Tourette's tics are abnormal movements, twitches, or sounds in the body. They can be caused by stress, illness or emotion and often start during childhood. The symptoms can range in severity and usually disappear or diminish with age.
Medicinal cannabis is in increasing use for Tourette's. It can be smoked, vaporized or taken orally.
Vaping is a common way to take CBD but may also be used to apply it to the skin. Using this method can reduce acne or other skin conditions that are caused by inflammation and overworked sebaceous glands.
Oral doses of CBD are typically less than one gram per day, as absorption can be slow and dosing is tricky due to the effects of stomach acids and other factors.
The endocannabinoid system plays a role in the pathophysiology of many conditions, including Tourette's syndrome. This is why it is important to understand the benefits of CBD for this condition.
In addition to reducing tics, some studies have found that CBD may also be beneficial for other symptoms associated with Tourette's, such as premonitory urges. These are feelings of tension or a build-up of tension, similar to when you might feel an urge to scratch an itch or sneeze, which may be more distressing than the actual tics themselves.
A recent study found that a patient who had been taking THC and CBD for a few weeks showed considerable improvements in both tics and premonitory urges. This patient was treated with nabiximols, a drug that combines THC and CBD in one formulation.