Medical Marijuana for ADHD still understudied

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Cannvas Health Advocate Team (C.H.A.T.)

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Section: Health

Related Ailments: ADHD, Concentration

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and its association with cannabis is something that has been debated among various parties anecdotally for decades.

A quick search can find people claiming that it has helped them deal with their ADHD better than any prescribed pharmaceutical such as Ritalin, while many claim that it did nothing, or even made the issues worse.

A study out of King’s College London found that although there needs to be much more study of the topic, there is preliminary evidence that supports the self-medication theory that cannabis-based medicines can help those with ADHD.

The study, which was performed in August 2017, tested 30 people with ADHD, giving 15 a placebo, and the other 15 Sativex Oromucosal Spray. The study had a primary outcome initiative of comparing cognitive performance of the two groups, and a secondary outcome initiative comparing emotional lability symptoms.

According to the studies authors, the primary outcome showed no significant difference, but did find that the group on Sativex usually had higher scores than those on the placebo. For secondary outcomes, Sativex was associated with nominally significant improvements in hyperactivity/impulsivity and a cognitive measure of inhibition, as well as a trend towards improvement for inattention.

The size and results of the study cannot be used to scientifically prove that cannabis-related medicines can help those with ADHD, but it gives a strong base for future studies, and implores the question to continue.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28576350

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