Overview

Marijuana is made from the dried leaves and buds of the Cannabis sativa found. While the Food and Drug Assistants (FDA) hasn't approved the apply of the marijuana establish as medicine, many states take legalized marijuana use.

The FDA has approved ii drugs, dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros) and nabilone (Cesamet), made from synthetic forms of ingredients found in marijuana. They tin can be legally prescribed for the treatment of nausea and vomiting acquired by chemotherapy when other treatments have failed. Dronabinol might as well be used for the handling of decreased appetite associated with weight loss in people with HIV and AIDS.

The FDA has also approved a liquid medication (Epidiolex) containing a purified grade of cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical plant in marijuana. This drug can be used for the treatment of rare forms of severe childhood epilepsy (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome).

Medical marijuana is available every bit an oil, pill, vaporized liquid and nasal spray, as dried leaves and buds, and equally the plant itself. The herb is typically used to treat nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatment, loss of appetite and weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, chronic pain and muscle spasms.

Evidence

Research on the use of marijuana for specific weather condition shows:

  • Glaucoma. Marijuana might reduce the pressure in the middle caused by this center condition. Withal, the consequence appears to last just a few hours. Some findings indicate that marijuana may decrease blood flow to the optic nerve, increasing the take a chance for vision loss in people with glaucoma.
  • Nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatment. Research has shown that an active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), finer reduces nausea and airsickness in people undergoing chemotherapy.
  • Pain. Marijuana use might reduce the intensity of shooting or called-for hurting often due to nervus harm (neuropathic pain) acquired by HIV, diabetes and other conditions.
  • Seizures. Information technology'due south not clear if marijuana effectively treats seizures.
  • Spasticity. Marijuana use might reduce muscle stiffness or spasms and urinary frequency acquired past multiple sclerosis.

Our take

Yellow light: Caution

Circumspection

Evidence has shown that marijuana tin can effectively treat chemotherapy-induced nausea. It might as well reduce muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and decrease the intensity of neuropathic pain.

However, marijuana use can cause cognitive damage and should be used with circumspection if you have a mental health status. In many places marijuana employ is considered illegal for any purpose.

Condom and side effects

Medical marijuana use is by and large considered safety. Merely dissimilar strains of marijuana accept unlike amounts of THC. This can brand dosing marijuana difficult.

Marijuana can crusade:

  • Headaches
  • Dry oral cavity and dry eyes
  • Lightheadedness and dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Fatigue

Other side furnishings may include:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Disorientation
  • Hallucinations
  • Increased eye rate
  • Increased ambition

Marijuana use impairs attention, judgement and coordination. Don't bulldoze or operate machinery when using marijuana.

If you have a mental health condition, use marijuana with caution. Marijuana use might worsen manic symptoms in people who have bipolar disorder. If used frequently, marijuana might increase the hazard of depression or worsen depression symptoms. Inquiry suggests that marijuana utilize increases the hazard of psychosis in people who have schizophrenia.

Smoking marijuana tin can affect your retentiveness and cognitive function and cause harmful cardiovascular effects, such every bit high blood pressure. Long-term marijuana use can worsen respiratory conditions.

Marijuana has a central nervous system (CNS) depressant consequence. Every bit a upshot, marijuana utilize in combination with anesthesia or other drugs used during or after surgery might crusade an additive effect. Don't utilize marijuana two weeks before planned surgery.

Interactions

Possible interactions include:

  • Alcohol. Marijuana utilise might increment the effects of alcohol.
  • Anticoagulants and anti-platelet drugs, herbs and supplements. These types of drugs, herbs and supplements reduce blood clotting. Marijuana might change how the body processes them, possibly increasing the risk of bleeding.
  • CNS depressants. Marijuana utilize in combination with CNS depressants might increase the sedative effect of these drugs.
  • Protease inhibitors. When used with these antiviral drugs, marijuana might reduce their effectiveness.
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Mixing marijuana with this type of antidepressant might increase the risk of mania.

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Nov. 18, 2020