Severe motor and vocal tics controlled with Sativex®

Australas Psychiatry. 2016 Dec;24(6):541-544. doi: 10.1177/1039856216663737. Epub 2016 Aug 24.

Abstract

Objectives: A single case report on cannabinoid treatment for treatment-resistant Tourette syndrome (TS).

Method: Our subject received 10.8 mg Tetrahydocannabinol and 10 mg cannabidiol daily, in the form of two oro-mucosal sprays of 'Sativex®', twice daily. Assessment was pre-treatment and at week one, two, and four during treatment. He completed the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale as a subjective measure, and was videoed at each stage. The videos were objectively rated by two assessors, blind to the stage of treatment, using the Original Rush Videotape Rating Scale.

Results: Both subjective and objective measures demonstrated marked improvement in the frequency and severity of motor and vocal tics post-treatment. There was good interrater reliability of results.

Conclusions: Our results support previous research suggesting that cannabinoids are a safe and effective treatment for TS and should be considered in treatment-resistant cases. Further studies are needed to substantiate our findings.

Keywords: Sativex®; Tetrahydrocannabinol; cannabis; tourette syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cannabidiol / administration & dosage*
  • Dronabinol / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Tics / physiopathology*
  • Tourette Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Videotape Recording

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Cannabidiol
  • Dronabinol
  • nabiximols