CBD for Parkinson's disease: therapeutic potential
To mark World Parkinson's Day, we review current research on CBD in this disease. It is important to point out that, for now, CBD is not a medicine for Parkinson's and that more research is needed to establish its efficacy. We recommend that you talk to your doctor before using CBD.
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative condition whose treatment has begun to include cannabis products. Cannabis oil is the main derivative that has shown good results in clinical practice. These oils are mostly cannabidiol (CBD) preparations, or CBD drops for Parkinson's.
Therapeutic potential of CBD in the treatment of Parkinson's
Note: This is an informational article and is not intended to prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. Its content may complement, but should never replace, the diagnosis or treatment of any disease or symptom. Cannactiva products are not medicines and are intended for external use. There may be relevant new scientific evidence since the date of publication. Consult your doctor before using CBD. The therapeutic approach must always be personalised and will depend on professional assessment.
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disease caused by falling dopamine levels in the brain, which result from the loss of dopamine-producing neurons (dopaminergic neurons), as well as the build-up of certain proteins (Lewy bodies) in the neurons (1).
Parkinson's is characterised by motor and non-motor symptoms (2). Motor symptoms include, for example, tremor, slowness of movement or bradykinesia, and body rigidity (3, 4, 5); non-motor symptoms include hallucinations, depression (6), impaired verbal fluency (7) and cognitive decline, the latter being associated with progression to dementia (8).
Because Parkinson's is a disease with a high incidence (9, 10), and one that still has no cure, ongoing research into palliative medicines such as cannabinoids is critical for its treatment.
Cannabis for the treatment of Parkinson's
With the growing legalisation of cannabis products, many patients with Parkinson's disease began using cannabis as a treatment. These patients have reported significant improvements in their health and even a reduction in the use of the medicines they were taking to treat Parkinson's (11).
However, the use of products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis) is not recommended, as it can cause psychosis (12), anxiety, euphoria (13), memory impairment and cognitive problems (14).
CBD, or cannabidiol, has proven to be a good neuroprotectant, so it represents a strong potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. For more information, see the post on CBD as a neuroprotectant.
How does CBD help with Parkinson's?
CBD for the treatment of Parkinson's, whether taken orally as CBD oil drops or inhaled with a vaporizer, could prevent the decline in dopamine by protecting dopaminergic neurons from dying (15).
CBD oil has also been shown to have sedative (16) and anti-inflammatory (17) effects, which may help improve the quality of life of patients with this disease.
CBD dosage for Parkinson's according to current studies
The various current studies help give us an idea of how CBD can be used for this disease. A clinical study in patients with Parkinson's showed that CBD improves mobility and communication and reduces bodily discomfort in Parkinson's patients treated daily with 300 mg of CBD (18).
Another study reported a reduction in psychotic symptoms when 150 to 400 mg of CBD a day was added to antiparkinsonian therapy, with no serious side effects in the Parkinson's patients (19).
Finally, in 2020, a research group in the United States set out to test different doses of CBD in patients who were taking various medicines usually prescribed to treat Parkinson's. They showed that daily doses of 5 to 20 mg/kg of purified CBD (20) are well tolerated, even when patients are taking different antiparkinsonian medicines.
As for frequency of administration, the studies of CBD in Parkinson's patients state the daily amount of CBD, but do not specify whether the dose is split into several doses over the day or whether the daily dose is taken all at once. Only one of the studies states that the CBD oil was given at night.
Parkinson's medicines and CBD
Of all the antiparkinsonian drugs, levodopa or L-DOPA is the most widely used, as it is a precursor of dopamine. Once the drug crosses the blood-brain barrier, it is converted into dopamine to correct the brain's imbalance of this neurotransmitter.
This medicine and some others commonly used to treat this disease were assessed with concomitant administration of purified CBD in oil. The results showed that CBD is effective and safe at doses below 20 mg/kg a day. Patients who took 20 to 25 mg/kg of CBD had adverse effects such as changes in liver enzymes, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fatigue and nausea (20).
Cannabinoids can interact with certain medicines when taken at the same time. However, as mentioned above, according to the available studies, co-administration of low doses of CBD with antiparkinsonian medicines does not pose a significant health risk (20). Even so, Parkinson's patients may be taking other medicines with which cannabidiol could interact. For more information, see the post on possible interactions between CBD and medicines.
Ultimately, it is advisable to consult a specialist doctor for proper advice on whether taking cannabidiol is suitable, the right doses and the best way to take it.
Remember that we don't all react to CBD in the same way, so the dose is also entirely personal. That is why, when starting treatment with cannabidiol, you begin with low doses and gradually increase the concentration if the professional considers a dose adjustment necessary.
According to the available data, if you are taking medicines for Parkinson's, it is not recommended to exceed 20 mg/kg of CBD a day.
We recommend that you consult your specialist doctor for more information and personalised advice on the treatment and management of Parkinson's disease before using CBD.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take CBD if I take medicines for Parkinson's?
You should not use CBD without consulting your doctor, who is the person who can give you a reliable answer to this question, based on an assessment of your particular case. In general, it will depend on the medicines you are taking.
Is cannabis good for Parkinson's?
No, cannabis and homemade cannabis extracts are not advisable for Parkinson's. Cannabis is high in THC and can cause, speed up or worsen symptoms such as psychosis, anxiety, euphoria, memory impairment and cognitive decline. In the case of Parkinson's, it is better to use cannabis without THC, what is known as CBD flower, CBD weed or CBD oil. Use CBD products that guarantee a THC content below 0.3%, and only on professional advice.
Can CBD be addictive?
No, CBD is neither addictive nor psychoactive, so you should not expect a “high” or dependence from this type of product.
Note: This is an informational article and is not intended to prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. Its content may complement, but should never replace, the diagnosis or treatment of any disease or symptom. Cannactiva products are not medicines and are intended for external use. There may be relevant new scientific evidence since the date of publication. Consult your doctor before using CBD. The therapeutic approach must always be personalised and will depend on professional assessment.
References
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