cannabisnews.com: Epilepsy MS Patients Trying Marijuana for Symptoms





Epilepsy MS Patients Trying Marijuana for Symptoms
Posted by CN Staff on June 08, 2004 at 07:31:48 PT
By Anne McIlroy, Science Reporter
Source: Globe and Mail 
Canadians with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis are turning to marijuana to help with their symptoms, two new studies have found, and some say they find it effective. But clinical trials will be required to determine if marijuana really helps.About 14 per cent of patients at a Halifax multiple sclerosis clinic reported that they used cannabis to treat their symptoms, including about a dozen who reported smoking pot at least once a day.
Some of the 34 medicinal pot smokers used an entire joint, and some took only a few puffs. They said it helped with pain, muscle spasms and stiffness, but also in dealing with stress, and sleep and mood problems. Those who smoked marijuana as medicine were more likely to be male smokers who had used it recreationally in the past.At an epilepsy clinic in Edmonton, 21 per cent of patients reported that they had used marijuana in the past year, but fewer than half said they were smoking up for medical reasons. None of the 28 pot smokers had received official approval under federal regulations that give sick patients legal access to cannabis.Both studies, published in the journal Neurology yesterday, provide a picture of medical marijuana use, but don't draw any conclusions about whether smoking pot actually reduces symptoms.The epilepsy study, in fact, raises the question that marijuana may be a factor in severe epilepsy. Patients with frequent seizures were eight times more likely to use marijuana frequently. Those who had had epilepsy for at least five years were 10 times more likely to smoke pot.There is a chance, says University of Alberta researcher Donald Gross, that marijuana use can lead to an increased number of seizures. But it may also be that sicker patients are more likely to turn to alternative medicine."Not surprisingly, patients tend to look to alternative therapies in situations where conventional medicine has been unsuccessful," he said.In the multiple sclerosis study, half of the 34 pot users said cannabis was very effective. Eight reported moderate side effects and only one reported severe side effects. The most common problems were feeling high, drowsy, suffering from a dry mouth, paranoia, anxiety and heart palpitations.The studies found that nearly one in four epilepsy patients and one in six MS patients believe that marijuana is an effective form of treatment. It also found that patients find it too risky or difficult to get marijuana.People suffering from either MS or epilepsy can apply to Health Canada to legally use marijuana to reduce their symptoms, but the government has been criticized for making the process too difficult.So far, 734 Canadians can legally possess marijuana for medical use. The government sells it to them, depending on how much their doctor says they need. A 30-gram bag of dried buds costs $150. Delivery is by courier, either to the patient or their doctor.There are, however, no hard data that prove that smoking or ingesting herbal marijuana is a safe and effective treatment for multiple sclerosis or epilepsy. The theory with epilepsy is that one of the active ingredients in marijuana acts as an anticonvulsant. With MS, it is that it relieves muscle spasms.Mark Ware, a McGill University researcher who helped conduct the MS experiment said controlled clinical trials are necessary.Those studies will have to take into account that some patients take a single puff of a joint, while others can smoke a gram at a time. In the case of MS, he says researchers should measure not only relief of pain and muscle spasms, but also the effects on mood, sleep and stress. Complete Title: Epilepsy, MS Patients Trying Marijuana for SymptomsSource: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Anne McIlroy, Science ReporterPublished: Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - Page A23 Copyright: 2004 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmMedicinal Value of Marijuana Remains Unclearhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18967.shtmlEpilepsy, MS Patients Swear By Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18965.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 16, 2004 at 21:24:41 PT
Related Article from Ivanhoe Newswire
Patients Swear by Medicinal MarijuanaJune 16, 2004 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Many patients swear by medicinal marijuana despite a lack of medical evidence that proves it benefits epilepsy and multiple sclerosis patients, report researchers publishing in this month’s Neurology.In two separate studies, Canadian investigators found patients who use marijuana to help control the seizures and spasms associated with these diseases believe the drug is beneficial.The first study involved a telephone survey of 136 epileptic patients being treated at the University of Alberta Epilepsy Clinic. About half reported using marijuana sometime in their lives, and one in five had used it within the past year. Patients with more frequent seizures were eight-times more likely to be marijuana users, and those who had had epilepsy for at least five years were 10-times more likely to be users.In the second study, 205 MS patients in Halifax, Nova Scotia, filled out a questionnaire about marijuana use. Among the 34 patients who said they used medical marijuana, more than half reported the drug was very effective in treating their MS symptoms, and more than half said they used the drug within the past 24 hours. Multiple daily use was reported by eight patients.In an editorial accompanying the studies, Mayo Clinic researchers note Canadian law makes it possible for people to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, including for the treatment of epilepsy and MS. However, they believe more study is needed before such use is recommended by doctors, and say that will mean laws in the United States will have to change.Authors write, “To use marijuana effectively and safely for clinical purposes, we need to be able to study its use in appropriately designed and conducted clinical studies. To do that, we must have a legal setting that permits unfettered scientific inquiry into the safety and efficacy of such a treatment.”This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/SOURCE: Neurology, 2004;62:2095-2097, 2098-2100, 1925-1925Copyright: 2004 Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc.
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Comment #3 posted by Max Flowers on June 08, 2004 at 10:59:46 PT
Excuse me...
"But clinical trials will be required to determine if marijuana really helps."No, if an MS patient TELLS YOU that it works, it works. For the purposes of deciding whether it's a good idea for that particular patient, that's all anyone needs to know. Research is fine, but not years of research BEFORE allowing that patient (and many others) to use it if they are stating that it works.
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Comment #2 posted by ubas on June 08, 2004 at 09:28:17 PT
Previous Study on MS Patients and MJ
Can J Neurol Sci. 2003 Aug;30(3):201-5.   Cannabis use as described by people with multiple sclerosis.Page SA, Verhoef MJ, Stebbins RA, Metz LM, Levy JC.Office of Medical Bioethics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases affecting young adults. The prevalence of MS in Alberta has been described as among the highest reported in the world, estimated at 217 per 100,000. Numerous anecdotal reports, and a few small empirical investigations have suggested that cannabis use may relieve the symptom experience of those with MS. The present study was undertaken to describe cannabis use by this patient group. Information on peoples' beliefs, practices and experiences related to use were investigated. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to a sample of 780 adults with MS in southern Alberta, Canada. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were returned by 420/673 eligible subjects (response rate 62%). Mean sample age was 48 years and 75% were women. Respondents ranged from mildly to severely impaired. The majority of respondents (96%) was aware cannabis was potentially therapeutically useful for MS and most (72%) supported legalization for medicinal purposes. Forty-three percent had tried cannabis at some point in their lives, 16% for medicinal purposes. Symptoms reported to be ameliorated included anxiety/depression, spasticity and chronic pain. Reasons given for not trying cannabis were the fact that it is an illegal substance, concern about side effects and lack of knowledge on how to obtain it. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective improvements in symptom experience were reported by the majority of people with MS who currently use cannabis. Further evaluation of this substance is warranted.PMID: 12945941 [PubMed - in process]
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Comment #1 posted by afterburner on June 08, 2004 at 08:13:29 PT
Do Government Regulations Really Promote Safety? 
Jun. 8, 2004. 06:25 AM
Protest rises over Islamic law in Ontario:
Muslim women's groups vow to stop sharia courts:
Lawyers say it will lead to injustices to most vulnerableLYNDA HURST
FEATURE WRITER [Toronto Star] http://tinyurl.com/33mgvEmile Therien
[Globe and Mail] Online Edition: Tuesday, June 8, 2004 08:09 AM
Criminalizing a problem doesn't solve it 
FULL STORY http://tinyurl.com/3epywFirst, they came for the smokers ...
DOUG SAUNDERS
[Globe and Mail] Today's Paper: Saturday, June 5, 2004 12:00 AM Page F3 
The Gauloises frankly taste horrible, and my faltering inhalations of their wretched fumes are destroying the flavour of a perfect tarte au citron. The fact that I haven't smoked tobacco since I was a hairy post-adolescent is ruining my efforts to look like a seasoned boulevardier, what with periodic coughing fits and spatters of wine on the front of my shirt from failed attempts to juggle booze and smokes at once. 
FULL STORY http://tinyurl.com/2qm7z"Toronto this week became the latest city to force-sanitize its people, in a total butt ban that has managed to erase two years of pot cafés and gay weddings and restore its reputation as the City of Grey Displeasure."San Bernardino County students accused of giving teacher marijuana cookie
Sunday, June 6, 2004From The Associated Press [NapaNews.com] http://tinyurl.com/3gnxy"Two Southern California high school students were arrested for allegedly giving a marijuana-laced cookie to a Chino Hills teacher who collapsed in class, officials said."The boys, both 17, were arrested Thursday at Ayala High School after the 53-year-old U.S. history teacher ate the cookie and collapsed during class May 28. They face felony charges related to poisoning, authorities said Friday."
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