A groundbreaking clinical trial conducted by Soroka University Medical Center in collaboration with Israeli medical cannabis company Cannbit-Tikun Olam has revealed promising results for the use of medical cannabis in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study, spanning several years, aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis treatment.
Key findings from the trial include a significant reduction in the use of opioids (by 52%), anti-psychotics (by 36.9%), anti-epileptics (by 35.7%), and hypnotics and sedatives (by 35.3%) among patients treated with medical cannabis. Over two-thirds of participants reported at least moderate improvement in their condition, with 90.8% of PTSD patients achieving therapeutic success after six months of treatment.
Additional benefits observed were a notable decrease in symptoms such as rage attacks, restlessness, nausea, and sleep disturbances. Approximately half of the patients experienced an improvement in their quality of life during the treatment period.
The study involved 8,500 Israeli participants, with an average age of 54.6 years, who were treated with specific marijuana strains developed by Cannbit-Tikun Olam. Despite the positive outcomes, some patients reported side effects including dizziness, increased appetite, sleepiness, and a feeling of being high, though these were experienced by less than 10% of users.
Lihi Bar-Lev Schleider, head of R&D at Cannbit-Tikun Olam, emphasized the significance of the study, stating, "This is the first time that in-depth, organized and systematic analysis of a large amount of data on a very large group of patients was performed, and in which, without bias, the effect of the treatment for various indications was examined."
In a move to expand access to medical cannabis, Cannbit-Tikun Olam entered into a collaboration agreement with Teva Israel in December last year. This partnership aims to distribute Cannbit-Tikun Olam's medical cannabis products throughout Israel and the Palestinian Authority, leveraging Teva's extensive distribution network and commitment to quality and safety standards.
Yossi Ofek, CEO of Teva Israel, commented on the growing acceptance and professionalization of medical cannabis, highlighting its potential to offer new treatment options and address unmet medical needs. "I have no doubt that the medical cannabis oils Cannbit-Tikun Olam produces – according to Teva’s high quality and safety standards – will help us realize our goal of improving the lives of patients," Ofek stated.
