4 ms·

This is probably where cannabis would help, but I don't think even most medical states include anxiety/mild depression on their list of conditions for referral.

This is probably where cannabis would help, but I don't think even most medical states include anxiety/mild depression on their list of conditions for referral. Very few allow for pain without very specific parameters. Nah, instead we'll hit people over the head with hard drugs. Forever.

dx034 9y ago
While Cannabis could help, what's wrong with Ibuprofen? It's the go-to drug for most doctors in Europe and used for the vast majority of patients with pain. Unless you had surgery or have been in an accident, pain is rarely that strong that you need opioids.
- cjeane 9y ago
  Taking ibuprofen for your pain today is perfectly acceptable. Taking it everyday in an attempt to treat chronic pain is not. There are heart and liver disorders linked to long term ibuprofen use.
- SmellTheGlove 9y ago
  Long term use of ibuprofen is linked with heart and liver issues, if I recall. I know I'm not citing a source here, just something I remember my wife telling me she read in a study, the best kind of evidence :) FWIW, I've found ibuprofen to be the absolute best for my post-surgical pain. The issue is that it's 600-800mg every 6 hours to remain effective, and that's pushing some limits on dosage. Doctors have always told me fine in the short term, but bad longer term. I know I'm saying this with a clear mind and pain free body right now, but I'm entirely unwilling to fill an opioid prescription in the future. The small amounts I've taken in the past for surgery were just too memorable - nothing should stick in your brain like that years after and be considered safe.
martinald 9y ago
But cannabis can also be highly addictive IMO and can definitely cause anxiety/panic attacks in some people (especially with too high a dose in an inexperienced user).
- cjeane 9y ago
  How is your opinion informed on the highly additive nature of cannabis? As with any substance cannabis can be abused and can have negative consequences; however to say that is it highly addictive is highly misleading. I agree that anxiety can be an issue especially with novice users, but those effects vary person to person and strain to strain.
- SmellTheGlove 9y ago
  Addictive in what sense? Opioid withdrawal can kill you. My understanding is cannabis is only mildly addictive and essentially results in short term irritability and a small rise in blood pressure for a few hours to a few days. Anecdotally, the biggest potheads I know can take a month off without impact to their lives. Regarding anxiety and panic attacks, I'm sure that's possible, but people don't die from it. An extra cup of coffee would do something similar for a longer period of time. I don't think we've studied cannabis enough to truly know the negatives, but even heavily discounted historical and anecdotal evidence would suggest it's less harmful than opioids. That potential for harm might be low enough that you simply try it first for pain management, before moving on to stronger things that carry their own sets of risks. I'm not a doctor (or a cannabis enthusiast), just what I think I think.
cjeane 9y ago
Cannabis can help many conditions including anxiety but because of its long history of demonization it has not been standardized and requires a lot of work on the part of the patient to zero in on the correct dosage. This is starting to change with products like tinctures being more and more available that provide the ability to easily have lower / long lasting dosages.

dx034 9y ago

While Cannabis could help, what's wrong with Ibuprofen? It's the go-to drug for most doctors in Europe and used for the vast majority of patients with pain. Unless you had surgery or have been in an accident, pain is rarely that strong that you need opioids.

cjeane 9y ago
Taking ibuprofen for your pain today is perfectly acceptable. Taking it everyday in an attempt to treat chronic pain is not. There are heart and liver disorders linked to long term ibuprofen use.
SmellTheGlove 9y ago
Long term use of ibuprofen is linked with heart and liver issues, if I recall. I know I'm not citing a source here, just something I remember my wife telling me she read in a study, the best kind of evidence :) FWIW, I've found ibuprofen to be the absolute best for my post-surgical pain. The issue is that it's 600-800mg every 6 hours to remain effective, and that's pushing some limits on dosage. Doctors have always told me fine in the short term, but bad longer term. I know I'm saying this with a clear mind and pain free body right now, but I'm entirely unwilling to fill an opioid prescription in the future. The small amounts I've taken in the past for surgery were just too memorable - nothing should stick in your brain like that years after and be considered safe.

martinald 9y ago

But cannabis can also be highly addictive IMO and can definitely cause anxiety/panic attacks in some people (especially with too high a dose in an inexperienced user).

cjeane 9y ago
How is your opinion informed on the highly additive nature of cannabis? As with any substance cannabis can be abused and can have negative consequences; however to say that is it highly addictive is highly misleading. I agree that anxiety can be an issue especially with novice users, but those effects vary person to person and strain to strain.
SmellTheGlove 9y ago
Addictive in what sense? Opioid withdrawal can kill you. My understanding is cannabis is only mildly addictive and essentially results in short term irritability and a small rise in blood pressure for a few hours to a few days. Anecdotally, the biggest potheads I know can take a month off without impact to their lives. Regarding anxiety and panic attacks, I'm sure that's possible, but people don't die from it. An extra cup of coffee would do something similar for a longer period of time. I don't think we've studied cannabis enough to truly know the negatives, but even heavily discounted historical and anecdotal evidence would suggest it's less harmful than opioids. That potential for harm might be low enough that you simply try it first for pain management, before moving on to stronger things that carry their own sets of risks. I'm not a doctor (or a cannabis enthusiast), just what I think I think.

cjeane 9y ago

Cannabis can help many conditions including anxiety but because of its long history of demonization it has not been standardized and requires a lot of work on the part of the patient to zero in on the correct dosage. This is starting to change with products like tinctures being more and more available that provide the ability to easily have lower / long lasting dosages.