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1. Name: Ciaran M. Brady
2. Title: Department of Uro-Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, London, UK
3. Medical Marijuana
Position:		 Pro to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
4. Reasoning:

"The majority of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) develop troublesome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Anecdotal reports suggest that cannabis may alleviate LUTS, and cannabinoid receptors in the bladder and nervous system are potential pharmacological targets. In an open trial we evaluated the safety, tolerability, dose range, and efficacy of two whole-plant extracts of Cannabis sativa in patients with advanced MS and refractory LUTS...

Urinary urgency, the number and volume of incontinence episodes, frequency and nocturia all decreased significantly following treatment (P <0.05, Wilcoxon's signed rank test). However, daily total voided, catheterized and urinary incontinence pad weights also decreased significantly on both extracts. Patient self-assessment of pain, spasticity and quality of sleep improved significantly (P <0.05, Wilcoxon's signed rank test) with pain improvement continuing up to median of 35 weeks.

There were few troublesome side effects, suggesting that cannabis-based medicinal extracts are a safe and effective treatment for urinary and other problems in patients with advanced MS." ("An Open-Label Pilot Study of Cannabis-based Extracts for Bladder Dysfunction in Advanced Multiple Sclerosis," Multiple Sclerosis 8/04)
5. Credibility
Ranking:

Organization/VIP/Other
Those individuals and organizations that do not fit into the other star categories

6. Involvement:
  • Department of Uro-Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, London, UK
  • Lecturer, "Acute and Chronic Effects of Cannabis Based Medicinal Extract on Refractory Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Patients with Advanced Multiple Sclerosis - Early Results" at the 2001 Congress on Cannabis and the Cannabinoids, International Association for Cannabis as Medicine, Berlin
  • Department of Medicine, Cork University Hospital
7. Education:
  • None listed
8. Relevant Affiliations/Honors:
  • None listed
9. Contact Info:
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7837 3611, Main office, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery Fax: +44 (0) 20 7278 5069, Main office, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery
E-Mail:   ciabrady@yahoo.com
Web Site: www.ion.ucl.ac.uk
10. Other: Select Publications:
  • Co-author, "Capsaicin Receptor TRPV1 in Urothelium of Neurogenic Human Bladders and Effect of Intravesical Resiniferatoxin," Urology 2005, 65(2):400-5
  • Co-author, "The Ultrastructure of Bladder Lamina Propria Nerves in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Detrusor Hyperreflexia," Journal of Urology 2002, 168(5): 2040-5
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