Cannabis Use for Symptom Management Among People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS): A 2020 NARCOMS Survey

Abstract

Research Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of cannabis use for MS symptom management and factors associated with its use among current users in the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) registry. Design An online, supplemental survey regarding use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing cannabis for MS symptoms. Setting A voluntary, self-report registry for PwMS. Participants Active, US NARCOMS participants (N=6934), of whom 3249 (47%;) responded to the survey. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures The prevalence of, and reasons for, using or not using cannabis, as well as behaviors and attitudes of current users. Findings were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results The proportion of respondents who reported using cannabis for MS symptoms was 31%. Among the 69% of respondents who did not use cannabis for MS symptoms, the most common reasons were insufficient efficacy (40%) or safety (27%) data. Overall, 636 respondents (20%) reported current use (within last 30 days). Smoking (33%) and eating (20%) were the two most common primary modes of administration. A portion of current users started cannabis before using a prescribed MS symptom management drug (23%) or rehabilitation therapy (45%). The most common target symptoms were spasticity (80%), pain (69%), and sleep problems (61%). Of the 511 current users treating spasticity, 321 (63%) were using additional symptom management therapies (59% using drugs; 11% using physical/occupational therapy) and 190 (37%) were using only cannabis. Conclusions Although concerns about efficacy, safety, and other factors prevent some PwMS from trying cannabis, 31% have tried and 20% are currently using non-FDA-approved cannabis products for MS symptom relief. Of those currently using cannabis to treat spasticity, over a third were using only cannabis. Funding: Greenwich Biosciences, Inc. Author(s) Disclosures Joanne Wagner, Kathryn Nichol, and Joshua Steinerman have a financial relationship with Greenwich Biosciences. Amber Salter has nothing to disclose. Robert Fox has a financial relationship with AB Science, Actelion, Biogen, Celgene, EMD Serono, Genentech, Immunic, Novartis, Sanofi, and TG Therapeutics. Gary Cutter has a financial relationship with Antisense Therapeutics, Astra-Zeneca, Avexis Pharmaceuticals, Biodelivery Sciences International, Biogen, Biolinerx, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, Bristol Meyers Squibb/Celgene, Click Therapeutics, CSL Behring, Galmed Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Genzyme, GreenValley Pharma Ltd, GW Pharmaceuticals, Klein-Buendel Incorporated, Mapi Pharmaceuticals LTD, Medday, Medimmune/Viela Bio, Merck, Merck/Pfizer, Merck/Serono, Immunic, Neurim, Neurogenesis LTD, Novartis, Novartis, OncoImmune, Ophazyme, Opko Biologics, Osmotica Pharmaceuticals, Perception Neurosciences, Reata Pharmaceuticals, Reckover Pharmaceuticals, Recursion/Cerexis Pharmaceuticals, Regeneron, Roche, SAB BIotherapeutics, Sanofi-Aventis, Teva pharmaceuticals, TG Therapeutics, VielaBio Inc, and Vivus. Karry Smith has a financial relationship with Abbott/St Jude, Boston Scientific, Greenwich Biosciences, and Medtronic. To evaluate the prevalence of cannabis use for MS symptom management and factors associated with its use among current users in the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) registry. An online, supplemental survey regarding use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing cannabis for MS symptoms. A voluntary, self-report registry for PwMS. Active, US NARCOMS participants (N=6934), of whom 3249 (47%;) responded to the survey. Not applicable. The prevalence of, and reasons for, using or not using cannabis, as well as behaviors and attitudes of current users. Findings were summarized using descriptive statistics. The proportion of respondents who reported using cannabis for MS symptoms was 31%. Among the 69% of respondents who did not use cannabis for MS symptoms, the most common reasons were insufficient efficacy (40%) or safety (27%) data. Overall, 636 respondents (20%) reported current use (within last 30 days). Smoking (33%) and eating (20%) were the two most common primary modes of administration. A portion of current users started cannabis before using a prescribed MS symptom management drug (23%) or rehabilitation therapy (45%). The most common target symptoms were spasticity (80%), pain (69%), and sleep problems (61%). Of the 511 current users treating spasticity, 321 (63%) were using additional symptom management therapies (59% using drugs; 11% using physical/occupational therapy) and 190 (37%) were using only cannabis. Although concerns about efficacy, safety, and other factors prevent some PwMS from trying cannabis, 31% have tried and 20% are currently using non-FDA-approved cannabis products for MS symptom relief. Of those currently using cannabis to treat spasticity, over a third were using only cannabis. Funding: Greenwich Biosciences, Inc.