Cannabis is Effective for Tourettes

Tourettes is a neurological disorder that induces various symptoms, including vocal and physical tics, recognisable as sudden twitches, movements, and involuntary sounds. In numerous cases, tics do not harm a person's overall health. Severe Tourette's, however, may significantly impact their quality of life.

Existing treatment options include behavioural therapies such as Habit Reversal Therapy (HRT), Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention Therapy (CBIT), and various psychiatric drugs. 

In the study, details of which were released On Tourette Awareness Day, Wednesday, 7 June, Australian researchers published new findings from a double-masked, crossover trial in which patients treated with medicinal cannabis showed a considerable statistic and clinical reduction in both motor and vocal tics in just six weeks.

Twenty-two participants with severe Tourette syndrome were recruited for the study and randomly assigned to two groups receiving medicinal cannabis oil and a placebo over 12 weeks.

One of the groups was given a daily dose of oil containing a balanced formulation of CBD and THC over six weeks, followed by a six-week course of a placebo, or vice versa.

Researchers looked at the effects of the treatment on tic severity and impairment, as well as secondary symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

The research found a substantial link between levels of cannabis in the bloodstream and the response to active treatment. Those treated with cannabis oil showed marked reduced tics, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and anxiety without any notable adverse effects.

The study concluded that oral 1:1 THC: CBD is an effective treatment for the tics and psychiatric comorbidity associated with severe Tourette syndrome. 

Further work is needed, however, to identify the longer-term effects of cannabis use on Tourette syndrome, including the potential risk of tolerance to the anti-tic effect. 

"This is the first rigorous and methodical trial of medicinal cannabis to be undertaken in a sufficiently large group of people to make definitive conclusions about its effectiveness. It shows that medicinal cannabis can reduce tics by a level that makes a life-changing difference for people with Tourette syndrome and their families". Neuropsychiatrist Dr Philip Mosley.

To evaluate the results, investigators used the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) and Premonitory Urge for Tic Scale (PUTS) to assess tics' harshness, frequency, and interference.

After 12 weeks of treatment, the results revealed an average reduction of 38% in YGTSS-Total scores and a 20% reduction in Premonitory Urge for Tic Scale (PUTS) scores.

Cannabis works on distinct receptors on nerve cells in the brain that form part of the body's endocannabinoid system. Stimulating these receptors tightens a leaky filter that stops involuntary movements and vocalisations from being expressed by participants."