Sativex® (nabiximols) cannabinoid oromucosal spray in patients with resistant multiple sclerosis spasticity: the Belgian experience

Abstract Background This retrospective study evaluates patient-reported outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity who were treated with a cannabinoid oromucosal spray (Sativex®, USAN name: nabiximols) after not sufficiently responding to previous anti-spasticity medications. Methods Of 276 patients from eight centers in Belgium who began treatment prior to 31 December 2017, effectiveness assessment data were available for 238 patients during the test period of 4 to 8/12 weeks, and for smaller patient cohorts with continued treatment for 6/12 months. Results Mean 0–10 spastic... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Marie D’hooghe
Barbara Willekens
Valerie Delvaux
Miguel D’haeseleer
Daniel Guillaume
Guy Laureys
Guy Nagels
Patrick Vanderdonckt
Vincent Van Pesch
Veronica Popescu
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2021
Reihe/Periodikum: BMC Neurology, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2021)
Verlag/Hrsg.: BMC
Schlagwörter: Multiple sclerosis spasticity / Observational study / Cannabinoid oromucosal spray / Treatment effect / Treatment satisfaction / Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system / RC346-429
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-26501424
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-021-02246-0

Abstract Background This retrospective study evaluates patient-reported outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity who were treated with a cannabinoid oromucosal spray (Sativex®, USAN name: nabiximols) after not sufficiently responding to previous anti-spasticity medications. Methods Of 276 patients from eight centers in Belgium who began treatment prior to 31 December 2017, effectiveness assessment data were available for 238 patients during the test period of 4 to 8/12 weeks, and for smaller patient cohorts with continued treatment for 6/12 months. Results Mean 0–10 spasticity Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores improved from 8.1 at baseline to 5.2 (week 4), 4.6 (week 8) and 4.1 (week 12). Mean EuroQoL Visual Analogue Scale (EQ VAS) scores increased from 39 at baseline to 52 (week 4), 57 (week 8) and 59 (week 12). Mean NRS and EQ VAS scores remained in the same 12 weeks’ range in patients with longer-term data. The average dose of cannabinoid oromucosal spray was 6 sprays/day. Most of the 93 out of 276 patients, with initial prescription (33.7%), who discontinued treatment by week 12 did so within the first 8 weeks, mainly due to lack of effectiveness. By week 12, 171 (74%) of the 230 effectiveness evaluable patients reported a clinically meaningful response, corresponding to ≥30% NRS improvement. The tolerability of cannabinoid oromucosal spray was consistent with its known safety profile. Conclusions More than 60% of the patients with MS who started add-on treatment with cannabinoid oromucosal spray reported a clinically relevant symptomatic effect and continued treatment after 12 weeks.