Medical cannabis can help ease pain associated with multiple sclerosis, nerve pain, sleep disorders and glaucoma. It may also assist those having trouble eating while providing relief from nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy treatments.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved multiple cannabis-related prescription medicines, such as cannabidiol (Epidolex) for certain forms of epilepsy and dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros). Both are intended to treat AIDS wasting syndrome.
Benefits
An increasing amount of interest exists around using marijuana (or cannabis) to treat illness, with some doctors even prescribing or recommending its use, though research remains limited and evidence remains conflicting.
Early-stage studies conducted on people, animals, and test tubes suggest marijuana may help relieve pain, nausea, spasms and anxiety – but scientists don’t yet know whether it will aid other conditions, like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans returning home from war.
Cannabidiol (Epidolex), extracted from marijuana, was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat two rare forms of seizure disorder. Marijuana contains chemicals which alter how your mind and body work such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol, some products of which contain more THC than others for creating the high effect. Other effects may include dizziness, confusion, dry mouth or breathing issues like bronchitis when smoking it regularly over an extended period – and long term users may develop psychological dependency or addiction issues over time.
Side effects
Marijuana contains more than 100 active chemicals, with medical researchers focusing on two of them, THC and CBD, thought to have health-enhancing effects; THC causes users to feel high while CBD doesn’t.
People use medicinal cannabis to alleviate symptoms associated with chemotherapy or AIDS-related illness; tight or spastic muscles from MS; seizures from rare forms of epilepsy; and to relieve migraine headaches. It can be taken in various forms – oil, pill, vaporized liquid or nasal spray are all options; there’s also dried flowering parts of marijuana plants for sale as an additional form.
Some side effects associated with medicinal cannabis use, including drowsiness or dizziness, are universal across all products; others are specific to certain products (like cannabidiol (CBD) components of THC products) which may make you queasy or cause dry mouth and lips. If you are considering medicinal cannabis but have health concerns or questions regarding potential risk factors – speak to your physician as they will take into account family history, current medications, risk factors and more when making their recommendation.
Precautions
Many states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. This comes in various forms such as oil that can be smoked or vaped; liquid that can be drunk as a beverage; as well as traditional dried leaves and buds for smoking or edible creation.
These products contain different levels of THC, the chemical that can make you high. Some also include additional substances that may aid or hinder your condition – for instance CBD can ease anxiety and nausea symptoms.
Medical marijuana should only ever be taken under medical supervision, as its side effects could potentially be life-threatening. Overdosing and becoming disoriented could occur, while mixing it with alcohol or other substances could pose additional dangers.
Keep in mind that physicians prescribing medical marijuana may not possess the same qualifications as pharmacists or health care providers; these professionals must complete a four-hour course to ensure they can properly counsel certified patients and their designated caregivers on its use, administration, risks and potential benefits.
Getting started
Medical cannabis programs can bring much-needed relief for chronic symptoms that interfere with quality of life. Speak to your primary care provider if this treatment may help; though they cannot prescribe cannabis directly, most will certify you for this program.
Once you are certified, you can visit a dispensary to purchase cannabis-based medicine that can help to relieve symptoms prescribed by your physician. Once purchased, use it according to their advice to manage your symptoms effectively.
There are various methods of taking medical marijuana, such as tinctures, capsules, edibles, vape pens and topical products. Choose the one that best fits into your lifestyle while being sure to follow dosage instructions carefully.
Medical marijuana can be intimidating to those new to its benefits, with plenty of misinformation and bad advice abounding online. Before diving in, it’s wise to seek guidance from experts and obtain all your facts before making your decisions – you can even ask any queries online!