Study confirms cannabis helpful for migraine

Marijuana reduces the number of migraine attacks
Migraine headaches are a relatively widespread picture of the condition, which often brings significant restrictions in everyday life for sufferers. Cannabis has long been credited with a positive effect against migraine, but so far there has been no clear scientific evidence. Scientists at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical campus in Aurora, Colorado have now demonstrated that medical marijuana used preventively contributes to a reduction in migraine attacks. Also, the attacks can be interrupted by the use of cannabis if necessary.

While clinical trials investigating the effects of cannabis on migraine headaches have so far been lacking, cannabinoid effects on central nervous system serotonin suggest that marijuana may provide a therapeutic alternative, the US scientists report. The aim of their study was therefore to "analyze the effects of marijuana on the monthly frequency of migraine headaches," write Laura M. Borgelt and colleagues in the journal "Pharmacotherapy".

The use of cannabis has a preventive effect against migraine. (Image: Olaf Speier / fotolia.com)

Frequency of migraine attacks significantly reduced
Based on 121 adults with a primary diagnosis of "migraine headaches" who were prescribed medical marijuana for treatment and / or prophylaxis between January 2010 and September 2014, the US scientists analyzed the effect of so-called medicinal hemp on this particular type of headache , Above all, the scale of the assessment was the number of migraine attacks per month, but also the effect of cannabis to end the attacks was recorded. The frequency of monthly migraine attacks has reduced by the use of medicinal hemp from an average of 10.4 bouts per month to 4.6 bouts per month, the researchers report. Most patients consumed more than one form of marijuana and used it every day for the prevention of migraine headaches.

Cannabis can sometimes interrupt migraine attacks
However, the researchers not only found a reduced frequency of migraine headaches, but in 11.6 percent of patients, the inhaled forms of marijuana has also been reported to allow successful treatment of acute attacks. Unwanted effects were found in about one-tenth of patients, with an increase in somnolence and difficulty in controlling the effects of marijuana timing and intensity, the researchers report. The difficulties would have been especially in the oral intake of marijuana. Further prospective studies are needed to understand the cause-and-effect relationship and explore the use of various marijuana varieties and dosages for migraine treatment and prophylaxis, according to Laura M. Borgelt and colleagues. (Fp)