Who benefits most from THC:CBD spray? Learning from clinical experience

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) presents diverse patient populations with varying symptoms and disease progression.
• Spasticity is a common and often debilitating symptom in MS.
• Standard therapies for MS spasticity may not be effective for all patients.

Observation:

• This article examines real-life clinical data on the use of 9-delta-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (THC:CBD) oromucosal spray (Sativex®).
• The focus is on patients with moderate to severe MS spasticity resistant to conventional treatments.
• Three clinical scenarios are presented: treatment resistance, symptom impairment, and impact on quality of life/activities of daily living (QoL/ADL).

Findings:

• Case reports illustrate the heterogeneity of MS spasticity.
• THC:CBD oromucosal spray demonstrated potential usefulness in individual patients with refractory moderate to severe MS spasticity.
• Significant improvements in QoL/ADL were observed in some patients, enabling greater participation in physical and social activities.

Implications:

• These findings support the individualized use of THC:CBD oromucosal spray for specific MS patient profiles.
• The results align with approved use following large clinical trials.
• Improved QoL/ADL in patients with resistant MS spasticity highlights the potential for enhanced patient function and engagement.