More evidence of cannabis efficacy in restless legs syndrome

Sleep Breath. 2020 Mar;24(1):277-279. doi: 10.1007/s11325-019-01978-1. Epub 2019 Dec 9.

Abstract

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is one of the most disabling and sometimes painful sensorimotor ailment of the nervous system that has only in recent years become more widely accepted as a clinical disorder with its own distinct features. Usually, symptoms respond well to dopamine agonists, anticonvulsants, or opiates, but still a subset of patients remains refractory to medical therapy and/or reports serious side effects. Recently, patients' statement of a remarkable and total remission of RLS symptoms following cannabis use has been reported. Here, we confirm and extend these findings to more patients with RLS. The antinociceptive effect of marijuana has been documented in many painful neurological conditions, and the potential benefit of cannabis use in patients with refractory RLS should therefore be questioned by robust clinical trials.

Keywords: Cannabis; Restless legs syndrome; To the Editor; Treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Medical Marijuana / therapeutic use*
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Medical Marijuana