What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Mental Health.

Where was this research published?

Published in Neurourology and urodynamics on October 16, 2026.

Umbrella review finds MS bladder-treatment evidence remains inconclusive

Q: What did this Review find?

**Evidence for managing urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis remains inconclusive**, with the review citing a lack of well-designed randomized controlled trials.

Management of Urinary Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis: An Umbrella Review.

Neurourology and urodynamics • October 16, 2026 • Review • Relevant

🤖

AI Summary

This umbrella review asked how effectively and safely different approaches manage lower urinary tract dysfunction in people with multiple sclerosis. It synthesized systematic reviews identified through a structured search; the abstract reports 34 reviews included. The primary conclusion is that evidence for these treatments remains inconclusive, because the underlying evidence is limited and well-designed randomized trials are lacking.

The reviews suggested possible efficacy or safety for a range of approaches, including cannabinoids, pelvic floor muscle training, and tibial nerve stimulation. Other methods were also identified as having potential, while anticholinergic medicines, desmopressin, botulinum toxin A injections, vanilloids, and catheterization were reported to have considerable side effects despite efficacy. The abstract gives no quantitative results or cannabinoid-specific findings, so it cannot establish how well cannabinoids work or compare them with other options. This is an abstract-based summary; the review’s broad scope and the limited underlying trial evidence are important constraints.

💡 Key Findings

Evidence for managing urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis remains inconclusive, with the review citing a lack of well-designed randomized controlled trials.

High

95%

Cannabinoids were among the approaches whose potential was suggested, but the abstract provides no cannabinoid-specific efficacy or safety results.

High

95%

The review reports that anticholinergics, desmopressin, botulinum toxin A injections, vanilloids, and catheterization can have considerable side effects, despite reported efficacy.

High

90%

📄 Original Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lower urinary tract dysfunctions (LUTDs) are prevalent among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), which is the most common immune-mediated neurologic disease among the juvenile population. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different methods in the management of MS-related LUTD. METHODS: This study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methods. Systematic review studies that reported the efficacy of any management method for LUTD in MS are considered for inclusion. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science and risk of bias was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal checklist for systematic reviews. RESULTS: Out of 342 screened records, 34 systematic reviews were included. Preliminary efficacy and safety of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and tibial nerve stimulation (TNS), as well as the potential of alpha-blockers, cannabinoids, mirabegron, spinal cord stimulation, sacral neuromodulation, transcranial neuromodulations, vaginal/rectal and clitoral/penile stimulation, foot reflexology, craniosacral therapy, and stem cell therapy were suggested. Despite the appropriate efficacy, anticholinergics, desmopressin, intradetrusor injections of botulinum toxin A, vanilloids, and catheterization were found to cause considerable side effects. DISCUSSION: Despite a high prevalence of LUTDs in MS patients, evidence basis of the management methods is still poor and there is lack of well-designed randomized controlled trials, which makes evidence inconclusive. Future research is needed to refine treatment algorithms, investigate the potential of combination therapies, and develop individualized treatment paradigms.

Paper Type

📚 Review

Publication

Journal: Neurourology and urodynamics
Published: October 16, 2026
PMID: 42885333
DOI: 10.1002/nau.70492

Authors (9)

Sina Hamzehzadeh Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Donyasadat Hashemian Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Saman Baharomid Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Fateme Tahmasebi Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Seyedemad Seyedgholami Sharabiani Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
+4 more authors