Supplements

THC/CBD combination reduces RLS severity in patients with multiple sclerosis and idiopathic RLS

In an open-label trial, 2.7 mg THC/2.5 mg CBD significantly improved International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLS) scores after 1 and 3 months (p < 0.001). Wake after sleep onset (WASO) also significantly decreased (p = 0.015), while sleep latency and sleep efficiency did not change significantly. After 1 year, 66.66% of patients remained on treatment with sustained IRLS improvement (p = 0.000).

Last updated: Jul 7, 2026โ€ข0 RCTsโ€ข๐Ÿ“– Read as article โ†’

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCTโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Meta-analysisโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Mechanismโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Safetyโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol in the treatment of restless legs syndrome.

observational

Lillo Triguero L, Pilo de la Fuente B, D&#xed;az D&#xed;az J, L&#xf3;pez Riolobos C, Aladro Benito Y ยท Journal of neurology (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 3 months (with 1-year follow-up)
Intervention: 2.7 mg ฮ”9-Tetrahydrocannabinol/2.5 mg Cannabidiol (THC/CBD) sublingual or oral formulation, with dose titration at week 4 if required
Outcome: IRLS score (primary), WASO, sleep latency, sleep efficiency (secondary)
Effect Size: N/A (only p-values reported)
Population: 18 patients with RLS (16 with multiple sclerosis, 2 with idiopathic RLS), mean age 51.87 years, 55.5% women

Result:

PubMed: 42387200DOI: 10.1007/s00415-026-13975-y

Mechanism Graph

Cannabinoids inhibit glutamate release in the striatum
โ†“
Reduced glutamate release decreases neuronal hyperexcitability
โ†“
This may alleviate RLS symptoms
โ†“
Result: Reduced RLS severity and improved sleep continuity

Limitations

  • โš Open-label design with no placebo control, limiting causal inference
  • โš Small sample size (n=18) and majority had comorbid MS, reducing generalizability to idiopathic RLS
  • โš Short-term follow-up for primary endpoint (3 months); long-term data only for completers

Frequently Asked Questions

What dose of THC/CBD was used in this study?โ–ผ

The starting dose was 2.7 mg THC and 2.5 mg CBD, with optional dose titration at week 4.

Did the treatment improve sleep quality?โ–ผ

Wake after sleep onset (WASO) significantly decreased, but sleep latency and sleep efficiency did not change significantly.

How long did the benefits last?โ–ผ

Improvements in RLS severity were maintained at 1 year in the 66.66% of patients who continued treatment.

Was this study conducted in patients with multiple sclerosis?โ–ผ

Yes, 16 out of 18 patients had multiple sclerosis; the remaining 2 had idiopathic RLS.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Lillo Triguero L, Pilo de la Fuente B, D&#xed;az D&#xed;az J, L&#xf3;pez Riolobos C, Aladro Benito Y. "Tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol in the treatment of restless legs syndrome.." Journal of neurology, 2026. PMID: 42387200 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-026-13975-y
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.