Medical cannabis for peripheral neuropathy is a new plant-based treatment in the UK available on prescription to patients who have already tried two or more frontline treatments, potentially including medications such as gabapentin and tricyclic antidepressants. A recent review of 14 randomised controlled trials observed that 13 of those trials found a significant decrease in neuropathic pain, one of the main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, usually occurring in the feet, legs, hands and arms, following treatment with cannabinoids, the active molecules in the cannabis plant.
36%
of people with diabetes have diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
13 out of 14
studies observed a decrease in neuropathic pain after cannabinoid treatment.
Over 100
Nearly 50
of people with peripheral neuropathy may not have symptoms.
Symptoms
Burning pains
Muscle weakness
Numb hands or feet
Poor balance and coordination
Shooting pains
Stabbing pains
Tingling sensation in hands or feet
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms. Please speak with your GP to find out more.
Treatment options:
Because peripheral neuropathy can be caused by a number of different health conditions, typically GPs try to treat or manage this condition first or make adjustments to a patient's current treatment plan. Other options like neuropathic pain agents may be considered or prescribed, and therapies to help improve muscle strength like physiotherapy may be recommended.
Amitriptyline
Duloxetine
Gabapentin
Nerve block injections
Pregabalin
Whether you’re new to cannabis-based medicines, switching from another medical cannabis clinic, or self-medicating, we’ll put you back in control of your health.
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"Peripheral neuropathy involves damage to peripheral nerves, causing pain and numbness. Medicinal cannabis, by modulating the endocannabinoid system, may reduce pain and improve nerve function, offering potential symptom relief."
Dr Michal Modestowicz
Neurology
14. 07. 2023
Cannabinoids come in two distinct groups. First up, we have our own endocannabinoids, which are created naturally in the body. These endocannabinoids act as neurotransmitters, sending signals to receptors throughout the entire human body, including the nervous system.
14. 07. 2023
15. 08. 2023
Diabetic neuropathy is a condition that occurs when diabetes causes damage to the nervous system. The condition can affect a number of different nerves in the body, including in the feet, organs, and muscles. This damage can result in pain, tingling sensations, and numbness. Early medical research is showing that the interaction between CBD and the ECS can produce potentially powerful pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory results for people with diabetic neuropathy.
15. 08. 2023
14. 07. 2023
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.
14. 07. 2023
Patients with peripheral neuropathy are eligible for a medical cannabis prescription, provided they have previously tried two or more frontline treatments. A variety of cannabis-based medicinal products are available from Releaf, including cannabis oil, dried flower for vaping, THC vapes and cannabis pastilles. Releaf also offers a choice of two Starter Kits, each containing a vaporiser, accessories, and CBD oil to get you started.
Medical cannabis is only legal in the UK when prescribed. It remains illegal to smoke medical cannabis.
Further symptoms of neuropathy include numbness in the hands and feet, sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness and cramps, dizziness, digestive issues and bladder control issues. These can result in further, co-occurring symptoms such as anxiety and sleep issues, which medical cannabis is also prescribed for.
As well as being able to prescribe medical cannabis for peripheral neuropathy, which contains THC, clinicians with Releaf can also prescribe CBD oil. There has been some promising research specifically regarding peripheral neuropathy and CBD, which we will cover here, along with everything else you need to know about cannabis for peripheral neuropathy.
Medical cannabis may help with many of the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, such as nerve pain, sleep disturbance, allodynia (extreme sensitivity to light touch or temperature changes) and low mood or anxiety caused by chronic distress.
Although there are over one hundred cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, CBD and THC are the best studied, and research suggests that these may both help in different ways, both taken internally and applied topically. When you obtain a medical cannabis prescription, it is possible to take a balanced CBD:THC cannabis oil.
In a study titled ‘A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group study of THC/CBD spray in peripheral neuropathic pain treatment', 303 patients with peripheral neuropathic pain were screened, of whom 246 were randomised and 128 received a THC/CBD oromucosal spray over 15 weeks. Results showed improvements in pain and sleep quality, although the mean change in pain score did not reach statistical significance.
Further to this, a number of preclinical and animal studies have found that THC and CBD may also help to reduce allodynia. In one study, mice with hyperalgesia appeared to have significantly decreased symptoms after three weeks of daily dosing with cannabinoids taken orally, with no signs of tolerance that might reduce efficacy with ongoing use.
CBD, unlike THC, is non-intoxicating. Both interact with the endocannabinoid system, but in different ways. While THC fits like a ‘lock and key' into endocannabinoid receptors, CBD slightly alters the shape of the receptors and inhibits the enzyme which ordinarily breaks down your internally produced endocannabinoids (anandamide and 2-AG). This leads to higher levels of endocannabinoids in the body, whereas THC mimics them.
Both CBD and THC have been shown to have the potential to regulate pain perception, offer neuroprotection, reduce anxiety and improve sleep. Many studies suggest CBD and THC work in synergy, enhancing the therapeutic benefits of each other and reducing intoxicating effects. CBD in particular has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory properties.
A randomised controlled study published in 2020 found that when a topical CBD formulation (containing 250mg CBD) was applied directly to areas of the body where discomfort was felt, patients noticed a significant reduction in intense pain, sharp pain, cold and itchy sensations, with no adverse effects.
Over-the-counter CBD oil is a food supplement, while prescribed CBD is a medicine. These adhere to very different standards (following Food Standards Agency guidelines vs MHRA guidelines). Shop-bought CBD is often derived from the hemp plant, whereas medical CBD is derived from cannabis. Dose guidance for taking CBD as a food supplement is generally much lower than a prescribed dose.
In 2026, a systematic review of medical cannabis for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes, looking at controlled clinical studies and randomised controlled trials in adults, was published. Four trials were included. Three reported statistically significant reductions in neuropathic pain compared with placebo, while one did not demonstrate superiority. In two trials involving participants with diabetes and painful peripheral neuropathy taking vaporised or sublingual oil containing THC, doses of 16 to 18mg were found to provide clinically meaningful pain relief, although mild-to-moderate side effects of dizziness and cognitive impairment were also reported.
Further to this, a long-term, 5-year observational study on the safety and efficacy of inhaled cannabis for diabetic neuropathy found that inhaled cannabis significantly reduced pain and neuropathic symptoms in diabetic neuropathy patients. It also reduced patient opioid use. No serious adverse effects were reported over the 5-year duration, while 15.4% of patients experienced mild side effects.
Although taking medical cannabis for neuropathy may help with some of the symptoms, there is no evidence to suggest it can repair or regenerate nerve damage. When cannabinoids like THC and CBD interact with the endocannabinoid system, it's possible that they may help in managing chronic nerve pain, sleep disruption, sensitivity and anxiety, but medical cannabis cannot reverse or heal the condition.
In some cases, medical cannabis may be taken alongside medications; however, this should only occur under close, clinical supervision. As many medications are metabolised by the same process as cannabis, taking both together can lead to serious side effects.
When you sign up for an online consultation with Releaf, your medical records will automatically be sent to your clinician for review. This will allow your clinician to advise you on the most appropriate and effective protocol for your needs.
Cannabis is not a recognised cause of neuropathy. Common side effects of medical cannabis include dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, mild nausea and cognitive impairment. Major risks of cannabis can include anxiety, paranoia, impaired attention and negative interactions with medications. When prescribed, however, you will be given guidance by your clinician on the most appropriate dose, as well as how and when to take your cannabis, mitigating much of this risk.
It's quick and easy to get assessed for medical cannabis in the UK. Take a look at how Releaf works, then fill in the medical cannabis eligibility checker, which will forward your medical records to an expert clinician, and book an online consultation.
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