe, P(4), Musty, R, Rein, J, Tillery, W, Pertwee, R
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00058
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What MS symptoms did patients say cannabis helped?
In order: spasticity, chronic pain, acute paroxysmal phenomena, tremor, emotional dysfunction, appetite/weight, fatigue, double vision, sexual dysfunction, bowel/bladder, vision, walking/balance, and memory.
Did this lead to clinical trials?
Yes. The researchers explicitly recommended using these findings to design controlled clinical trials, which eventually led to nabiximols development.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00058APA
Consroe, P; Musty, R; Rein, J; Tillery, W; Pertwee, R. (1997). The perceived effects of smoked cannabis on patients with multiple sclerosis.. European neurology, 38(1), 44-8.
MLA
Consroe, P, et al. "The perceived effects of smoked cannabis on patients with multiple sclerosis.." European neurology, 1997.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The perceived effects of smoked cannabis on patients with mu..." RTHC-00058. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/consroe-1997-the-perceived-effects-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.