Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37250194›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of MS care

Multiple Sclerosis and Use of Medical Cannabis: A Retrospective Review of a Neurology Outpatient Population.

Michelle M Rainka, Traci S Aladeen, Anna G Mattle, Emily Lewandowski, Denis Vanini, Katelyn McCormack, Laszlo Mechtler

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of MS care. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Opioid Signaling in Multiple Sclerosis: Emerging Targets for Repair.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
  2. The Use of Compounds Derived fromInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2024
    Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Michelle M RainkaFrom the Dent Neurologic Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA (MMR, TSA, AGM, KM, LM).
Traci S AladeenFrom the Dent Neurologic Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA (MMR, TSA, AGM, KM, LM).ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5961-4766
Anna G MattleFrom the Dent Neurologic Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA (MMR, TSA, AGM, KM, LM).
Emily LewandowskiThe University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA (MMR, TSA, AGM, EL, DV).
Denis VaniniThe University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA (MMR, TSA, AGM, EL, DV).
Katelyn McCormackFrom the Dent Neurologic Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA (MMR, TSA, AGM, KM, LM).
Laszlo MechtlerFrom the Dent Neurologic Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA (MMR, TSA, AGM, KM, LM).
Dent Neurologic Institute · USUniversity at Buffalo, State University of New York · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis (MS) experience a wide range of symptoms requiring pharmacologic management, and many do not achieve adequate symptom control. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of medical cannabis (MC) as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for patients with MS.

methodsA retrospective medical record review of 141 patients with MS receiving MC for symptom management was conducted. Data were collected for up to 4 follow-up appointments after initiation of MC. Outcomes included changes in MS symptoms, medication changes, adverse events, and changes in cognition and mobility.

resultsPatients experienced extensive MS symptom improvement after initiation of MC, with alleviation of pain (72% of patients) and spasticity (48% of patients) and improvement in sleep (40% of patients) the most common. There was a significant reduction in concomitant opioid use after initiating MC as evidenced by a significant decrease in daily morphine milligram equivalents among patients prescribed opioid analgesics (

conclusionsIn many patients with MS, MC was well tolerated, eased pain and spasticity, improved sleep and other symptoms, and reduced use of concomitant opioid analgesics. Prospective studies are needed to further investigate the role of MC in the treatment of patients with MS.

Indexed as

cannabismedical marijuanamultiple sclerosisspasticity

Identifiers

PMID37250194
PMCPMC10211357
OpenAlexW4312132157

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.