A new study suggests that cannabis can provide long-term “significant relief” for those with RLS.
Recent studies indicate that Gabapentinoids should be used instead of dopamine-agonists as “first line treatment” for RLS. Cannabinoids inhibit certain amino acids associated with this disorder. The scientists tested their efficacy because cannabinoids and gabapentinoids do the same.
In an open-label exploratory study conducted by researchers from Universidad Europea de Madrid, and published in Journal of Neurology in 2010, it was found that a product containing 2.7mg of both THC (the psychoactive component) and CBD (the nonpsychoactive ingredient), “was effective” at reducing RLS symptoms amongst patients suffering from multiple sclerosis or “associated idiopathic RLS.”
The study, which involved 18 RLS patients, showed that improvements were seen after 3 and 1 months of therapy and continued after 1 year for those who continued treatment. The study found that of those who continued treatment for one year, “67% showed sustained improvement.”
Although the results are not particularly surprising, cannabis’ ability to relieve muscular spasms is widely known. But its success in treating RLS is noteworthy since no state has explicitly listed it as a condition that qualifies for medical cannabis.
Of course, RLS may be a symptom of other overarching disorders such as multiple sclerosis—and certain states give doctors wider latitude to make medical marijuana recommendations for any condition that they see fit.
The study from Spain, however, could be a step forward in the research that is being done to find alternative treatments for restless leg syndrome.