Restless Legs Syndrome: Study Shows Symptom Improvement with THC and CBD Combination
Research followed patients for 12 weeks and observed improvement in symptom severity
There are nights when resting seems impossible. For those living with restless legs syndrome, the constant discomfort turns bedtime into a constant challenge. In search of new therapeutic alternatives, researchers investigated the use of a formulation based on THC and CBD in patients with the condition. The initial results indicate symptom improvement, but also emphasize that the evidence is still preliminary.
The study followed 18 people with restless legs syndrome for 12 weeks. Of these participants, 16 also had multiple sclerosis. The treatment began with doses of 2.7 milligrams of THC and 2.5 milligrams of CBD, with the possibility of adjustment starting from the fourth week.
Symptom and Sleep Improvement
Participants showed a reduction in the severity of the syndrome, measured by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Scale (IRLS), both after one month and after three months of follow-up. A decrease in the time they remained awake during the night after falling asleep was also observed.
On the other hand, indicators such as sleep onset latency and sleep efficiency did not show statistically significant changes.
Results Still Require Caution
According to the authors, the study was conducted without a placebo group, randomization, or blinding, which prevents claiming that the observed improvement was caused solely by the combination of THC and CBD. Additionally, the small number of participants limits the assessment of safety and potential less frequent adverse effects.
A follow-up conducted after one year showed that about two-thirds of the participants continued using the treatment and maintained their improvement scores. Still, this data only considers those who remained in the study and does not include a comparison group.
Next Step Will Be a Larger Clinical Trial
According to the researchers, new alternatives are relevant because conventional treatments, such as dopamine agonists, may worsen symptoms over time in some patients.
The study, funded by the Biomedical Research Foundation of La Paz University Hospital and Almirall Pharmaceuticals, highlights that the next step will be to conduct a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a larger number of participants. Until then, the results represent a promising clinical signal, but still insufficient to recommend the use of the THC and CBD combination in the treatment of restless legs syndrome.