Global
Clinical trial of cannabis oil for Parkinson's disease pain shows no benefit
A phase II randomised controlled trial assessed an oral cannabis extract containing cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol for chronic pain in Parkinson's disease. Over nine weeks, the therapy showed no significant improvement in pain scores or non-motor symptoms compared to a placebo. The trial concluded that the formulation did not alleviate these symptoms in the eighty-seven patients who completed the study.
- The cannabis oil did not significantly reduce pain scores compared to the placebo group.
- No significant differences were observed in other non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
- The formulation was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported by participants.
- 101 participants were enrolled and 87 completed the study.
- The formulation contained 96 mg/ml cannabidiol and 2.1 mg/ml THC; the final daily dose was 43.88 mg CBD and 0.96 mg THC.
- The difference between groups on the PD-Pain Classification System was not significant (P = 0.757).
Our view
A negative result, and one we treat as important. Cannabinoid therapy is not universally applicable, and knowing where it does not help is what makes prescribing responsible. This trial shows that for chronic pain in Parkinson's disease, at this dose and in this formulation, no benefit was demonstrated. The final daily dose of 43.88 mg CBD and 0.96 mg THC should be kept in view when reading the result. That the formulation was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events, is meaningful information on safety. We publish studies that found no effect with the same weight as those that did.
Sources
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