The CAMS Trial is now complete. On trial completion, these pages have remained unchanged to allow people to see the development of the trial over time more clearly.

References

A recent report in Nature showed a beneficial effect of cannabinoids on spasticity and tremor in mice.

Baker D, Pryce G, Croxford JL et al . "Cannabinoids control spasticity and tremor in a multiple sclerosis model". Nature 2000;404(6773):84-7

Previous work had looked at THC, one of the active components of cannabis, in two small randomised controlled trials in patients with spasticity.

Petro DJ, Ellenberger C Jr. Related Articles "Treatment of human spasticity with delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol". J Clin Pharmacol. 1981;21(8-9 Suppl):413S-416S.

Ungerleider L T, Andyrsiak T, Fairbanks L et al, "Delta 9 THC in the treatment of spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis", Advances in Alcohol & Substance Abuse 1987; 7(1):39-50

Work on cannabis itself has tended to be in the form of case reports or postal surveys.

Meinck HM, Schonle PW, Conrad B. "Effect of cannabinoids on spasticity and ataxia in multiple sclerosis". J Neurol. 1989; 236(2):120-2.

Malec J, Harvey RF, Cayner JJ. "Cannabis effect on spasticity in spinal cord injury". Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1982; 63(3):116-8.

Consroe P, Musty R, Rein J, Tillery W, Pertwee R. The perceived effects of smoked cannabis on patients with multiple sclerosis. Eur Neurol. 1997;38(1):44-8.

One study has suggested that even if it does relieve spasticity cannabis may impair balance and posture.

Greenberg HS, Werness SA, Pugh JE, et al. "Short-term effects of smoking marijuana on balance in patients with multiple sclerosis and normal volunteers". Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1994; 55(3):324-8.

A recent pair of papers and editorial in the BMJ systematically reviewed trials of cannabinoids (not cannabis) in pain and nausea, concluding that they were no more effective than codeine in pain, more effective than conventional anti-emetics for nausea but probably not as effective as the newer 5-HT antagonists, with significant side-effects of dizziness and mood changes.

Kalso E, "Cannabinoids for pain and nausea". BMJ 2001; 323:2-3.

Campbell FA, Tramer MR et al. "Are cannibinoids an effective and safe treatment option in the management of pain? A qualitive systematic review". BMJ 2001; 323:13-16

Tramer MR, Carroll D et al. "Cannabinoids for control of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting: quantitative systematic review". BMJ 2001;323:16-21

(abstracts from PubMed)

CAMS Study

Quick Links to Current Research

References