Nabiximols Did Not Affect Blood Pressure or Heart Rate in Post-Stroke Patients
In a randomized crossover trial of 34 post-stroke patients, nabiximols (cannabis-based spray) for spasticity did not cause blood pressure changes, heart rate changes, or any cardiovascular events, supporting its cardiac safety.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
No arrhythmic events were recorded. Blood pressure and heart rate showed no pathological fluctuations. No cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events occurred. Blood pressure and heart rate did not change during nabiximols treatment compared to baseline, even at the highest dosage.
Key Numbers
34 patients completed the study. 31 on antihypertensives, 12 on beta-blockers. Zero arrhythmic events. Zero cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events. Blood pressure and heart rate unchanged from baseline to highest dose.
How They Did This
Ancillary cardiovascular safety analysis from SativexStroke trial: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. 34 post-stroke patients (31 on antihypertensives, 12 on beta-blockers) received nabiximols or placebo for 1-month periods. Blood pressure and heart rate compared between lowest and highest dosage periods.
Why This Research Matters
Post-stroke patients are at high cardiovascular risk, making safety data for any medication critical. This study provides reassurance that nabiximols can be used for spasticity in this vulnerable population without cardiac complications.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis-related cardiovascular concerns have limited its use in high-risk populations. This study suggests that pharmaceutical-grade nabiximols, with controlled dosing and slow absorption, may be safer than recreational cannabis for cardiovascular patients.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample size (34). One-month treatment period may not capture long-term cardiovascular effects. Most patients were on antihypertensives that could mask cannabis cardiovascular effects. The controlled dosing of nabiximols may not reflect real-world cannabis use patterns.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would similar cardiovascular safety be seen with other cannabis formulations?
- ?Is the slow absorption of oromucosal nabiximols key to its cardiac safety?
- ?Would longer treatment periods reveal delayed cardiovascular effects?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Zero cardiovascular events in 34 post-stroke patients on nabiximols
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: randomized crossover design from a registered trial, but small sample and limited duration.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Nabiximols effect on blood pressure and heart rate in post-stroke patients of a randomized controlled study.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 9, 990188 (2022)
- Authors:
- Rosa, Gian Marco(2), Puce, Luca(2), Mori, Laura(2), Currà, Antonio, Fattapposta, Francesco, Porto, Italo, Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi, Trompetto, Carlo, Marinelli, Lucio
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04181
Evidence Hierarchy
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups to test cause and effect.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is cannabis medicine safe after a stroke?
In this trial, nabiximols (a pharmaceutical cannabis spray) did not cause any blood pressure, heart rate, or cardiovascular problems in 34 post-stroke patients over one month. However, this applies to controlled pharmaceutical dosing, not recreational cannabis.
Does nabiximols affect blood pressure?
Not in this study. Blood pressure remained unchanged from baseline even at the highest nabiximols dose, including in patients already taking blood pressure medications.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04181APA
Rosa, Gian Marco; Puce, Luca; Mori, Laura; Currà, Antonio; Fattapposta, Francesco; Porto, Italo; Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi; Trompetto, Carlo; Marinelli, Lucio. (2022). Nabiximols effect on blood pressure and heart rate in post-stroke patients of a randomized controlled study.. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 9, 990188. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.990188
MLA
Rosa, Gian Marco, et al. "Nabiximols effect on blood pressure and heart rate in post-stroke patients of a randomized controlled study.." Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.990188
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Nabiximols effect on blood pressure and heart rate in post-s..." RTHC-04181. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rosa-2022-nabiximols-effect-on-blood
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.