NHS approves cannabis-based medicine for multiple sclerosis patients in Scotland

dailyrecord.co.uk:

NHS has approved a Cannabis-based medicine for multiple sclerosis patients in Scotland Drugs for cancer patients and adult kidney transplant patients are also among those for which the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) issued advice in its latest round of decisions.Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, known as Sativex, has been accepted as a treatment to improve symptoms in some adults with muscle stiffness and spasms due to multiple sclerosis (MS).The committee heard from MS patient groups about the debilitating effect that muscle spasms can have on their day-to-day lives, impairing mobility, increasing the risk of falls, affecting their ability to look after themselves and aggravating fatigue and depression.Sativex is an oral spray treatment taken in combination with a patient's current treatment.SMC chairman Mark MacGregor said: "I am pleased we were able to accept these medicines for use by NHS Scotland.

We heard powerful testimony from MS groups of the devastating effects of spasticity on patients with multiple sclerosis."Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol will provide a treatment option to improve quality of life for patients, where other treatments are not working well enough."Morna Simpkins, director of MS Society Scotland, welcomed the decision.

She said: "MS is relentless, painful and disabling. Sativex has been proven to relieve muscle spasms and their associated pain, leading to increased mobility, better sleep patterns and an improved quality of life for the person living with MS and their family and loved ones."We will continue to work with the SMC, NHS Scotland, individual health boards and neurologists to ensure Sativex quickly becomes available to everyone throughout Scotland whose