TODAY'S VIDEO
Tourette’s patients have found relief utilizing synthetic THC and medical cannabis. Some case studies show a 70% reduction in tics and a 25% improvement in speech.
Tics and Tourette’s Treatment with CBD and Cannabis
In a review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2017, two German youths were administered synthetic THC and medical cannabis to combat symptoms of treatment- resistant Tourette syndrome.
Case Study 1
In the first case, the patient began exhibiting mild symptoms of Tourette’s at the age of 3, characterized by the opening and closing of the mouth. Beginning at the age of 7, pronounced vocal tics, coughing and the production of the “hm” sound were noticed. The patient’s symptoms continued to develop until the patient had severe motor tics, tension in the hands, stamping, blinking intensely and some animal noises. Symptoms waxed and waned throughout adolescence but showed no improvement with speech therapy or anti-psychotic medication. By the age of 19 the patient was disabled, taking as long as a minute to say a single word.
The patient’s world began to change when his physicians began prescribing medical cannabis (synthetic THC was not approved by the patients insurance). After 8 months of regular use, the patient exhibited marked improvement. Observations included the ability to converse fluidly, with a reduction in motor tics by 70% The patient’s anxiety diminished and she told researchers she felt calm throughout the day.
Case Study 2
In the second case, symptoms of Tourette’s began at age 3 for a 16 year old German male. At the age of 6, the motor tics began. With 10 years of speech therapy as well as prescribed anti-psychotics, no signs of improvement were observed. His symptoms included head shaking, eye movements, abdominal tensing, arm movements and finger sniffing. Vocal tics included exhaling, pronouncing the “hm” sound and also changing the melody and rhythm of his speech.
The patient was prescribed synthetic THC and exhibited an almost 70% reduction in motor tics and a 25% improvement in speech. Unfortunately the patient had various periods of discontinued use but showed the same improvement when the treatment was reinstated.
Conclusion
Tourette’s syndrome affects as much as 1% of the population and is characterized by motor tics with at least one vocal tic. Males are three or four times more likely than females to suffer from this syndrome.
More severely affected patients experience more vocal tics, including different repetitions of words, phrases or sounds. These case studies give hope to Tourette’s patients and demonstrate a significant improvement in this condition with the management of cannabis and THC.
Synthetic THC or medical cannabis may be something to look into if someone you know is suffering from Tourette’s.
TRANSCRIPTION
Treating Stuttering & Tourette’s with CBD & Cannabis
Mary Clifton, MD
Medical marijuana could be effective for managing anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder and/or other mood disorders but could it actually help a situation like stuttering or Tourette’s syndrome?
Published in August in 2017, in the Journal of Molecular Sciences, There were two cases involving German youths that got dramatically better with the administration of cannabis. One was a person who suffered with Tourette’s starting from the age of three. Initially with some stuttering, a motor tic of opening and closing his mouth. The symptoms worsened at age seven, followed by vocal tics of coughing and pronouncing the HM sound, the hmm sound. At eight years old, the motor tics worsened with tensing of the hands, stamping, blinking, tensing of the upper body and kicking and also some typical simple vocal tics but additional tics accelerating into animal noises and other issues.
The symptoms waxed and waned through adolescence, three years of speech therapy were performed without any significant improvement. The patient experienced decreased school performance and also little benefit with antipsychotic therapy. At age 19, the patient was unable to hold a normal conversation for over a year. Sometimes taking up to a minute to say a single word. The impairment was better with close family and friends but speaking with strangers was barely possible. Withdrawn from social situations and struggling with academic performance, basically home bound.
Shockingly, insurance refused to cover the cost of synthetic THCs and the patient was started on medical cannabis using a vape. At eight months following the treatment, there was significant improvement. 70% reduction in motor tics and the patient was able to converse fluently and speak fluently in most situations. Even those involving strangers. A feeling of being calm throughout her whole day, replaced her sense of anxiety and chronic stress. Even though the actual acute effects of the drug were primarily completely removed after 90 minutes.
Tourette’s syndrome is a diagnosis of multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic affecting 1% of the population. Males, three or four times more than females. More severely affected patients experience more vocal tics, including different repetitions of words or phrases or sounds. But in many cases, in small case studies, or small trials, there have been significant improvement in this particular condition in the Tourette’s syndrome with management with cannabis.
It may be something to look into if it’s something that you’re dealing with.
