- Myoclonus
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PRESENTED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. MEDICAL MARIJUANA INC. PROVIDES THIS INFORMATION TO PROVIDE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF CANNABIDIOL. LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS BY MEDICAL MARIJUANA INC. AND NONE SHOULD BE INFERRED.Myoclonus is the quick, jerky contraction of an individual or group of muscles that is often caused by an underlying health condition. Studies suggest that cannabis lowers neuronal excitability and thus can potentially reduce involuntary contractions.
OVERVIEW OF MYOCLONUSMyoclonus is a symptom characterized by a sudden, involuntary muscle jerk. Myoclonic twitches can involve a single muscle or a group of muscles and can feature a single twitch or contractions that happen a sequence and repeat at various speeds. In some cases, myoclonus can cause a person to experience persistent, shock-like contractions in a group of muscles. Severe cases can severely limit the ability to eat, talk or walk.
The types of myoclonus can be classified as physiological, essential, epileptic, or symptomatic (secondary). The most common form of myoclonus is symptomatic, which occurs as a result of some underlying condition, such as a neurological disorder, a reaction to a medication, prolonged oxygen deprivation, kidney or liver failure, infection, head or spinal cord injury, or a metabolic condition. It’s not uncommon for multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or epileptic patients to develop myoclonus. Healthy individuals experience physiological myoclonus, such as hiccups or jerking suddenly just before falling asleep, and do not need to be treated. Essential myoclonus occurs on its own, unrelated to an underlying illness and typically without other symptoms. Epileptic myoclonus occurs in association with an epileptic disorder.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, most myoclonus is caused by a disturbance of the central nervous system. Scientists think that over-excitability of the motor pathways that control movement is responsible for symptoms. Abnormalities or deficiencies in the receptors of certain neurotransmitters may also be involved.
Treatment of myoclonus varies depending on its type and whether there is a treatable underlying condition. In the cases where the underlying condition can be fixed, such as changing the medication that causes jerking, myoclonus symptoms can be eliminated. However, most underlying causes cannot be cured or eliminated, so treatment efforts focus on easing myoclonus symptoms with anticonvulsant or tranquilizer medications. Botox injections can be helpful in treating myoclonus when it occurs in a single area. Surgery may be necessary when myoclonus is caused by a tumor or lesion on the brain or spinal cord.
FINDINGS: EFFECTS OF CANNABIS ON MYOCLONUSResearch looking into cannabis’ direct effect on myoclonus is lacking. However, the cannabinoids found in cannabis have been shown to have anticonvulsant and antiseizure effects. Studies have found that cannabinoids have demonstrated the ability to reduce seizure activity (Wallace, Martin & DeLorenzo). Most of the traditional medications used to treat myoclonus are also used to treat epilepsy, which suggests that cannabis, already demonstrating effective for epilepsy, may also prove beneficial for myoclonus.
The ability of cannabinoids to decrease or eliminate seizures is due to their interactions with the endocannabinoid system. Activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) has shown to dampen neurotransmission and produces an overall reduction in neuronal excitability (Wallace, Martin & DeLorenzo, 2002) (Blair, et al., 2006). This finding suggests that cannabis may be able to combat myoclonus caused by over excitability.
Cannabinoids have also proven beneficial for curtailing tics and tremors in movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease (Pazos, Sagredo & Fernandez-Ruiz, 2008). Researchers suggest that cannabinoids may help alleviate involuntary motor symptoms because both CB1 and CB2 receptors, which cannabinoids act upon, have been found to be located in the basal ganglia and cerebellum. These are areas of the brain that control movement (Sagredo, et al., 2007).
STATES THAT HAVE APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR MYOCLONUSCurrently, only the state of Illinois has approved medical marijuana specifically for the treatment of myoclonus. However, in Washington D.C., any condition can be approved for medical marijuana as long as a DC-licensed physician recommends the treatment. In addition, a number of other states will consider allowing medical marijuana to be used for the treatment of myoclonus with the recommendation from a physician. These states include: California (any debilitating illness where the medical use of marijuana has been recommended by a physician), Connecticut (other medical conditions may be approved by the Department of Consumer Protection), Massachusetts (other conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient’s physician), Nevada (other conditions subject to approval), Oregon (other conditions subject to approval), Rhode Island (other conditions subject to approval), and Washington (any “terminal or debilitating condition”).
Nearly all states with medical cannabis laws have approved medical marijuana specifically to treat epilepsy. These states include: Alabama (debilitating epileptic conditions), Connecticut, Delaware(intractable epilepsy), Florida, Georgia (seizure disorder), Iowa (intractable epilepsy), Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi (intractable epilepsy), Missouri (intractable epilepsy), New Hampshire, New Jersey (seizure disorders), New Mexico, New York, North Carolina (intractable epilepsy), North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma (pediatric epilepsy), Pennsylvania, South Carolina (Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Refractory epilepsy), Texas (intractable epilepsy), Utah (intractable epilepsy), Virginia (intractable epilepsy), West Virginia, Wisconsin (seizure disorders), and Wyoming(intractable epilepsy).
Several states have approved medical marijuana to treat seizures or seizure disorders. These states include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania (intractable seizures), Rhode Island, Tennessee (intractable seizures), Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia (intractable seizures).
Sixteen states have approved medical marijuana for the treatment of spasms. These states include: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.
RECENT STUDIES ON CANNABIS’ EFFECT ON MYOCLONUS
OVERVIEW OF MYOCLONUSMyoclonus is a symptom characterized by a sudden, involuntary muscle jerk. Myoclonic twitches can involve a single muscle or a group of muscles and can feature a single twitch or contractions that happen a sequence and repeat at various speeds. In some cases, myoclonus can cause a person to experience persistent, shock-like contractions in a group of muscles. Severe cases can severely limit the ability to eat, talk or walk.
The types of myoclonus can be classified as physiological, essential, epileptic, or symptomatic (secondary). The most common form of myoclonus is symptomatic, which occurs as a result of some underlying condition, such as a neurological disorder, a reaction to a medication, prolonged oxygen deprivation, kidney or liver failure, infection, head or spinal cord injury, or a metabolic condition. It’s not uncommon for multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or epileptic patients to develop myoclonus. Healthy individuals experience physiological myoclonus, such as hiccups or jerking suddenly just before falling asleep, and do not need to be treated. Essential myoclonus occurs on its own, unrelated to an underlying illness and typically without other symptoms. Epileptic myoclonus occurs in association with an epileptic disorder.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, most myoclonus is caused by a disturbance of the central nervous system. Scientists think that over-excitability of the motor pathways that control movement is responsible for symptoms. Abnormalities or deficiencies in the receptors of certain neurotransmitters may also be involved.
Treatment of myoclonus varies depending on its type and whether there is a treatable underlying condition. In the cases where the underlying condition can be fixed, such as changing the medication that causes jerking, myoclonus symptoms can be eliminated. However, most underlying causes cannot be cured or eliminated, so treatment efforts focus on easing myoclonus symptoms with anticonvulsant or tranquilizer medications. Botox injections can be helpful in treating myoclonus when it occurs in a single area. Surgery may be necessary when myoclonus is caused by a tumor or lesion on the brain or spinal cord.
FINDINGS: EFFECTS OF CANNABIS ON MYOCLONUSResearch looking into cannabis’ direct effect on myoclonus is lacking. However, the cannabinoids found in cannabis have been shown to have anticonvulsant and antiseizure effects. Studies have found that cannabinoids have demonstrated the ability to reduce seizure activity (Wallace, Martin & DeLorenzo). Most of the traditional medications used to treat myoclonus are also used to treat epilepsy, which suggests that cannabis, already demonstrating effective for epilepsy, may also prove beneficial for myoclonus.
The ability of cannabinoids to decrease or eliminate seizures is due to their interactions with the endocannabinoid system. Activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) has shown to dampen neurotransmission and produces an overall reduction in neuronal excitability (Wallace, Martin & DeLorenzo, 2002) (Blair, et al., 2006). This finding suggests that cannabis may be able to combat myoclonus caused by over excitability.
Cannabinoids have also proven beneficial for curtailing tics and tremors in movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease (Pazos, Sagredo & Fernandez-Ruiz, 2008). Researchers suggest that cannabinoids may help alleviate involuntary motor symptoms because both CB1 and CB2 receptors, which cannabinoids act upon, have been found to be located in the basal ganglia and cerebellum. These are areas of the brain that control movement (Sagredo, et al., 2007).
STATES THAT HAVE APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR MYOCLONUSCurrently, only the state of Illinois has approved medical marijuana specifically for the treatment of myoclonus. However, in Washington D.C., any condition can be approved for medical marijuana as long as a DC-licensed physician recommends the treatment. In addition, a number of other states will consider allowing medical marijuana to be used for the treatment of myoclonus with the recommendation from a physician. These states include: California (any debilitating illness where the medical use of marijuana has been recommended by a physician), Connecticut (other medical conditions may be approved by the Department of Consumer Protection), Massachusetts (other conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient’s physician), Nevada (other conditions subject to approval), Oregon (other conditions subject to approval), Rhode Island (other conditions subject to approval), and Washington (any “terminal or debilitating condition”).
Nearly all states with medical cannabis laws have approved medical marijuana specifically to treat epilepsy. These states include: Alabama (debilitating epileptic conditions), Connecticut, Delaware(intractable epilepsy), Florida, Georgia (seizure disorder), Iowa (intractable epilepsy), Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi (intractable epilepsy), Missouri (intractable epilepsy), New Hampshire, New Jersey (seizure disorders), New Mexico, New York, North Carolina (intractable epilepsy), North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma (pediatric epilepsy), Pennsylvania, South Carolina (Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Refractory epilepsy), Texas (intractable epilepsy), Utah (intractable epilepsy), Virginia (intractable epilepsy), West Virginia, Wisconsin (seizure disorders), and Wyoming(intractable epilepsy).
Several states have approved medical marijuana to treat seizures or seizure disorders. These states include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania (intractable seizures), Rhode Island, Tennessee (intractable seizures), Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia (intractable seizures).
Sixteen states have approved medical marijuana for the treatment of spasms. These states include: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.
RECENT STUDIES ON CANNABIS’ EFFECT ON MYOCLONUS
- Evidence indicates that cannabinoids may be useful as an anticonvulsant.
Evidence for a physiological role of endocannabinoids in the modulation of seizure threshold and severity. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299902023312)
- Myoclonus. (2012, December 20). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myoclonus/basics/definition/con-20027364.
- Myoclonus Fact Sheet. (2015, February 23). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myoclonus/detail_myoclonus.htm.
- Pazos, M.R., Sagredo, O., and Fernández-Ruiz, J. (2008). The endocannabinoid system in Huntington’s disease. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 14(23), 2317-25. Retrieved from http://www.eurekaselect.com/67570/article.
- Sagredo, O., García-Arencibia, M., de Lago, E., Finetti, S., Decio, A., and Fernández-Ruiz, J. (2007, August). Cannabinoids and neuroprotection in basal ganglia disorders. Molecular Neurobiology, 36(1), 82-91. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12035-007-0004-3.
- Wallace, M.J., Martin, B.R., and DeLorenzo, R.J. (2002). Evidence for a physiological role of endocannabinoids in the modulation of seizure threshold and severity. European Journal of Pharmacology, 452(3), 295-301. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299902023312.