Exploring the Effectiveness of Medical Cannabis in Terminal Care

Patients who receive a terminal illness diagnosis may experience a wide range of physical and psychological effects in addition to overwhelming difficulties or emotions. Patients who receive a terminal diagnosis must not only learn to deal with this devastating information about their health but also discover restorative methods to lessen the most prevalent symptoms and effects. Obtaining a medical marijuana card can provide access to therapeutic cannabis treatments, offering relief and improving quality of life for those facing a terminal diagnosis.

To improve their comfort and general quality of life during this time, terminal patients may benefit from conventional medication techniques like opiates, which help them concentrate on palliative treatment options and objectives. Many of these pharmaceutical drugs, however, can simply cause more disagreeable and incapacitating side effects for the sick.

The efficacy of natural plant therapy, and cannabis in particular, in reducing and managing a number of these emotional and physical symptoms associated with a terminal illness has been investigated. Given the current knowledge and scientific data, a prescription for medical marijuana can significantly improve the quality of life for terminally ill patients.

Learn more about the implications of receiving a terminal illness diagnosis and how medical cannabis can help patients manage the negative effects of other medications in this blog.

Navigating a Terminal Illness Diagnosis: What You Need to Know

People who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness have been informed by their doctor that they have a specific amount of time left to live. The term is used to refer to any type of illness that is incurable or untreatable. It is a diagnosis made after all other avenues or treatments have been tried, or frequently when the disease is too advanced or chronic to be completely cured, as in the case of cancer:

According to the Pew Research Center, 42% of Americans are aware of a friend or family member who is dealing with or has dealt with a terminal illness. As one might expect, a terminal illness can cause a great deal of psychological trauma in addition to the physical suffering. When given a terminal diagnosis, some patients may experience physical and mental fatigue or depression as a result of the disease’s symptoms. Their primary illness may be accompanied by other symptoms or diseases.

There are many pharmaceutical and conventional medications available to patients to treat the symptoms associated with a terminal illness, depending on the type of terminal illness that the doctor has diagnosed. This could include antidepressants, anti-nausea drugs, and even opiates for persistent pain.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Terminal Illnesses

Depending on the disease or illness in question, the precise signs and symptoms of a terminal illness may vary. However, there are common physical symptoms that patients with terminal illnesses may experience when their disease is in its advanced stages. Among these symptoms are:

• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue or insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Difficulty Breathing
• Chronic pain
• Weight loss
• General weakness of muscle

The diagnosis of a terminal illness can have a profound effect on the patient and their loved ones. A person’s quality of life may be adversely affected or rendered impossible by emotional and psychological symptoms in addition to the physically incapacitating ones that can accompany a terminal illness. This could consist of:

• Anger
• Depression
• Helplessness
• Mood shifts
• Fear
• Shock
• Denial
• Blame

There are numerous reasons why patients are using medical cannabis to lessen the effects of these anticipated terminal illness symptoms.

Relieving Symptoms of Terminal Illnesses with Cannabinoids

The effectiveness of cannabinoids like THC and CBD in reducing these symptoms is being investigated by numerous researchers and clinicians as more states legalize medical cannabis. A few noteworthy studies have demonstrated that medical cannabis can alleviate the symptoms of terminal illnesses, as the cannabis landscape continues to change.

Palliative Care: Effective Strategies for Symptom Management

This medical caregiving approach, known as palliative care, helps patients with serious and complex terminal illnesses minimize their physical and emotional suffering and maximize their quality of life.

The Journal of Pain and Symptom Management published a study titled “Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Parallel-Group Study of the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of THC:CBD Extract in Patients with Intractable Cancer-Related Pain” that provides evidence for the effectiveness of cannabinoids.

In this study, cancer patients who were suffering from unbearable chronic pain were treated with a combination of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) extracts.

According to the findings, some patients found that a combination of THC and CBD extracts was more effective at reducing pain and enhancing sleep than a placebo.

Overall, the study discovered that the therapeutic and symptom-relieving effects of medical cannabis helped these cancer patients live better lives.

Managing Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are among the most prevalent physical signs of terminal illness. Following chemotherapy, severe medication, or radiation therapy, patients may frequently feel nauseous or ill.

The British Journal of Pharmacology published a study titled “Regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids” that examined how these symptoms might be treated by cannabinoids.

The accuracy and efficacy of major cannabinoids, like THC, in treating the symptoms of nausea and vomiting were examined in this study. THC and other medical cannabis cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system’s CB1 receptors when taken orally.

In addition to improving the body’s sense of homeostasis, or balance, this connection is made throughout the body and transmits signals to the brain that block the effects of pain or nausea.

Boosting Appetite Naturally

In addition to nausea or vomiting, patients with a terminal illness frequently experience a generalized loss of appetite. A patient’s lack of appetite can also affect their quality of life, given that certain drugs and therapies will suppress their appetite.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology looked at how well cannabinoids stimulate appetite. “Dronabinol vs. Megestrol Acetate vs. Combination Therapy for Cancer-Associated Anorexia: A North Central Cancer Treatment Group Study” was the title of the research.

In this clinical trial, it was discovered that dronabinol, a synthetic THC compound, was effective in increasing appetite and weight gain in patients who were not feeling hungry. The way THC interacts and binds with endocannabinoids in our ECS is primarily to blame for this.

According to this study, THC is very effective at boosting patients’ hunger and appetite while also increasing their food intake and total body weight while they are receiving terminal care.

How Medical Cannabis Supports Patients with Terminal Illnesses

Even though patients frequently choose medical cannabis for their terminal illness because it relieves pain or nausea, new research is revealing a wide range of additional benefits this natural medication can provide.

According to a UCSF study, inhaled medical marijuana combined with opiates like morphine reduced symptoms in terminally ill patients with chronic pain by 95%. It even demonstrated that using medical cannabis and cannabinoids together frequently results in lower opiate dosages.

Furthermore, more than 3,000 cancer patients in an Israeli medical marijuana clinical study reported notable improvements and control in other typical symptoms, including:

• Restoring sleep problems (70.8%)
• Alleviating anxiety and depression (74.1%)
• Decreasing fatigue (55.9%)

Furthermore, 36% of the cancer patients in the study completely gave up using opiates or painkillers in favor of cannabis.

According to the research, medical marijuana can help patients with terminal illnesses manage their symptoms and find comfort, especially if their doctor is supportive.

Receive Expert Medical Cannabis Care at Online Medical Card

Research studies and clinical trials continue to demonstrate the potential of medical cannabis to alleviate particular symptoms linked to a terminal illness. Medical cannabis use is a safe way to help patients maintain the comfort and relief they need during these end-of-life challenges.

Medical cannabis treatments are an option for patients dealing with a terminal illness and its side effects. Inhalable flower or vape cartridges, edibles, topicals, cannabis tinctures, or transdermal patches are some examples of medical marijuana products.

Before using medical marijuana as a way to manage symptoms for a terminal illness, it’s important to consult your designated physician or cannabis doctor because the terminology and landscape surrounding medical cannabis are always evolving. Additionally, for those interested in cultivation, obtaining a California growers license can provide legal access to growing cannabis for personal medical use, ensuring a reliable and controlled supply.

We at OMC want to show our sympathy to anyone receiving treatment for a terminal illness and offer our support in any way we can. You can find more information about OMC’s licensed providers in your area here if you’re interested in finding out how cannabis might help with problems caused by a terminal illness.