Cannabis effective against a hyperkinetic movement disorder - Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2008 Aug 7.

Cannabis effective against a hyperkinetic movement disorder

by: Farooq MU, Ducommun E, Goudreau J.

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2008 Aug 7.

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Treatment of a hyperkinetic movement disorder during pregnancy with dronabinol.

A researcher at the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University, USA, presented a case report of a 24-year-old woman with a complex hyperkinetic movement disorder due to a rare cell dysfunction (mitochondrial cytopathy), who responded well to a treatment with cannabis products. Both self-medication with smoked cannabis and a treatment with oral dronabinol (5 mg three times a day) were effective. She presented with tremor, generalized dystonia, and hyperkinetic movement disorder. She had difficulty maintaining her body weight of 36 kg, most likely due to the increased caloric demands of her hyperkinetic movements in combination with mild appetite loss.

At the age of 26 years she became pregnant. Dronabinol (THC) was employed as a strategy to control her hyperkinetic involuntary movements and promote weight gain during her pregnancy. Other drugs that can be used to control hyperkinetic movements may be contraindicated in pregnancy. She continued to experience an improvement of her hyperkinetic movement disorder with the regular use of dronabinol with no signs of tolerance or requirement for dose escalation. Dronabinol stimulated her appetite and assisted with weight gain. She gained a total of 20 kg weight during her pregnancy and ultimately delivered a healthy appearing baby with no complications.

(Source: Farooq MU, Ducommun E, Goudreau J. Treatment of a hyperkinetic movement disorder during pregnancy with dronabinol. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2008 Aug 7. [Electronic publication ahead of print])

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