On this side of the Atlantic, America is in an ongoing debate over medical marijuana and the benefits of pot. While the war of words rages on in the U.S., a drug made from natural cannabis has become the first of it’s kind approved worldwide. England's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved Sativex, an oral spray, just last week and it’s already on sale in Great Britain.
What is Sativex
The product is aimed at those suffering from multiple sclerosis, targeting the effects of spasticity, a symptom of multiple sclerosis caused by damage to nerves in the central nervous system. These spasms eventually lead to a loss of mobility and involuntary stiffening of muscles in M.S. sufferers, something this newly-approved prescription-only drug can help minimize.
Unlike medical marijuana, Sativex is derived from natural cannabis plant extracts instead of synthetic THC, the active ingredient found in prescription medical marijuana drugs like Marinol, currently approved for use in the U.K. in pill form to treat chemo side effects for cancer patients. Sativex is sprayed into the mouth on the inside of the cheek or under the tongue, according to Bayer Schering Pharma, the pharmaceutical company behind the product.
While Multiple Sclerosis groups in the U.K. supported the approval of the medication, in clinical trials, Sativex only relieved spasms and cramping associated with spasticity for about half of the study participants. That’s a positive result, according to the manufacturer.
There is no evidence of long-term dependence or tolerance so Sativex isn’t likely to add to the world’s growing prescription addiction problem. In fact, many early users say they've been able to reduce their dosage over time.
Sativex is currently in phase II clinical trials for cancer patients in the U.S., but it will likely be several years before it receives FDA approval.
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