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Shona Garrett suffers from MS but is unable to access a drug that may be able to ease her symptoms. Picture: James Bass Kathryn Bradley Tuesday, April 29, 2014 9:29 AM People living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Norfolk and Suffolk could be left behind if life-changing medicines continue to be out of reach for many sufferers, a leading charity has warned. To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in. Sativex is a peppermint-flavoured mouth spray that comes in a small pump that people can carry with them. The medicine in Sativex is extracted from cannabis plants that have been selected and grown to produce a constant amount of active ingredients that have been shown to help improve the symptoms of MS spasticity. The NHS has a legal obligation to fund all treatments that NICE recommends but currently this does not include Sativex. A spokesman for Bayer Healthcare, which produces Sativex, said the NICE guidelines for the management of MS were due to be revised and the company was anticipating that Sativex would be included within these. The MS Society is calling for all drugs licensed for the treatment of MS to be … Continue reading →

As medical marijuana makes its way into mainstream clinical use, there is still much mystery surrounding the drug, as not much is known about the its effects on the brain or nervous system disorders. To gain a better understanding of the benefits or downsides of medical cannabis, researchers from the American Academy of Neurology conducted a systematic review of available research analyzing the use of marijuana for the treatment of brain diseases. Through their analysis, they found that medical marijuana can help alleviate some symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the drug was not very successful at treating drug-induced movements from Parkinsons disease. Additionally, there was insufficient evidence to support whether or not marijuana can treat motor problems in Huntingtons disease, tics in Tourette syndrome, or seizures in epilepsy. According to the researchers, they were interested in reviewing medical marijuanas effects on brain disorders, as so many patients have started using it as a form of treatment without a prescription. Ive known my patients for a long time; they use it, and some will tell me which symptoms they thought it was helpful for, review author Dr. Barbara Koppel, of New York Medical College and fellow of the American Academy … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise MINNEAPOLIS A review by the American Academy of Neurology of available scientific research on the use of medical marijuana in brain diseases finds certain forms of medical marijuana can help treat some symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), but do not appear to be helpful in treating drug-induced (levodopa) movements in Parkinsons disease. Not enough evidence was found to show if medical marijuana is helpful in treating motor problems in Huntingtons disease, tics in Tourette syndrome, cervical dystonia and seizures in epilepsy. The review is published in the April 29, 2014, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and will be presented at the AAN Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, April 26-May 3, 2014, which is the worlds largest gathering of neurologists. This review by the worlds largest association for neurologists is intended to help neurologists and their patients understand the current research on medical marijuana for the treatment of certain brain diseases, said review author Barbara S. Koppel, MD, of New York Medical College in New York and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. The AAN review also highlights the need for more high-quality studies … Continue reading →