{"id":24461,"date":"2022-05-24T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-24T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabishealthnews.co.uk\/?p=24461"},"modified":"2022-05-25T09:11:30","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T08:11:30","slug":"story22-is-medical-cannabis-right-for-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabishealthnews.co.uk\/2022\/05\/24\/story22-is-medical-cannabis-right-for-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Is medical cannabis safe and right for me?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Medical cannabis has been legally prescribed since 2018 in the UK, but how do you know if it’s right for you?<\/h3>\n

Medical cannabis is becoming increasingly popular, with an estimated 10,000 patients using it to treat both mental and physical health conditions.<\/p>\n

These range from chronic pain<\/a> and epilepsy<\/a> to anxiety<\/a> and ADHD<\/a>. But not everyone responds to cannabis or CBD in the same way.<\/p>\n

Here, we’ll answer some questions you might have around accessing a prescription.<\/p>\n

\"anxiety:<\/a><\/p>\n

What is medical cannabis?<\/h4>\n

Cannabis is thought to have been used for medical purposes for over two thousand years. Today, cannabis is associated primarily with its use as a recreational drug, but in recent decades it has emerged again as a potential therapeutic for various health conditions.<\/p>\n

Medical cannabis is usually administered as an oil, <\/a>orally, or flower<\/a> which is vaped to produce its therapeutic effects.<\/p>\n

Medical cannabis differs from ‘street’ cannabis in that it is produced under strict, regulated conditions which ensure the medicines are of medical grade and contain a consistent concentration of cannabinoids<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prescribed cannabis is produced under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP<\/a>) standards, the minimum standard that a medicines manufacturer must meet in their production processes.<\/p>\n

There are few clinical studies on its safety and efficacy, due to the fact it is made up of hundreds of different compounds, making whole plant cannabis unsuitable for randomised control trials (RCTs).<\/p>\n

However, medical cannabis is generally thought to be much safer<\/a> than many commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals, and there is a wealth of real-world evidence which points to it being very effective in some cases.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is it legal?<\/h4>\n

Medical cannabis was made legal in the UK in 2018, however, access to the medicine is limited. While only a handful of patients are prescribed medical cannabis through the NHS, there are upwards of 10,000 patients receiving a private prescription through around 18 clinics prescribing in the UK and on the islands of Jersey<\/a> and Guernsey<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cannabis contains a wide variety of compounds that have been found to offer health benefits, but the main active components are the psychoactive compound THC<\/a> and the non-psychoactive CBD<\/a>. The latter can be found in shops across the country where it is marketed as a food supplement or infused into creams and other dermatology products. Although it is legal to sell CBD, retail products are not regulated in the same way that medical-grade CBD is.<\/p>\n

Products containing more than 0.2 per cent THC on the other hand are illegal unless you have a prescription.<\/p>\n

What conditions can it be prescribed for?<\/h4>\n

Medical cannabis can be prescribed for a wide range of psychiatric, neurological and physical health conditions.<\/p>\n

The media’s coverage of medical cannabis mainly focuses on its use for rare forms of epilepsy<\/a> in children, but with few paediatric neurologists prescribing, there are in fact not many children actually receiving a prescription for their condition.<\/p>\n

Parkinson’s Disease<\/a> is another neurological condition where cannabis has been shown to help, along with multiple sclerosis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some people use medical cannabis to manage mental health conditions such as PTSD<\/a>, anxiety, OCD and Tourette’s syndrome<\/a>. the drug has also been found to help some people manage neurodivergent conditions<\/a> like autism spectrum disorder(ASD) and ADHD.<\/p>\n

The majority of people with a medical cannabis prescription use the treatment for managing chronic pain<\/a> conditions such as arthritis, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, Ehlers-danlos syndromes (EDS) and cancer-related pain.<\/p>\n

What are the requirements for a medical cannabis prescription?<\/h4>\n

Firstly, you will need to have a condition that is suitable for a medical cannabis prescription. For this, you will usually need to provide your medical history.<\/p>\n

Generally speaking, patients are considered for a medical cannabis prescription if they have tried two or more first-line treatments without seeing improvement in their condition. You can get a referral from your GP or specialist but this is not always necessary.<\/p>\n

At your clinic of choice, the consultant will ask you questions to assess these factors and determine whether you are suitable for a prescription. Some clinics offer free eligibility assessments.<\/p>\n

Is it safe and are there any side effects?<\/h4>\n

CBD is generally deemed very safe<\/a>, hence why it’s legally available to buy as a supplement. In some cases, it can cause diarrhoea, dizziness and tiredness but most people will not experience these side effects.<\/p>\n

Due to its psychoactive effects, THC comes with more potential side effects including dizziness, dry mouth and disorientation. Cases of major side effects like psychotic episodes as a result of medical cannabis are extremely rare.<\/p>\n

Your consultant will start you on a low dose before gradually increasing it to curb unwanted effects.<\/p>\n

Is it suitable for everyone?<\/h4>\n

Cannabis is like all other medicines; what is right for some is not right for others. For example, cannabis might not be suitable for people with a history of schizophrenia or psychosis due to the psychoactive properties of THC.<\/p>\n

THC has also been shown to increase heart rate and blood pressure so those with heart rhythm problems should also exercise caution. This being said, some studies have shown that cannabis may have cardioprotective properties that could lower the risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n

It is also worth noting that medical cannabis does not always mix well with other prescription drugs, but if you’re seeking a medical cannabis prescription your doctor will assess whether it is right for you.<\/p>\n

This article is intended for educational purposes only. Always speak to your doctor before making any changes to your medical care.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n