Treatment with a spray containing both CBD and THC “does not impair skills relevant to driving in those patients with tic disorders”, according to a new study.
Nabiximols, also known as Sativex, contains equal parts THC and CBD, both derived from marijuana.
The study found that not only did the spray not impair skills, it “even improved fitness to drive in a subset of patients who were unfit to drive before start of treatment.”
The study is being published in the upcoming issue of the peer-reviewed journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, with it published online ahead of print by the National Library of Medicine. The study was conducted by researchers in Germany.
“The multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, phase IIIb CANNA-TICS (CANNAbinoids in the treatment of TICS) trial showed clear trends for improvement of tics, depression, and quality of life with nabiximols [THC/CBD spray] versus placebo in adult patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome and other chronic tic disorders”, states the study. “Although in general nabiximols was well tolerated, it is unclear whether treatment using this cannabis extract influences driving skills in patients with chronic tic disorders.”
For the study a total of 64 patients (76.6% men, mean±standard deviation of age: 36.8±13.9) were recruited at two study sites. The number of patients who were fit to drive increased from 24 (55.8%) at baseline to 28 (71.8%) at week 13 among 43 patients treated with nabiximols, and decreased from 14 (66.7%) to 10 (52.6%) among 21 patients who received placebo.
“The risk difference (nabiximols – placebo) was 0.17 (95% confidence interval=-0.08 to 0.43) in favor of nabiximols. Specifically, only 2 of 24 (8.3%) patients in the nabiximols, but 4 of 14 (28.6%) patients in the placebo group changed for the worse from fit (at baseline) to unfit (at week 13) to drive, whereas 8 of 19 (42.1%) patients in the nabiximols, and only 2 of 7 (28.6%) patients in the placebo group improved from unfit to fit”, states the study.
Researchers conclude by stating that:
Treatment with nabiximols does not impair skills relevant to driving in those patients with tic disorders who were fit to drive at baseline and even improved fitness to drive in a subset of patients who were unfit to drive before start of treatment.
