BS, Dietetics and Nutrition
AUSTIN, Texas – As new research unveils the extensive therapeutic potential of THC-containing cannabis, a significant shift is underway in the healthcare landscape. The Compassionate Use Registry of Texas plays a pivotal role, enabling patients with specific medical conditions to access this burgeoning form of treatment legally.
Chronic Pain Management Evolves with Cannabis Options
According to a comprehensive 2022 review in Inflammopharmacology, medications blending THC and CBD have emerged as promising options for managing different types of chronic pain, including neuropathic, nociceptive, and nociplastic pain. Researchers emphasize that these combinations of cannabinoids are “more easily tolerated, safer, and less addictive than opioid-based analgesics.”
Cannabis: A Ray of Hope for Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Sativex, an oral spray that contains both THC and CBD, is available in 25 countries. It is primarily used to counter the muscle stiffness and spasms often associated with multiple sclerosis. While Sativex is a primary treatment option in Canada, the United States is still evaluating its use as a potential treatment for adult patients experiencing multiple sclerosis spasticity.
Navigating Cancer Treatment Side Effects with THC Derivatives
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to several prescription drugs that contain synthetic compounds resembling THC to help patients manage the debilitating side effects of cancer chemotherapy. Among these, Marinol and Syndros feature dronabinol, a synthetic form of THC that is designed to mitigate nausea and vomiting. Cesamet, containing nabilone (another synthetic substance akin to THC), is also approved for the same uses and additionally for addressing appetite and weight issues in patients with HIV/AIDS.
Improvement in Sleep Quality: A Surprising Benefit of Synthetic THC
A 2018 study published in Sleep suggests that patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who take dronabinol, a synthetic form of THC, before going to bed experience fewer interruptions in breathing during sleep. The study found that a 10-milligram dose was more effective than both the 2.5-milligram dose and a placebo, and participants also reported stronger feelings of sleepiness. This was corroborated by a 2014 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, which associated dronabinol use with improved sleep metrics in patients with OSA.
Cannabis Addresses a Spectrum of Health and Wellness Needs
Krissy Bernazani, a registered pharmacist and clinical director at Zen Leaf Maryland, a medical cannabis dispensary, elucidates the broad spectrum of health needs that she and her team have been targeting with medical cannabis. Bernazani observes that many patients are seeking cannabis solutions for ailments such as migraines, neuropathy, nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis after conventional pharmaceutical options have failed to provide relief.
