Use of Cannabinoids in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female subjects between 18 and 60 years of age (inclusive)

2. Have definite Multiple Sclerosis as per Poser Criteria

3. Have either relapsing remitting or secondary progressive course

4. Baseline EDSS score from 3.0 to 6.5 (inclusive)

5. Stable disease for at least 30 days prior to study entry

6. Be right-handed with normal right hand function

7. Female patients of child bearing potential and male patients whose partner is of child bearing potential who are willing to ensure that they or their partner use effective contraception during the study and for three months thereafter

8. If female, be neither pregnant nor breast-feeding. Confirmation that the subjects not pregnant must be established by a negative serum hCG pregnancy test at baseline.

9. No cannabinoids use (cannabis, Marinol, Nabilone) for at least three months prior to entry into the study and willing to abstain from any use of cannabis during the study

10. Significant spasticity in at least two muscle groups defined as a score of 2 or more on the Ashworth scale for each muscle group

11. Antispastic/antiepileptic treatments (dosage, frequency and route of administration) stable for at least one month prior the study entry

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Exclusion Criteria:

1. Have a primary progressive MS

2. Patients under disease modifying therapies prescribed in the 6 months prior the study entry

3. Patients who have participated in another research study in the past 6 months

4. Changes in antispastic/antiepileptic treatments (dosage, frequency and route of administration) within one month prior the study entry

5. Have a psychiatric disorders or cognitive impairment that preclude safe participation in the study

6. Known history of alcohol or substance abuse

7. Concurrent clinically important immunologic, pulmonary, renal, liver, active thyroid, and/or other major disease other than MS

8. Severe cardiovascular, disorders, such as ischaemic heart disease, arrhythmias, poorly controlled hypertension or severe heart failure

9. Patients suffering from acute or chronic pain

10. History of epilepsy

11. Female patient who is pregnant, lactating or planning pregnancy during the course of the study

12. Scheduled elective surgery or other procedures requiring general anaesthesia during the study

13. Patient who is terminally ill or is inappropriate for placebo medication

14. Systemic corticosteroid therapy within 4 weeks of randomization or exacerbation of MS within 30 days

15. Regular levodopa therapy within 7 days of the study entry

16. Male patient currently receiving sildenafil (Viagra) and unwilling to stop medication for the duration of the study

17. Patients who are currently taking antiarrhythmic medications

18. Known or suspected adverse reaction to cannabinoids

19. Travel outside the Italy planned during the study

20. Donation of blood during the study

21. Contraindications to MRI scans -