Tourette Syndrome (TS) Patients who use cannabis products report significant improvements in their quality of life and often reduce prescription medication use, according to data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research NORMAL.

That to learn titled “Use of medicinal cannabis in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome in a real-world setting” assessed patients’ symptoms immediately before and after six months of cannabis treatment. Study participants generally inhaled THC-dominant cannabis flowers, although some patients also consumed extract formulations.

Researchers found: “A statistically significant improvement in quality of life, employment status, and [a] A reduction in the number of medications was seen, with a statistically significant number of patients reporting improvements in OCD and anxiety symptoms after six months of treatment.”

Methodology and Results

TS patients were recruited from a patient registry maintained by the Israeli cannabis company Tikun Olam.

The questionnaires were answered before and after 6 months of treatment. Patients were divided into two groups: (A) patients who responded and (B) patients who did not respond to the follow-up questionnaire.

In Group A, an analysis was performed to assess the presence and frequency of motor and vocal tics. The general mood, employment status, quality of life and comorbidities of the patients were also included in the analysis. Seventy patients were identified.

The median daily doses of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol were 123 and 50.5 mg, respectively.

In Group A, a statistically significant improvement in quality of life, employment status, and reduction in the number of medications was noted.

67% and 89% of patients with OCD and anxiety comorbidities, respectively, reported improvement.

The authors identified improvements in motor and vocal tic severity, but acknowledged that these changes were not…