Dystonia medical cannabis treatment

Categorised as a neurological movement disorder, dystonia causes repetitive, involuntary muscle spasms and contractions. The symptoms of dystonia can have a major impact on a person’s quality of life, and ability to carry out their day-to-day activities, and so, many are looking for a treatment that works well for them. While licensed conventional dystonia treatments are available and work for many, in the UK, medical cannabis dystonia treatments have emerged as a new potential option for those not responding to traditional approaches.

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Disclaimer: The availability of consultations for Dystonia depends on the availability of our specialist doctors. We encourage you to consult with our patient support team to determine if this treatment option is currently available.

70%

In a [small-scale] study, 70% of patients with dystonia reported an improvement in their sleep after administering medical cannabis.

3/4

Almost 3/4 of [respondents] in the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation’s survey said they use cannabis to manage their symptoms.

100,000

Dystonia is the third most common movement disorder, and it is believed to affect at least [100,000 people] in the United Kingdom.

2/3

Our representative research found 2/3 of UK adults would consider trying [medical cannabis] treatments if they were recommended.

Symptoms

Excessive blinking

Low mood

Pain

Shaking or jerking (tremors)

Sleeping problems

Spasticity

Uncontrolled muscle spasms

Unusual or uncontrolled movements

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms. Please speak with your GP to find out more.

Treatment options:

Depending on what type of dystonia you have, different treatments may be recommended. For those with focal dystonia, Botox injections may be recommended to block neurotransmitters within the nerve and reduce muscle spams, or oral medications, physiotherapy and/or surgery may be recommended to those with generalised dystonia.

Anticholinergics

Baclofen

Botox injections

Muscle relaxants

Procyclidine

Trihexyphenidyl

Find out if you may be eligible for cannabis-based dystonia treatments here
Am I eligible?

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A word from our specialist

"Neurological conditions are many and varied in how they can affect us. The more recognised conditions that are treatable with medical cannabis include epilepsy, where CBD mimics the action of the many anti-epileptic drugs; and multiple sclerosis, which the NHS can prescribe Sativex for. Medical Cannabis offers greater flexibility in the delivery of cannabinoid therapy for these conditions and hope in other areas of neurology, such as in the neurodegenerative conditions and the motor disorders."

Dr David Tang

Clinic Director

Find out if you may be eligible for cannabis-based dystonia treatments here
Am I eligible?

Articles on Dystonia

06. 07. 2023

Multiple sclerosis and therapeutic cannabinoid treatment

The medicinal cannabis landscape is shifting in the United Kingdom, and with this shift comes increased options for people suffering from multiple sclerosis. MS, unfortunately, currently has no cure. And as the symptoms are so wide-ranging, the treatment options are focused on managing the different symptoms and attempting to slow down or stop further possible damage. There truly is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to treating MS. Research into both THC and CBD has shown promise when it comes to the reduction of symptoms related to MS.

12. 07. 2023

How cannabis may help ease Parkinson’s disease

Every single hour, two people in the UK are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), the world’s fastest growing neurological condition that currently has no cure. With an estimated 8.5 million people facing this incurable diagnosis across the world, increasing numbers of Parkinson’s patients are turning to medicinal cannabis to help potentially manage tremors and rigidity, relieve the symptoms of anxiety that can go hand in hand with the diagnosis, and improve their sleep quality.

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A comprehensive guide to cannabidiol and neurological disorders

Neurological disorders. Varied, potentially devastating, and hard to group into one easy-to-digest category. They are essentially diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system conditions and include epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, ALS, Bell's palsy, and a huge range of separate neuromuscular disorders. 

Can cannabis-derived treatments be prescribed to people with dystonia in the UK?

Often the cause of a person’s dystonia is unknown, but, dystonia can be caused by conditions like Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. If the cause of dystonia is known, healthcare professionals will typically target this as their primary concern, and treat dystonia as a secondary symptom. 

It's thought medical cannabis, or cannabis-derived medicines, may be able to offer patients with dystonia relief because of the interaction its chemical constituents can have on spasticity, pain regulation, and sleep quality when they enter the bloodstream. 

The therapeutic effects cannabis-derived medicines can have on sleep, pain, and spasticity are relatively well noted and evidenced in scientific research, but unfortunately there is a considerable lack of gold standard randomised controlled trials that specifically focus on patients with dystonia.

While research in this area is still ongoing, it's important that the therapeutic application of medical cannabis is overseen by qualified healthcare professionals, like those that work for Releaf. 

If you have not been responding to traditional treatment options, or they have caused unpleasant or unwanted side effects, you may be eligible for a bespoke dystonia medical cannabis treatment plan at Releaf. Fill out our online eligibility checker to find out more.

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