Cannabis-Based Oil for Pain and Other Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Gabriel T Kubota # 1 2 , Jacy B Parmera # 3 , Matheus Deltreggia 1 , Pedro N Martins 4 , Anna Letícia M Alves 3 , Ananda C M de Falcone 3 , Ana Rosa Santana 3 , Maria Alice P Falcão 3 , Mayara A Dias 3 , Larissa I Moreira 1 , Paulo C de Fonseca Filho 1 , Eberval G Figueiredo 5 , Egberto R Barbosa 3 , Rubens G Cury # 3 , Daniel C de Andrade # 1 6
- 1Pain Center, Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil.
- 2Pain Treatment Center, Cancer Institute of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- 3Movement Disorders Group, Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil.
- 4Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
- 5Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil.
- 6Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Affiliationer
Abstract
Background: There is a lack of treatments for non-motor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of an oral Cannabis sativa L. extract on pain and other NMS of PD.
Methods: This phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluated a formulation containing cannabidiol (CBD; 96 mg/ml) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; 2.1 mg/ml) in PD patients with chronic pain over 9 weeks. The final daily dosage was 43.88 mg CBD and 0.96 mg THC. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in PD-Pain Classification System (PCS) scores at final visit.
Results: We enrolled 101 participants, and 87 completed the study. No significant differences were observed between the CBD/THC and placebo groups in PD-PCS scores (P = 0.757) or in other non-motor scales. No serious adverse events were reported.
Conclusion: A cannabis oil formulation did not improve pain or other NMS compared with placebo in people with PD. © 2026 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; cannabidiol; cannabis; nonmotor symptoms; pain.
