MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR BLEPHAROSPASM (AND A BIT ON TRANSCRANIAL STIMULATION AS WELL) BRIAN D. BERMAN, MD, MS • REPORTED BY BRYAN RENEHAN
This presentation: • Discussed the history and use of medical marijuana, • Reviewed the potential of cannabinoids to treat blepharospasm, and • Provided update on magnetic and electrical stimulation approaches for blepharospasm.
antipsychotic and suppression of muscle spasms. Current uses of THC are as a painkiller, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, euphoriant, and suppression of The Cannabis plant was cultivated from prehistoric nausea and vomiting. times in China, India, Egypt and was planted in As for safety, it is Virginia in 1611, and in Plymouth Colony in 1632. The believed that the use of plant has many chemical compounds, but our concern CBD and THC is less is with Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which it has in addictive than many Brian D. Berman, MD, MS high concentrations and has a major psychoactive other drugs including component and Cannabidiol (CBD) which is up to 40% alcohol and more on par with caffeine. of plant’s extract and does not cause a high. When using these compounds, the reported side The medical literature shows that as early as effects include redness of the eyes, increased 1842 the plant was used as an analgesic and appetite and thirst, decreased salivation, increased anticonvulsant. Over the years, it was used to treat heart rate and blood pressure, slow heart rate and insomnia, neuralgia, dysmenorrhea, and migraines. low standing blood pressure (high doses), urinary Its use began to be outlawed with the Marijuana frequency, decreased intraocular pressure, euphoria, Tax Act, 1937 which removed 28 relaxation, dysphoria, anxiety, cannabis-containing medicines panic, subjective time slowing, from the U.S., and it eventually depersonalization, altered . . . it is believed that the became illegal to possess with sense of body proportion, the listing of the plant in the auditory/visual illusions and use of CBD and THC is less Controlled Substances Act, 1970 hallucinations, impaired balance addictive than many other – Schedule I. and coordination, and impaired In recent years, most states memory and problem solving. drugs including alcohol and have lessened restrictions on the Cannabinoid studies in dystonia more on par with caffeine. use and possession of Cannabis. have been limited. They have There are currently prescribed been limited in scope and in some medications on the market reported cases only dealt with one including Dronabinol (MarinolTM) patient. The conclusion from the a Synthetic THC for Nausea, appetite stimulation, studies is that Cannabinoids seem to be effective, but MS pain; Cannabidiol (EpidiolexTM) a CBD extract for further studies are required to determine their role as TM Epilepsy (Dravet, LG) and Nabiximols (Sativex ) a 1:1 complementary treatment in dystonia. THC:CBD for Pain in MS and cancer. There is currently an ongoing study funded by Current uses of CBD are as a painkiller, antiBEBRF -2019 BEBRF Research Grant Effect of Noninflammatory, antioxidant, anxiety reducer, psychoactive Cannabidiol as an Adjunct to Botulinum CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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