Title:Neurological Disorders in Medical Use of Cannabis: An Update
Volume: 16
Issue: 5
Author(s): Renata Solimini*, Maria Concetta Rotolo, Simona Pichini and Roberta Pacifici
Affiliation:
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Roma,Italy
Keywords:
Adverse effects, antipsychotic, compounds, medical cannabis, neurological disorders, Parkinson.
Abstract: Background & Objective: Medical cannabis is increasingly used as a treatment or adjunct
treatment with different levels of efficacy in several neurological disorders or related symptoms (such
as multiple sclerosis, autism, Parkinson and Alzheimer disease, Tourette’s syndrome, Huntington’s
disease, neuropathic pain, epilepsy, headache), as well as in other medical conditions (e.g. nausea and
vomiting, glaucoma, appetite stimulation, cancer, inflammatory conditions, asthma). Nevertheless, a
number of neurological adverse effects from use of medical cannabis on the short- and on the longterm
have been reported, in addition to other adverse health events.
Conclusion: It has been noticed that the use of medical
cannabis can lead to a paradoxical effects depending
on the amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) -like cannabinoids the preparation contain.
Accordingly, some neurological disorders or symptoms (
e.g. multiple sclerosis, seizures, epilepsy,
headache) may be caused or exacerbated by the same treatment supposed to cure them. The current
review presents an update of the neurological adverse effects resulting from the use of cannabis
for medical purposes, highlighting the need to weigh the benefits and risks, when using cannabinoidbased
treatments.
