Movement Disorders

Movement Disorders medical cannabis treatment

Movement disorders, like essential tremors, Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and Huntington’s disease affect the speed, fluidity, and ease of movement, and often cause patients to encounter abnormal or involuntary movements. Because movement disorders affect motor function, recently in the UK medical cannabis has emerged as a new available treatment option for some of those struggling to manage their symptoms with conventionally licensed treatments. Movement disorder medical cannabis treatment plans are tailored to the individual at Releaf, and may be able to help relieve sleep concerns, bradykinesia, resting tremors and pain.

Am I eligible?

14

Different types of movement disorder according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and they can affect all ages.

1 in 37

People at some point in their life are affected by Parkinson's disease. Every 2 hours someone else in the UK is diagnosed with it.

82%

Of patients with Tourette syndrome reported a reduction or complete remission of motor and vocal tics in a small scale medical cannabis survey.

Over ⅔

of UK adults would consider medical cannabis treatments(https://) if their doctor recommended them, according to representative research.

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Articles on Movement disorders

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.

09. 08. 2023

A beginner’s guide to CBD oil administration for Parkinson’s

Typically administered to manage symptoms of anxiety and depression, or to relieve pain and improve sleep, evidence suggests medical cannabis, and in particular CBD oil, could also potentially aid 10 million people around the world living with Parkinson’s Disease.

Symptoms

Disjointed or jerky movements

Fatigue

Issues with coordination

Poor balance

Poor mental health

Tremors or tics

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

Treatment options:

Because there are a vast range of movement disorders, there are also a variety of treatment options conventionally recommended by the NHS used to manage movement disorder symptoms. This can include occupational, physical or speech therapies, and different kinds of prescribed medications such as anti-muscarinic drugs, monoamine depleting drugs and antipsychotics.

Orphenadrine hydrochloride

Procyclidine hydrochloride

Promazine hydrochloride

Tetrabenazine

Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride

Find out if you may be eligible for medical cannabis movement disorder treatments here
Am I eligible?

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

Are people with movement disorders eligible for medical cannabis treatment?

Because there are many different conditions grouped into the movement disorder classification, it is hard to make a sweeping statement about whether medical cannabis can help movement disorders.

However, it is known that upon entering the body, cannabis compounds like THC and CBD enter the endocannabinoid system. Amongst being responsible for many other bodily functions and responses, the endocannabinoid system is closely linked with motor function. 

People with movement disorders typically have ‘imbalances’ in their endocannabinoid system’s functionality when it comes to regulating these motor responses, and it's believed that certain cannabis compounds can target these imbalances and attempt to restore function, or improve their responses. 

For example, real-life evidence shows cannabis-based products have had promising results when combatting tremors, and therefore hold potential for patients with conditions like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. Other reports suggest medical cannabis may also relieve the frequency or severity of tics, which could be helpful for patients with Tourette syndrome. 

Medical cannabis and cannabis-based treatments will not be suitable for everyone with a movement disorder, but they may be able to offer relief to those who have been unable to find success with conventionally licensed treatment options for their condition.

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