Cannabinoids and Tremor Induced by Motor-related Disorders: Friend or Foe?

Abstract

Tremor arises from an involuntary, rhythmic muscle contraction/relaxation cycle and is a common disabling symptom of many motor-related diseases such as Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington disease, and forms of ataxia. In the wake of anecdotal, largely uncontrolled, observations claiming the amelioration of some symptoms among cannabis smokers, and the high density of cannabinoid receptors in the areas responsible for motor function, including basal ganglia and cerebellum, many researchers have pursued the question of whether cannabinoid-based compounds could be used therapeutically to alleviate tremor associated with central nervous system diseases. In this review, we focus on possible effects of cannabinoid-based medicines, in particular on Parkinsonian and multiple sclerosis-related tremors and the common probable molecular mechanisms. While, at present, inconclusive results have been obtained, future investigations should extend preclinical studies with different cannabinoids to controlled clinical trials to determine potential benefits in tremor.

Cannabinoid receptor agonism suppresses tremor, cognition disturbances and anxiety-like behaviors in a rat model of essential tremor

“…), which caused significant improvement in passive avoidance performance (Ágota S. Ádáma et al , 2008). Moreover, alterations in the sleep-wake cycle, memory formation, locomotor activity and pain perception have been widely reported in studies of the effects of the endocannabinoid, anandamide (Arjmand et al , 2015(Arjmand et al , , E oo z . , 1998.…”

Does modulation of the endocannabinoid system have potential therapeutic utility in cerebellar ataxia?

“…The role of cannabinoids in disease‐associated movement disorders and tremor has been further discussed more recently by Arjmand et al . () and Kluger et al . (), who similarly concluded that further work on cannabinoids in different models of ataxia is warranted.…”

“…Such reports contributed to fuelling a major review on the clinical effects of cannabinoids in ataxia associated with multiple sclerosis (Mills et al 2007); although cannabinoids showed promise, it was concluded that better standardized measures of ataxia were needed to fully establish the utility of cannabis-based medicines in ataxia. The role of cannabinoids in disease-associated movement disorders and tremor has been further discussed more recently by Arjmand et al (2015) and Kluger et al (2015), who similarly concluded that further work on cannabinoids in different models of ataxia is warranted. In this regard, an interesting recent report suggests that a 'Sativex-like' combination of 9 -THC and CBD, as well as the individual administration of 9 -THC or CBD, was able to improve motor deficits in a viral model of multiple sclerosis (Feliú et al 2015).…”

Cannabinoid type 1 receptor antagonism ameliorates harmaline‐induced essential tremor in rat

“…Recent studies have revealed a role for endocannabinoids in tremor disorders (Glass, ; Howard et al, ; Arjmand et al, ). Cannabinoid (CB) receptors and their endogenous ligands, the endocannabinoids, are abundant in brain areas that manage motor function where they play a neuromodulatory role (Rodriguez de Fonseca et al, ).…”