Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis can be completely debilitating and life changing. While there is unfortunately no cure to this lifelong disease, there are several treatment methods. Medical cannabis has been proven to treat MS symptoms and even increase mobility. Dangerous medications such as Tegretol have been shown to cause severe side effects that can exacerbate the disease.
Typical Symptoms Experienced With MS
Multiple Sclerosis is a genetic and environmental caused disease that leave some completely immobile with its horrendous side effects. To date, there is no cure for MS. An example of some recurring symptoms include:
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Impaired coordination and mobility caused by nerve damage
- Vision loss
- Seizures caused by lesions on the brain
While some treatments such as Chemotherapy and Immunosuppressive medications can help with the progression of the disease, they also contain and large number of side effects that can exacerbate symptoms the patient is already experiencing. For instance, and anti-epileptic commonly prescribed for MS called Tegretol has been proven to cause bone marrow suppression and osteoporosis. MS sufferers are left with the option of having epileptic seizures or potentially becoming completely immobile with complete loss of coordination. The side effect and potential risks with these medications go on for days which leaves plenty of patients searching for alternative treatment methods.
The Potential Benefits Of Medical Cannabis Use And MS
In several states, MS is not a recognized condition of which a medical cannabis card may be recommended. Although the detriment of the harmful medications is perfectly legal, cannabis treatment may not be available to everyone with MS. However, CBD (legal in all 50 states) has shown tremendous benefits when treating these symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, depression, even seizures have been reported less frequent when a patient is on the proper CBD dose. Some patients report the THC and CBD combo works best while others say CBD on its own is enough to keep these symptoms at bay.
In the UK, an oral spray called Sativex is regularly prescribed to MS patients to combat the unpleasant symptoms that come along with this life long disease. In the US, Sativex has not yet been approved. Each spray delivers a dose of 2.7 mg THC and 2.5 mg CBD that has been proven to help with the pain and inflammation that frequently occurs in MS. Muscle tightness and spasms cause people to lose mobility, sometimes completely. CBD and THC has been proven effective to relax those muscles making it easier to move around.
Where Can MS Patients Go To Access Medical Cannabis Treatment
Currently, 29 states offer medical cannabis programs to qualified patients. While Sativex is not legal in the US yet, medical cannabis has been proven effective for MS patients. If you are in a legal state and looking for alternative treatment methods that are safe and proven effective, consider speaking with a medical cannabis doctor for an evaluation of treatment.
Big Pharma has forced the American people to seek alternative methods of treatment due to the potential harm their high risk drugs cause the recipients. With legalization happening more often than not, the over 200,000 people that are dealing with MS could eventually seek cannabis treatment without criminal prosecution.
