Although many states in the US have legalized marijuana for medical use, this is not the case in other parts of the world. In the UK, medical cannabis is currently being prescribed to a select number of people for extra special circumstances. Although it is viewed as a last resort treatment by many healthcare professionals, studies show that they prescribe medical cannabis to patients to help them manage their health conditions. Here is a short guide to help you understand why doctors sometimes prescribe medical cannabis to patients.
Severe Health Conditions
According to the official NHS website, there are certain situations where medical cannabis is prescribed to patients. In these cases within the UK, medical cannabis is prescribed by a specialist hospital doctor. As mentioned above, medical cannabis is prescribed as a last resort only after the patient has tried other options and found that they are still experiencing negative symptoms.
Epilepsy
Cannabis in the form of a purified CBD (cannabidiol) liquid is prescribed to children and adults suffering from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. These are both rare and severe forms of epilepsy. The medicine offered to these patients is called Epidyolex.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is notorious for having incredibly debilitating effects on those undergoing the treatment, such as nausea and vomiting. Nabilone is a man-made form of cannabis that is administered orally as a capsule. It is designed to mimic THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the cannabis compound that can induce psychoactive effects. Doctors might prescribe nabilone to help chemotherapy patients relieve feelings of sickness and vomiting.
Multiple Sclerosis
Sativex, or Nabiximols, is a mouth spray that contains a specific cannabis extract. This medicine might be prescribed to patients with multiple sclerosis to help alleviate muscle spasticities, such as stiffness and spasms. This mouth spray contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Reduction in Opiates
Some people who experience severe symptoms from the two rare cases of multiple sclerosis often take a high number of opiates just to relieve the chronic pain. Treatments can be extensive, and in some cases, a lengthy course of strong painkillers is prescribed. In turn, MS sufferers can end up becoming physically dependent on these powerful opiates. With a medical cannabis prescription, these patients can reduce their medical need for opiates. Not to mention, chronic vomiting can lead to severe dehydration. In turn, MS sufferers require intravenous rehydration at a hospital. Specialist hospital doctors might prescribe medical cannabis to patients in these types of scenarios. Although there is more research to be done about the efficacy of non-prescription cannabis-based products, many people claim there are a number of benefits to taking these types of products. When purchasing cannabis-based products, always ensure you buy them from a reputable company or website, such as nectarmedicalvapes.com.
Quality of Life
Patients with the above three health conditions can spend extended lengths of time receiving treatment in the hospital or purchase a CBD inhaler. They can also experience severe enough pain to affect their quality of life. Chronic pain can cause insomnia, affect a person’s social life, and stop people from carrying out activities of daily life, such as grocery shopping and going to work. Doctors may prescribe cannabis if they think it could improve a patient’s quality of life.
