A loss of
bladder control that may occur due to several biological factors such as
primary polydipsia, central or nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, uncontrolled
diabetes mellitus, polyuria, etc. is referred to as UI or urinary incontinence.
While polyuria usually causes increases the frequency and urgency to urinate,
it does not necessarily lead to urinary incontinence. Colas, caffeine, and
other stimulate the bladder. In men over the age of 40, an enlarged prostate or
sometimes, even prostate cancer may be responsible for this condition.
Radiation and certain types of drugs can also cause incontinence.
Many clinical
trials conducted recently indicate that medical cannabis based cannabinoid
therapy may reduce the incidence of the distressing, embarrassing, and rather
common problem of urinary incontinence. This disorder has a profound impact on
the overall quality of life and though it is a treatable medical condition, the
underlying embarrassment discourages and prevents people from reporting this
problem to medical practitioners. There are several other diseases such as
spina bifida, MS (Multiple Sclerosis), Parkinson's disease as well as spinal cord
injury and strokes that may interfere with the function of the nerves in the
bladder, thereby leading to an involuntary leakage of urine. These diseases
trigger nerve damage, weaken the bladder muscles, and cause inflammation.
More than 1 in
10 Americans over 65 years of age are known to suffer from incontinence and
women suffer a lot more than men with this problem. Investigators at Oxford's
Centre for Enablement in Britain reported in the February 2003 issue of the
journal Clinical Rehabilitation that compared to placebo in patients suffering
from MS and spinal cord injury, self-administered doses of whole plant
cannabinoid extracts dramatically improved bladder control. These initial
findings were followed up by investigators at London's Institute for Neurology
in a pilot and open-label study of medical cannabis or MMJ extracts for bladder
dysfunction. A group of 15 patients with advanced multiple sclerosis were
tested for the effect that medical marijuana had on their symptoms of urinary
incontinence.
Investigators
reported that following this cannabinoid based therapy; patients noticed that
there was a significant decrease in the number, urgency, and volume of
incontinence episodes. Additionally, their problem of nocturia and the overall
frequency of the episodes also declined to a great extent. The study concluded
that medical cannabis based extracts are not only safe but also an effective
treatment method for patients with advanced MS who suffered from urinary
incontinence and other problems. The results of this study were confirmed in a
randomized, multi-center, placebo-controlled trial in 2006 involving 630
patients who were given oral doses of THC or medical marijuana extracts.
Medical
researchers reported that from baseline to the end of treatment, the test
subjects experienced as much as a thirty eight percent reduction in
incontinence episodes. A 33 percent reduction in the severity of the same
symptoms was observed in patients who were administered THC. The clinical
effect of cannabis in helping patients cope with their symptoms of incontinence
was clearly established. At the 2006 annual meeting of the American Urological
Association, preclinical data presented also indicated that cannabis analogs
can decrease bladder over-activity and bladder inflammation in animals
significantly. Following these reports and the data collected, experts are now
recommending the use of cannabinoids as potential 'second-line' agents for
treating the problem of urinary incontinence in humans.
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