Use of Therapeutic Cannabis Oil for Drug-Resistant Migraine: A Case Report

Migraine is a prevalent and disabling neurological disorder, and a subset of patients remains refractory to standard treatments, requiring integrative therapeutic strategies. We present the case of a 57-year-old woman with chronic, treatment-resistant migraine: Acute therapies such as paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and triptans provided only partial relief but were overused and caused adverse effects, while preventive treatments (including β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitors, and botulinum toxin) failed to provide meaningful benefit. The patient was treated with a balanced cannabis oil formulation containing tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (5 mg/mL each), titrated gradually up to 30 drops daily. After one month, she experienced a marked clinical improvement, with headache days reduced by half, lower pain intensity, better sleep quality, and enhanced quality of life. At three months, symptoms partially worsened, but further dose adjustment restored benefits, leading to sustained improvements at six months. No functional limitations or psychiatric symptoms were reported during treatment. This case illustrates the potential of cannabis oil as a promising therapeutic option for drug-resistant migraine while also emphasizing key challenges such as dose titration, treatment costs, and limited access to specialized pharmacists. Controlled clinical studies are needed to better define efficacy, safety, and optimal use of cannabis-based therapies in migraine management.