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Cited by 153Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchMultiple Sclerosis Research StudiesBotulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders

The Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Treating Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis: a Systematic Review of Reviews

Nielsen, Suzanne, Germanos, Rada, Weier, Megan, Pollard, John, Degenhardt, Louisa, Hall, Wayne, Buckley, Nicholas, Farrell, Michael·2018·Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
DOI 10.1007/s11910-018-0814-x
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Abstract

Purpose of review Pharmaceutical cannabinoids such as nabiximols, nabilone and dronabinol, and plant-based cannabinoids have been investigated for their therapeutic potential in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. This review of reviews aimed to synthesise findings from high quality systematic reviews that examined the safety and effectiveness of cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis. We examined the outcomes of disability and disability progression, pain, spasticity, bladder function, tremor/ataxia, quality of life and adverse effects. Recent findings We identified 11 eligible systematic reviews providing data from 32 studies, including 10 moderate to high quality RCTs. Five reviews concluded that there was sufficient evidence that cannabinoids may be effective for symptoms of pain and/or spasticity in MS. Few reviews reported conclusions for other symptoms. Recent high quality reviews find cannabinoids may have modest effects in MS for pain or spasticity. Future research should include studies with non-cannabinoid comparators; this is an important gap in the evidence.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s11910-018-0814-x

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  • Some cannabinoids (nabiximols, dronabinol, oral and oromucosal THC and THC/CBD, medicinal hemp) have small beneficial effects on muscle spasticity, primarily in patients with multiple sclerosis and possibly in those with spinal cord injuries and motor neuron disease.

    “Some cannabinoids (nabiximols, dronabinol, oral and oromucosal THC and THC/CBD, medicinal hemp) have small beneficial effects on muscle spasticity, primarily in patients with multiple sclerosis and possibly in those with spinal cord injuries and motor neuron disease.”

    From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [92]

  • Benefits of cannabinoids on muscle spasticity were more evident on patient than on physician ratings.

    “Benefits were more evident on patient than on physician ratings of muscle spasticity [91, 92].”

    From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [92]

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Authors
Nielsen, S., Germanos, R., Weier, M., Pollard, J., Degenhardt, L., Hall, W., Buckley, N., & Farrell, M.
Affiliations
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author
Nielsen, Suzanne
ORCID
Venue
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2018-02
Volume
18
Issue
2
Pages
8-8
ISSN
  • 1528-4042 (ISSN-L)
  • 1534-6293
DOI
10.1007/s11910-018-0814-x
OpenAlex
W2790877128
Cited by
153
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 11
FWCI
2.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • The Sydney eScholarship Repository (The University of Sydney) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders
Keywords
multiple sclerosis, cannabinoids, nabiximols, nabilone, dronabinol, spasticity, pain, disability progression, bladder dysfunction, quality of life, adverse effects, symptom management
MeSH terms
Systematic Reviews as Topic, Cannabidiol, Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Drug Combinations, Humans, Multiple Sclerosis, Pain, Quality of Life, Dronabinol, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

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