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Journal of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Research | Volume 4
November 04-05, 2019 | Melbourne, Australia
Neurology and Neurological Disorders
19
th
International Conference on
J Neurol Neurorehabil Res, Volume 4
Could medical cannabis be an effective treatment for Migraine? A literature Review
Hari Pai
King’s College London, UK
Objective:
This review is going to explore the potential use of
Medical Cannabis in the treatment of Migraine
Introduction:
Cannabis has been prescribed for headaches
by physicians since the ancient Persians. Cannabis derived
medications are currently used in the UK for neurological
conditions such as Lennonx-Gastaut syndrome and
Multiple Sclerosis. The two main chemical components in
cannabis are: Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC). Recent studies have shown that these increase the
endocannabinoids level (lipid-based neurotransmitters
which bind to cannabinoid receptors) within the body. The
endocannabinoid system is involved in the mediation of the
pharmacological effects of cannabis and pain-sensation. The
purpose of this presentation is to evaluate whether medical
cannabis (or cannabis derivedmedications) could be effective
treatments for migraine. Migraine is a common, headache
disorder of unknown etiology. Vasodilating agents such as
nitric oxide is known to be able to trigger migraine attacks.
Discussion:
Studies have shown that endocannabinoid
system dysfunction may be present in chronic migraine. The
main theory is that reduced levels of endocannabinoids lead
to increased CGRP and Nitric Oxide (NO) production leading
to migraine. This is backed up by the reduced levels of certain
endocannabinoids in the CSF of people with chronic migraine
compared to controls. People with chronic migraine have also
been shown to have increased CGRP and NO production.
In terms of human clinical trials, results so far have been
promising. Primarily studies have been case-report in nature,
but these have given intriguing results. Not only has cannabis
been reported to be effective in the abortion of migraine
attacks but there is some evidence that it reduces the
frequency of migraine attacks as well.
Conclusion:
Medical Cannabis appears to be a promising
avenue for migraine treatment.
e
:
hari.venkatesh_pai@kcl.ac.uk