title: [Cannabinoids for symptomatic therapy of multiple sclerosis].
abstract: Spasticity represents a common troublesome symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Treatment of spasticity remains difficult, which has prompted some patients to self-medicate with and perceive benefits from cannabis. Advances in the understanding of cannabinoid biology support these anecdotal observations. Various clinical reports as well as randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have now demonstrated clinical efficacy of cannabinoids for the treatment of spasticity in MS patients. Sativex is a 1:1 mix of delta-9-tetrahydocannabinol and cannabidiol extracted from cloned Cannabis sativa chemovars, which recently received a label for treating MS-related spasticity in Germany. The present article reviews the current understanding of cannabinoid biology and the value of cannabinoids as a symptomatic treatment option in MS.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Husseini
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Leussink
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Warnke
authors.forename: H-P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kieseier
mesh_terms: D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids
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