Medical cannabis is a safe and effective treatment of chronic muscle spasms.
Spasms may affect many different types of muscles in the body, leading to many different symptoms and presentations. Common muscle spasms are often due to dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities. The spasm usually occurs abruptly, is very painful, and can be relieved by gently stretching the muscle and replenishing fluids.
If muscle spasms are especially painful, if they do not resolve, or if they recur, this may be a sign of a more serious underlying cause. Serious medical conditions that are often associated with muscle spasms include multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, muscular dystrophy, myopathy, back pain, and others. Muscle spasms may also occur as a side effect of some prescription medications.
Muscle spasms are often perpetuated by a phenomenon known as the “spasm-pain-spasm” cycle. This theory suggests that an initial event produces muscle spasm that induces a cycle where the resulting pain leads to further muscle spasm. Spasm in turn increases the level of pain, and so on – establishing a self-perpetuating cycle.
Muscle spasms are treated with various types of muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety medications, pain medications, anti-seizure medications, and even Botulinum toxin injections to paralyze spastic muscles. Many of these medications are associated with adverse side effects. Acupuncture and therapeutic massage are more natural treatments that can also be effective in the treatment of muscle spasms.
The effectiveness of medical cannabis in treating muscle spasms is also very well documented. Some patients find that medical cannabis is extremely helpful in alleviating uncontrollable and debilitating muscle tremors. Other patients with severe spastic conditions have reported that medical cannabis actually keeps them alive.
There is currently a cannabis-based medicine on the market in Canada and the United Kingdom known as Sativex®. It’s a natural plant extract that is sprayed under the tongue. This medication is produced by GW Pharmaceuticals, and it has undergone scientific testing and has received governmental approval for use. It’s indicated for use in the treatment of MS symptoms such as neuropathic pain and muscle spasticity. The drug was found to have minimal side effects.
Sativex® demonstrates that an under the tongue spray is an effective delivery method for getting therapeutic cannabinoid molecules into the body. A cannabis tincture can be used orally in a similar way, or added to a beverage or food. Some patients report that various edible cannabis products are beneficial in providing a sustained-release type effect in the treatment of spasms.
Interestingly, some patients with Tourette ’s syndrome, which is a neurological disorder that has spastic-type components, report remarkable results with the use of medical cannabis.