Cannabidiol for Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder
Carlos Maurício Oliveira de Almeida, Manuelina Mariana Capellari Macruz Brito, Nayanne Beckmann Bosaipo, Ângela Vieira Pimentel, Vítor Tumas, Antônio Waldo Zuardi, José A. Crippa, Jaime E. C. Hallak, Álan Luiz Éckeli
Abstract
BACKGROUND: REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is a common non-motor feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the main non-psychoactive components of Cannabis sativa and may represent an alternative route for treating RBD. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of CBD for RBD in PD. METHODS: We conducted a phase II/III, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 33 patients with RBD and PD. Patients were randomized 1:1 to CBD in doses of 75 to 300mg or matched capsules placebo and were followed up for 14 weeks. The primary outcomes were the frequency of nights with RBD, CGI-I, and CGI-S. RESULTS: CBD showed no difference to placebo for primary outcomes. Regarding secondary outcomes, we observed a significant improvement in average sleep satisfaction from the 4th to 8th week in the CBD versus placebo group with P = 0.049 and P = 0.038, respectively. CONCLUSION: CBD, as an adjunct therapy, showed no reduction in RBD manifestations in PD patients. A transient improvement in sleep satisfaction with a dose of 300mg has been noted. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.