TABLE 2.
Changes After Taking MC for Study Participants
| Baseline | Last follow-up | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome, mean ± SD | |||
| Weight, lba | 182 ± 50 | 182 ± 50 | .8b |
| BMIa | 28 ± 8 | 29 ± 7 | .6b |
| T25FW score (n = 28)c | 9.3 ± 5.1 | 8.8 ± 6.7 | .2b |
| MoCA score (n = 13)d | 26 ± 3 | 25 ± 4 | .4b |
| Medication changes | |||
| Opioid users, No. (%) | 50 (35) | 43 (30) | .1e |
| Decreased | NA | 16 | NA |
| Increased | NA | 7 | NA |
| Discontinued | NA | 11 | NA |
| Initiated | NA | 4 | NA |
| Opioid MMEs, mean ± SD, mg (n = 53)f | 51 ± 68 | 40 ± 67 | .01b |
| Benzodiazepine users, No. (%) | 61 (43) | 55 (39) | .2e |
| Decreased | NA | 11 | NA |
| Increased | NA | 8 | NA |
| Discontinued | NA | 10 | NA |
| Initiated | NA | 4 | NA |
| Daily LMEs, mean ± SD, mg (n = 64)g | 3.5 ± 3.5 | 3.1 ± 3.5 | .07b |
| Muscle relaxant users, No. (%) | 66 (47) | 61 (43) | .4e |
| Decreased | NA | 13 | NA |
| Increased | NA | 4 | NA |
| Discontinued | NA | 12 | NA |
| Initiated | NA | 7 | NA |
| Patient-reported improvement after MC, No. (%) | |||
| Pain relief | 101 (72) | ||
| Decreased muscle spasticity | 68 (48) | ||
| Improved sleep | 57 (40) | ||
| Improved gait | 15 (11) | ||
| Anxiety relief | 15 (11) | ||
| Decreased headache | 13 (9) | ||
| Improved mood | 12 (9) | ||
| Increased quality of life | 10 (7) | ||
| Otherh | 20 (14) |
BMI, body mass index; LME, lorazepam milligram equivalent; MC, medical cannabis; MME, morphine milligram equivalent; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment; NA, not applicable; T25FW, Timed 25-Foot Walk test.
Weight and BMI were unknown for 3 patients at baseline; these patients were excluded from the analysis.
Last-observation-carried-forward analysis was performed.
The T25FW results were not recorded for 104 patients at baseline, and an additional 9 patients did not complete the test in any follow-up visits; therefore, 28 patients were included in the analysis.
The Mini-Mental State Examination scores were converted to equivalent MoCA scores and included in this analysis. The MoCA or Mini-Mental State Examination scores were recorded at baseline and at 1 or more follow-up visits for 13 patients.
The McNemar test was performed.
Excludes buprenorphine due to lack of a validated conversion factor per current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.49 A patient was excluded from MME analysis due to unknown opioid medication dose.
Lorazepam equivalents were unknown for 1 benzodiazepine user; this patient was excluded from the analysis.
Other patient-reported symptom improvement included improved balance (n = 3), focus (n = 3), numbness (n = 3), tremor (n = 3), nausea (n = 3), restless legs (n = 2), energy (n = 1), memory (n = 1), and seizures (n = 1).