First trial of medicinal cannabis for tics in teenagers with Tourette syndrome
An open-label trial found medicinal cannabis was feasible and showed potential benefits for tics in adolescents with Tourette syndrome, with no serious adverse events.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Statistically significant improvements were observed in parent and clinician reports on tics, behavioral and emotional issues, and quality of life in adolescents treated with a THC:CBD formulation.
Key Numbers
Tic improvement was significant (p = 0.003). Quality of life improved per parent report (p = 0.027) and youth self-report (p = 0.032). Behavioral/emotional issues improved (p = 0.048). Most common side effects: tiredness and drowsiness.
How They Did This
Open-label, single-arm trial in adolescents aged 12-18 years using a THC:CBD ratio of 10:15 mg/mL, with doses ranging from 5 to 20 mg/day based on body weight and response.
Why This Research Matters
While medicinal cannabis has been studied in adults with Tourette syndrome, this is the first study in adolescents, a population where tics often cause the most distress and social difficulty.
The Bigger Picture
Tourette syndrome treatments for adolescents remain limited, and many existing medications carry significant side effect profiles. If confirmed in larger trials, cannabis-based treatments could offer another option.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Open-label design with no placebo control means improvement could reflect placebo effects or natural symptom fluctuation. Very small sample size limits statistical power.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would a placebo-controlled design confirm these benefits?
- ?What is the optimal THC:CBD ratio for tic management in young people?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Tic improvement significant at p = 0.003
- Evidence Grade:
- Open-label pilot with no placebo arm and small sample. Demonstrates feasibility but cannot establish efficacy.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025.
- Original Title:
- Medicinal cannabis for tics in adolescents with Tourette syndrome.
- Published In:
- BJPsych open, 11(4), e145 (2025)
- Authors:
- Eapen, Valsamma(2), Lin, Ping-I(5), Taylor, Kaitlyn(4), Chan, Eunice, Chay, Paul, Cranswick, Noel, Ka, Amy, Khan, Feroza, Payne, Jonathan M, Prakash, Chidambaram, Velalagan, Ramya, Efron, Daryl
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06386
Evidence Hierarchy
A small preliminary study to test whether a larger study is feasible.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis help with Tourette syndrome tics in teenagers?
This small pilot study found significant improvements, but it lacked a placebo control. A larger randomized trial is needed to confirm whether the benefits are from the medication itself.
What side effects did the teenagers experience?
The most common were tiredness and drowsiness, followed by dry mouth. No serious adverse events were reported.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06386APA
Eapen, Valsamma; Lin, Ping-I; Taylor, Kaitlyn; Chan, Eunice; Chay, Paul; Cranswick, Noel; Ka, Amy; Khan, Feroza; Payne, Jonathan M; Prakash, Chidambaram; Velalagan, Ramya; Efron, Daryl. (2025). Medicinal cannabis for tics in adolescents with Tourette syndrome.. BJPsych open, 11(4), e145. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2025.35
MLA
Eapen, Valsamma, et al. "Medicinal cannabis for tics in adolescents with Tourette syndrome.." BJPsych open, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2025.35
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Medicinal cannabis for tics in adolescents with Tourette syn..." RTHC-06386. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/eapen-2025-medicinal-cannabis-for-tics
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.