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The synthetic cannabinoid nabilone has good oral bioavailability and a long duration of action through the formation of active metabolites. In this study, researchers evaluated the potential of nabilone for treating spasticity-related pain in patients with a chronic upper motor neuron syndrome (UMNS), 7 with multiple sclerosis (MS). Of 13 patients enrolled, 11 completed a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial. They received nabilone (0.5 mg daily for the first week; 1 mg thereafter) or placebo.
Pain scores, measured by the 11-Point-Box Test, decreased significantly in response to nabilone but not to placebo. No significant improvements were seen in an objective measure of spasticity (Ashworth scale) or in quality-of-life measures…