ECHO Connection

  • EDUCATION
    • EDUCATION BLOG
  • COLLABORATION
    • DOCTOR SIGNUP
  • HOPE
    • ECHO FAMILIES
    • APPLICATION
  • ABOUT
    • ORGANIZATION UPDATES
    • CONTACT
DONATEEuropean Donation

Cannabinoids Reduce Frequency of Migraine, Study Finds

by ECHO / Wednesday, 19 July 2017 / Published in Education, Overview of Cannabinoids, Scientific Cannabinoid Research

The daily administration of cannabinoids over time is associated with a reduction in the frequency of migraine headache, according to findings in a new clinical trial by a team of Italian researchers. The study, presented this summer at the 3rd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Amsterdam, found that three months of regular cannabinoid treatments reduced the frequency of migraine by over 40 percent.

Affecting about 12 percent of the United States population, migraine involves severe head pain that is often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Most commonly, migraines begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood.

In the study, the researchers, headed by Dr. Maria Nicolodi, investigated the efficacy of oral cannabinoid treatments compared to an anti-depression medication commonly prescribed for migraine — amitriptyline. Seventy-nine patients diagnosed with chronic migraine were given daily treatments of either a 200mg dose of a combination of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), or 25mg amitriptyline. The THC-CBD combination “yielded slightly better results than” the pharmaceutical drug (40.4 percent vs. 40.1 percent).

“We were able to demonstrate that cannabinoids are an alternative to established treatments in migraine prevention,” said Dr. Nicolodi.

When the THC-CBD cannabinoid combination was used for the treatment of acute pain caused by migraine, pain intensity dropped by 43.5 percent. In patients diagnosed with cluster headache, a series of short but extremely painful headaches, the cannabinoids were found to provide that same level of pain relief, provided the patients had experienced migraine in childhood. The cannabinoids were found to have no effect, however, on cluster headaches in patients without previous migraine history.

In summar, for all migraine patients, cannabinoids were effective, but for patients with cluster headaches, “[cannabinoids] are only suited for use in the acute treatment… in patients with a history of migraine from childhood on,” said Dr. Nicolodi.

Migraine is thought to be associated with an abnormal fluctuation in neuronal activities in the brain that activate the trigeminovascular system and lead to an inflammatory response that causes pain. Previous studies have suggested that cannabinoids act upon the endocannabinoid system’s CB1 and CB2 receptors, which in turn inhibits responses of the trigeminovascular system to restrict inflammation. Cannabinoids have been found to reduce the frequency of migraine in previous human studies.

The latest study also found cannabinoids to be well tolerated. The only observed side effects were drowsiness and difficulty concentrating. The researchers noted that the incidence of stomachache, colitis and musculoskeletal pain in female participants also decreased with treatments.


Learn more about cannabinoids and how they interact with the endocannabinoid system to balance our physiological functions by visiting our education page.

You may also be interested in these related articles:

  • How Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System Manage the Pain Response
  • Study Finds 9 of 10 Patients Prefer Cannabinoids to Opioids
  • Cannabinoids: Where Do They Come From?

Keep up with ECHO by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Tagged under: Cannabinoids, Migraine, Pain, research

What you can read next

Summary of Conditions Affected by Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System
Ancient Israelites Burned Frankincense and Cannabis During Religious Ceremonies
CBD, Caffeine, Bullet-proof, ECHO Connection
CBD And Caffeine

Recent Posts

  • ECHO Announces Changes to Leadership

    We are making a few changes at ECHO Connection ...
  • Five States That Will Definitely Have Cannabis Legalization on the Ballot in November

    In any other year, cannabis legalization on the...
  • The Top Six CBD Podcasts to Listen to This Fall

    It’s no secret that the world is on a can...
  • Study Shows That Many CBD Beverages Contain Less or More Cannabidiol Than Advertised

    With CBD beverages increasing in popularity, it...
  • Beyond Ancestry—Cannabis DNA Tests Could Help You Find Your Ideal Strain

    By now, we’re all familiar with DNA test kits. ...

Receive the latest ECHO news by joining our newsletter.

  • Home
  • Education
  • Collaboration
  • Hope
  • ECHO Families
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Use

Image credits: CMW Media

Notice: ECHO Connection is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, U.S. Federal Tax ID 81-4542024.  ECHO is also recognized as a charitable organization, Algemeen nut Beogende Instelling (ANBI) in the Netherlands, RSIN 8256 57 520.

2017 ECHO Connection™ - All Rights Reserved

TOP
ECHO Connection Website

The information contained in this website is for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Therefore, any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Please check with your medical doctor before starting or changing your CBD routine.

By entering this site you agree to our TERMS OF SERVICE and PRIVACY POLICY.