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Cannabis and Headaches and Migraine

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 23:06:43 GMT

The use of cannabis, or marijuana, for medicinal purposes is deeply rooted through history, dating back to ancient times. It is an herb used by humans for centuries and is the most commonly used drug in the world (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2011). Through the decades, this plant has taken a fascinating journey from a legal and frequently prescribed status to illegal, driven by political and social factors rather than by science. However, with an abundance of growing support for its multitude of medicinal uses, the misguided stigma of cannabis is fading, and there has been a dramatic push for legalizing medicinal cannabis and research. Physicians need to be educated on the history, pharmacology, clinical indications, and proper clinical use of cannabis, as patients will inevitably inquire about it for many diseases, including chronic pain and headache disorders for which there is supporting evidence.

Cannabindoid receptors are located widely throughout the brain (frontal lobe, somatosensory cortex, entorhinal cortex, and olfactory cortex) basal ganglia, hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum, substantia nigra, and periaqueductal gray matter. Descending modulation of trigeminovascular nociceptive transmission through midbrain nuclei is likely responsible for the quick anti-nociceptive effect on headache. [1]

Goadsby and colleagues demonstrated that the endogenous endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) modulates pain signaling in the nervous system in various ways. AEA inhibits dural blood vessel dilation induced from neurogenic, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), electrical stimulation, capsaicin, and nitric oxide (NO) sources, and this effect is reversed by a cannabinoid antagonist. [2] Modulation of serotonergic pain transmission is well established in migraine treatment, particularly with the mechanism of action of the triptans. Endocannabinoids interact with serotonergic neurons in the brainstem dorsal raphe to modulate pain mechanisms. Cannabinoids have been shown to inhibit 5HT release from platelets during a migraine. [3] Endocannabinoids have anti-nociceptive effects by descending modulation of pain at the spinal level. [4] Endocannabinoid deficiency has been theorized as a possible cause for migraine and other chronic pain disorders, including chronic migraine and medication overuse headaches. Cannabinoids appear to modulate and interact at many pathways inherent to migraine, triptan mechanisms of action, and opiate pathways, suggesting a potential synergistic or related benefit. [5]

A study published from Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Colorado looked at the effects of inhaled and ingested cannabis in migraine sufferers, and the results showed inhalation methods appeared to provide the fastest effects and were more likely to stop migraine headaches in their tracks. The next frontier in this field of research is figuring out which cannabinoids, strains, and delivery methods are most effective in treating headaches and migraines. [6] In the meantime, we’ll have to continue to relying primarily on anecdotal evidence.

If you are looking for safer, addiction-free, pain medication to address your migraines and other chronic pain, consider the use of medical marijuana.

[1] Akerman S. Holland PR, Goadsby Pj. Diencephalic and brainstem mechanisms in migraine. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2011; 12:570-584.

[2] Akerman S, Kaube H, Goadsby PJ. Anandamide is able to inhibit trigeminal neurons using an in vivo model of trigeminovascular-mediated nociception. J Pharm Exp Therapeutics. 2004; 309:56-63

[3] Akerman S, Holland PR, Lasalandra MP, Goadsby PJ. Endocannabinoids in the brainstem modulate dural trigeminovascular nociceptive traffic via CB1 and “triptan” receptors: Implications in migraine. J Neurosci. 2013; 33:14869-14877

[4] Rossi C, Pini LA, Cupini ML, Calabresi P, Sarchielli P. Endocannabinoids in platelets of chronic migraine patients and medication-overuse headache patients: Relation with serotonin levels. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2008; 64:1-8

[5] Baron EP. Comprehensive Review of Medical Marijuana, Cannabinoids, and Therapeutic Implications in Medicine and Headache. Headache Currents. Vol 55, Issue 6, May 25,2015

[6] Rhyne DN, Anderson SL, Gedde M, Borgelt LM. Effects of Medical Marijuana on Migraine Headache Frequency in an Adult Population. Pharmacotherapy. 2016 May; 36(5): 505-10.

By Kimmi Stultz, PharmD, Chief Pharmacology Officer of Healthy Option Consulting, Inc.

Pain Relief, Opioid Substitution and Defeating Dependence

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 18:06:40 GMT

Addiction and dependency – are two diagnoses that physicians hate to give to their patients; similarly, patients, as well as their families, are terrified to hear these diagnoses from their physicians. Fortunately, medical marijuana can offer a safer alternative than opiates for patients who are suffering with chronic pain and are resistant to opioids or otherwise reluctant to take them. Numerous studies have shown promising results for patients who suffer from chronic pain and are seeking an alternative to opioid pain management.

Studies have found that inhaled cannabis safely augmented the analgesic effects of opioids and allowed for lower doses, less risk of overdose, lower cravings, fewer opioid side effects and lower withdrawal severity. See, Haroutounian, S., et. al., The Effect of Medicinal Cannabis on Pain and Quality of Life Outcomes in Chronic Pain: A Prospective Open Label Study , The Clinical Journal of Pain (2016).

While some patients are reducing their opiate dosages, others are able to avoid opiate use altogether, by effectively managing their pain solely with medical marijuana. See, Lucas, P., et. al., Substituting Cannabis for Prescription Drugs, Alcohol and Other Substances Among Medical Cannabis Patients: The Impact of Contextual Factors , Drug and Alcohol Review (2015). The University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research released its findings from a decade long randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study on the utility of marijuana and concluded that medical marijuana should be a first line treatment for patients with neuropathy. Marijuana was consistently found to reduce patients’ pain levels to a comparable or better degree than currently available treatment. See, www.cmcr.ucsd.edu/images/pdfs/cmcr_report_feb17.pdf .

Opioid abuse, dependency, and overdoses are unprecedented leading the government to declare war against opioids. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, over 20,000 people died in the United States from opioid overdoses in 2015. Researchers have hypothesized that medical marijuana can be used to combat opioid addiction and the NIH has recently announced the funding of a grant to research cannabis’ effects on opioid addiction. See, Melville, Nancy A., Role for Cannabis in Treatment for Opioid Addiction? , Medscape News & Perspective, February 6, 2017 (Please set up your free Medscape account to open this link http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/875431 ).

If you are looking for safer, addiction-free, pain medication, consider the use of medical marijuana, especially if you have opioid dependency concerns.

Everything You Should Know About Issuing Your Medical Marijuana ID Card

aefarber@gmail.com (Andrew Farber) — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 18:05:39 GMT

As the legalization of medical marijuana continues to proliferate throughout the country, most people are veering away from traditional medications, including painkillers and antidepressants, and resorting to the drug, as cannabis is one of the most effective alternative treatments out there.

There’s ample research that supports the medicinal use of marijuana — “As a medicine, Cannabis has minimal side effects, is not physically addictive, and there have been no reported fatalities regarding its use. It has no known adverse effect on the liver, kidneys, or GI tract, and no allergic reactions have been reported”. In order to reap the benefits of this drug, you’re required to present a proof to the state that you’ve been prescribed medical marijuana by a qualified physician. For most states, it is the Medical Marijuana ID Card that serves as proof.

If you’re exhausted from popping pills and are planning to jump on the cannabis bandwagon to treat chronic conditions, here’s what you should know about getting your Medical Marijuana ID Card.

What is Medical Marijuana ID Card?

If you are looking to buy medical marijuana in a legal state, you’ll need to possess a valid medical marijuana card. Each state has different laws on how easy it is to get one of these cards, as well as what your eligibility criteria must be. Some states require that you have been diagnosed with a certain type of condition; others just require a medical marijuana doctor’s recommendation and will issue an ID card based on that alone.

With Florida’s medical marijuana laws, in order to obtain an ID for medical marijuana, a patient must have at least one of the qualifying conditions laid out by the state. The important thing to know is that having an official state-issued medical marijuana ID card will make it easier for you to purchase cannabis legally.

Why Do You Need a Medical Marijuana Card?

If you’re an eligible patient looking to purchase medical marijuana in Florida, you’ll need a medical marijuana card to do so. One of the advantages of getting a medical marijuana card is that it allows you to purchase products from a licensed dispensary. These dispensaries are required to verify that a person has a valid MMJ card before they make a sale. If they don’t have one, they can be charged with sales of marijuana without authorization, which is punishable by fines and even jail time. Simply put, if you want to buy medical cannabis legally, you need your state-issued medical marijuana card.

Additionally, with a medical marijuana card, you can have access to a wide variety of products, strains, and professional support.

Why Should You Renew Your Medical Marijuana Card Early?

While you may not immediately feel a need for medical marijuana ID Card renewal, it is in your best interest to do so. Unlawful possession or use of marijuana can create a permanent criminal record and can negatively impact other areas of your life.

Additionally, if you don’t have an up-to-date MMJ card or are applying for one for the first time, you might be denied medical marijuana at dispensaries. So, by confirming that your renewal request is received as early as possible, you can avoid legal trouble and ensure effective treatment at the earliest.

If you are looking for safer, non-addictive pain medication to address your migraines and other chronic pain, medical marijuana might be the way to go! At An oz. of Wellness, we can help you get your Medical Marijuana ID Card without any hassle. To know more, get in touch with us today!

If You Are Experiencing These Symptoms, It Could Be You’re Dealing With PTSD

aefarber@gmail.com (Andrew Farber) — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 18:04:28 GMT

Life never stays the same. Although we all want to enjoy positive experiences in our lives, the truth is life can through anything at us. You might be having a great time today but you can never be sure what might happen to you or your loved ones tomorrow. There are many people in the world who experience grief and trauma after getting exposed to an illness, danger, violence, or injury. Some people are able to deal with that trauma while others struggle with it for years. The latter group of people fail to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. When you are not able to forget a terrifying event that happened in the past for months or years, it could be that you are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is essential to know the symptoms of this disorder so that you can seek treatment for it as soon as possible. In this blog, we will tell you some common symptoms of PTSD. Let’s take a look at them.

Troubling Thoughts

Troubling, distressing, and intrusive thoughts are one of the most common symptoms of PTSD. You could be having a great time by yourself or with your loved ones or friends and suddenly you experience a wave of unpleasant, unwelcoming thoughts. These thoughts are usually about a terrifying event that you faced in the past. You could also face these types of thoughts when you happen to be in a similar setting in which the past event took place.

Bad Dreams

Another common thing observed in trauma survivors is that they tend to have nightmares a lot. In fact, a research conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs discovered that around 71% to 96% of post-traumatic stress disorder patients have bad dreams. And if those people are dealing with any co-occurring mental illnesses as well, then they are at a greater risk of having vivid, distressing dreams.

Living In Isolation

After experiencing a traumatic event, it is not easy for most people to connect with others right away. Some people come back to their normal mental state while others find it difficult to talk with others. People with PTSD feel that nobody understands their pain or suffering. Because of this perception, they tend to stay alone, which only exacerbates their symptoms.

Negative Outlook Towards Life

It is not uncommon to find people with PTSD having a negative perspective towards life. After witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, they become hopeless and struggle to envision future life or set goals for themselves. Some people develop a negative self-perception as well and start thinking that they are not worthy of success and healing.

Some other symptoms of PTSD include irritability, insomnia, risky behavior, and memory loss. Keep in mind that symptoms differ from one person to another, but in most cases people do experience the above-mentioned symptoms. The good news is, medical marijuana has been found to be effective for reducing symptoms of PTSD. If interested, you can get in touch with An oz. of Wellness Healthcare and find out whether you have PTSD or any other condition for which you can use highly-effective medical marijuana. Medical marijuana for Parkinson’s disease in Boca Raton is quite popular. You can also use medical marijuana for seizures, migraines, chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, and of course, PTSD. To know more about our treatment center and medical marijuana, call us at 561-406-4954.