Science & Health
Cannabis Has ‘Therapeutic Promise’ For People With Restless Leg Syndrome, Scientific Review Concludes
Cannabis and its components appear to play a role in alleviating the symptoms of restless leg syndrome (RLS), according to a new scientific review.
RLS is a neurological disorder that involves an urge to move the legs and that sometimes involves sensations like tingling or aching.
“Cannabinoids—particularly CBD—may hold therapeutic promise in RLS through multi-system neurobiological effects,” the study, published in the Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, said.
Researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences conducted a comprehensive search of previously published studies on the issue, ultimately deciding to include seven papers in their review.
Current evidence indicates that cannabis, in various forms, may alleviate or prevent symptoms of RLS through multiple mechanisms,” they concluded, though they also cautioned that studies published to date are “limited to case reports, cross-sectional surveys, and post hoc analyses.”
High-quality randomized controlled trials will be needed to support more sweeping conclusions and recommendations about the use of medical marijuana to treat RLS, they said.
“The evidence suggests that cannabis or cannabidiol may improve or prevent RLS symptoms.”
That said, the scientific review includes a number of existing studies that provide initial evidence for cannabinoids’ efficacy in addressing RLS.
Every patient in one study saw “complete relief in their symptoms” after starting cannabis.
Another study found that “all patients, except one, reported complete or near-complete improvement in symptoms of RLS with marijuana smoking.”
A third study found that half of patients who also had end-stage renal disease reported complete relief from RLS symptoms after using cannabis.
“Topical application of CBD improved RLS significantly after two weeks, and smoked marijuana had better relief in symptoms of RLS compared to medical cannabis.”
“This scoping review shows that use of illicit or medical cannabis can either prevent or improve symptoms of RLS, including refractory RLS,” the authors of the new paper concluded, though they reiterated that the existing evidence base is of “low quality” due to the lack of randomized controlled trials.
“Despite these limitations, existing evidence indicates a potential role for cannabis in the management of RLS, primarily when available therapies do not provide optimal relief, lose efficacy over time, or have some disabling adverse effects,” they said, adding that the results of their review “invite cautious optimism regarding the role of cannabis and cannabinoids in RLS.”
“The current evidence positions cannabis and cannabinoids as a potential adjunct rather than a replacement for established therapies. They may be worth considering in carefully selected patients—particularly those with refractory symptoms or intolerance to standard treatments—but only with a clear understanding of the uncertainties involved.”
A separate recently published study concluded that people with RLS could find “significant” long-term relief with cannabis treatment.
That research found that a cannabis product containing 2.7mg THC and 2.5mg CBD “was effective in reducing RLS severity” among patients with multiple sclerosis and “associated idiopathic RLS.”
“Improvements were observed after 1 and 3 months of treatment and were maintained after 1 year among patients who continued therapy,” the study of 18 patients with RLS showed. For those that remained on treatment after one year, 67 percent “continued to show sustained improvement.”
Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
