Cannabinoids in the treatment of overactive bladder. A pilot study.

Introduction/Purpose: The term overactive bladder (OAB) describes a set of symptoms that are common to various conditions rather than a single disease, as no clear cause is identified in most cases. These symptoms include a sudden, difficult-to-control urge to urinate, frequent urination—with or without nocturia—and involuntary urine loss (urge incontinence). Treatment depends on the underlying cause. When no underlying disease is diagnosed, symptomatic treatment is necessary. However, options are limited, and the available pharmaceuticals often have serious side effects that can make their use prohibitive for certain patients. Recently, cannabinoids have been used successfully to treat these symptoms in patients with neurogenic bladder. In this pilot study, cannabinoids were tested in otherwise healthy patients with OAB who could not use conventional treatments. Material and Methods: Patients with overactive bladder symptoms who visited the outpatient clinic between 01/01/24 and 31/12/24 were examined to determine the cause of their suffering. Only patients with idiopathic overactive bladder were included in the study. Medical histories were reviewed, and cannabinoid treatment was offered to those for whom conventional treatment was contraindicated. Participants were divided into two groups: one receiving conventional treatment and the other receiving cannabinoid treatment. Before treatment, participants completed the OAB-8 questionnaire, both before and at the end of the study. The patients recorded any side effects experienced throughout the treatment. Total questionnaire scores were compared before and after treatment. Results: No significant differences were observed between groups 1 and 2 when comparing OAB-8 scores either before treatment (p=0.15) or after (p=0.24). A comparison of pre- and post-treatment scores showed a statistically significant reduction in OAB-8 in group 2 (p=0.014) and a highly significant reduction in group 1 (p=0.00009). No significant adverse events were reported. None of the participants discontinued treatment. Conclusions: Cannabinoids seem effective and safe for treating patients with overactive bladder in whom conventional treatment is contraindicated.