{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-question-tags-template-js","path":"/question-tag/chronic/11","result":{"data":{"allQuestion":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Question_10959-markdown","title":"I need a cbd oil for chronic migraines.","slug":"i-need-a-cbd-oil-for-chronic-migraines","content":"\"I need a cbd oil for chronic migraines. I have had chronic migraines for over 30 yrs. And tried everything. My last resort is botox for migraines and I'm scared to do that because of side effects. So will cbd oil  help me?\"\n_____________________\nThere are many different types and brands of CBD oil to pick from, and your final choice will be determined by your personal needs and how you plan to utilize CBD.\n\nSome of the questions you’ll want to ask yourself are:\n\nHow many milligrams of CBD oil will I need?\nDo I want something flavored or unflavored?\nWill I be using CBD oil at home, on the go, or both?\nWhat’s my main consideration – strength or price?\n\nAt the right dosage, CBD has been shown to significantly help with anxiety, pain, and inflammation (and potentially many other problems as well). An appropriately high dosage of CBD will give you all the desired effects you need, and there is really no risk of overdose as CBD is harmless even in high concentrations. However, most people will feel little effect if they take too low a dosage, effectively wasting CBD’s powerful beneficial properties.\n\nWith the above in mind, the importance of correct CBD dosage becomes obvious. People with different requirements and different metabolisms will need accordingly different CBD dosages to experience CBD’s positive effects, and dosages can vary dramatically because there is no one-size-fits-all “typical CBD dosage.” While there is no such thing as “too much CBD,” you can in fact take too little to feel a difference.\n\nDosage can range anywhere from 2mg to 3mg, up to 100mg or even 200mg on the super-high end. (Remember, you cannot overdose and there are no reported side effects from taking high concentrations of CBD.) Let’s see how much CBD the most popular CBD oil products contain and how you can adjust your dosage (or not) with them.\n\nMost people only need about 2mg to 3mg per day to start feeling a difference. Yet people with stronger needs may need to start at 2mg to 3mg and work their way up until they find the right dose for their body.\n\ndrpinto","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10935-markdown","title":"Can internal or external cannabis help me with chronic psoriasis?","slug":"can-internal-or-external-cannabis-help-me-with-chronic-psoriasis","content":"\"I have tried all sorts of medicines but have never tried marijuana for this.\"\n_____________________\nBoth internal and external cannabis should help with chronic psoriasis and both should be considered. Psoriasis is a systemic problem so it should be treated systemically. CBD cannabis should stop the inflammation internally and externally but the THC should stop the itching especially if you taken orally. There's also a high incidence of vitamin D deficiency as well as zinc deficiency in most psoriatic sufferers. Keep working on high nutrition, reduce all inflammatory foods especially those containing omega 6 and correct nutritional deficiencies and your psoriasis should show marked improvement.\n\ndrolson","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10880-markdown","title":"Making sure my medications wont affect if I'm using Cannabis as well?","slug":"making-sure-my-medications-wont-affect-if-im-using-cannabis-as-well","content":"\"If you have already been taking sleep medication Trazodone and also Prozac for depression and was recommended Cannibis for my Chronic Back Pain and for menstrual pain. Is there a concern for the other meds?\"\n_____________________\nWhat we know from research is that Prozac is no better than a placebo but it costs more and has side effects but a placebo has no side effects. If you go off the Prozac you can stop it immediately but hold onto extraProzac because in about 4 to 5 days your body may scream for the medicine and you can give it one or two Prozac and then discontinue it again. In about a week your body will want more Prozac, this time you give it one and maybe one the next day and discontinue the medicine. Going back and forth like this you should be able to go off the Prozac very easily, quickly and successfully. You should be taking CBD cannabis the whole time you were going off the Prozac because the CBD should be much more effective in resolving depression unless the depression is due to a genetic problem or a dietary deficiency. The Trazodone is a much bigger problem but for that you definitely want to have a good Indica and probably a vape pen of Indica by the bed in case you awaken in the middle of tonight. Do not do Sativa in the later afternoon or your Indica will just keep bumping your THC backed up and stimulating your brain making it impossible to sleep.\nHappy dreams.\n\ndrolson","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10856-markdown","title":"What medical conditions are best treated with Sour Diesel? Is this a good choice for chronic pain?","slug":"what-medical-conditions-are-best-treated-with-sour-diesel-is-this-a-good-choice-for-chronic-pain","content":"\"I've been smoking a high CBD strain, Harlequin, but want to try a higher THC strain now. Is Sour Diesel a good choice for chronic pain and insomnia?\"\n_____________________\nStress, pain, and depression fade away in long-lasting relief that makes Sour Diesel a top choice among medical patients. This strain took root in the early 90's with cannabis breeder Chem Dog, and it is believed to have descended from Chemdawg, Northern Lights, and a Skunk phenotype.\r\n\r\nSour Diesel is often used for chronic pain and nausea but is praised for its help with anxiety and stress due to its paranoid-free effect!\r\n\n\npetergdw\n_____________________\nSour Diesel is one of the most popular strains in Ca. It is a Sativa and has a high average of THC so it would be a good choice for daytime pain management.\nit is energizing, used for stress, pain and depression. also a good choice for someone with social anxiety.\n\nakasha\n_____________________\nPeople often use Sour Diesel as a daytime strain and smokers report it to be an energizing and \"cerebral\" high with very little body effects. It is a predominately Sativa strain, and therefore affects your mind without the physical drag. It is very popular as a creativity booster or a good strain to use when you want to focus on a task or go out and explore the world with a little boost. \n\nPeople report it helping with depression, lethargy, anxiety, and busy mind. I've heard it helping with pain only in that it can distract you from the pain. For insomnia I would likely recommend a strain heavier in indica that will knock you out.\n\nandrea13","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10840-markdown","title":"Best products for back pain and insomnia without the high?","slug":"best-products-for-back-pain-and-insomnia-without-the-high","content":"\"I'm completely new to this so I need help in finding something that will work for me. I have chronic back pain, insomnia and anxiety. I would love something that could help me more with the back pain and the insomnia...but without the high. I don't want to smoke it either, so I'm thinking a tincture, a cream or a vape, but i have no idea what to ask for. I used my medical card for the first time last weekend, and bought two vapes. One was 110mg of CBD and the other was 250mg of CBD. I was told to use the lower dose during the day and the higher one at night. But sadly, neither one has affected me at all. I have a very high tolerance to medicine in general. Could this be why? Energy drinks and caffeine don't touch me either. The reason I'm coming here for help is because I'm so new to this and did not realize that this was so expensive. The next time I go in to purchase something I'd like to have a better idea of what I need.\"\n_____________________\nI would use a high CBD tincture like 18:1 Care by Design plus a topical balm if needed. You can go slow with the topical balm and see how you feel after the tincture.\n\njrec\n_____________________\nThe high concentrate CBD oil, smoked in a vape pen, may help both the pain and insomnia, if taken nightly. \nThe back pain relief may be augmented (helped more) with a topical product of medical marijuana.\nDispensaries may offer samples of the topicals to experience which works best for you.\n\ndrraisen\n_____________________\nCBD alone for back pain might work but it might not. You may want to review our Educational blurb on the entourage affectBecause when you do CBD and it has a low dose of THC, you will not be high but the THC supports the effectiveness of the CBD so book doing CBD alone you will miss that extra support. The topical cannabis salve that is CBD dominant works well to block muscle spasms and pain especially in your back and it will not make you high because it does not go systemic so I would question why you wouldn't want any THC in your salve If it makes it more effective. You do need a recommendation for the CBD with the THC.\nYou can also purchase a vapor pen with high CBD and very low THC ratio that will not make you high but it will help you get out of pain. If you are sensitive to the THC then keep the THC level very low. You may also try THCA, or juicing green buds.\nIt is nice to live life pain-free. Often the missed connection between back pain and freedom from back pain is a deficiency of vitamin D. Ideally your blood level of vitamin D3 should be above 55 ng/ML for optimal pain relief. If you are brown skinned, over 50 years old, take proton pump inhibitors or have any gastric absorption problems, You are likely vitamin D3 deficient and your doctor should measure your levels and You should consider supplementing rather than ruining your skin trying to get enough vitamin D from the sun.\n\ndrolson\n_____________________\nHonestly what people have been saying about the entourage effect with cannabis is true.  Cannabinoids in themselves heightens the effectiveness of other medicines.  But to truly answer this question one has to know a bit about the sources of your pain, insomnia and anxiety, as these are dual symptoms that could come from physical accidents or mental depression.  The cure will be found in targeting the cause of the discomfort.  Generally with these symptoms a combination of talk therapy and medicine is most effective.  I would recommend a medicinal bar that I have actually created, it will give you a light buzz but as long as you stay in the recommended dose it will not get you very high.  Less than a Xanax or Wellbutrin.  Remember that cannabinoids increase the effectiveness of the mind's ability to make use of other medicine, so sometimes the best way to use cannabis compounds is to take them with a significantly lower dose of whatever else you used to take for this problem before.  I can assume you were medicating the pain before you moved to cannabis?  In case you don't find my product, the active ingredients are full indica flower and ashwagandha root. it is further supplemented with Gingko Bilbao, ginseng (and others in my energy bar) or in my anxiety bar there is also Kava.  These combinations I have found work the very best for pain, insomnia and anxiety.  My bar is called the e420 bar and my company is Whole Soul Holistic.\n\ne420bar\n_____________________\nEveryone's situation and CBD preferences are different. \n\nSince you prefer vaping, you might wish to try something stronger, Respira offers a 600mg option in a really popular grape-mint flavor: https://elixinol.com/product/cbd-vape-oil-600mg-respira-grape-mint/\n\nIf you're still not getting the results you want after you try it, feel free to reach to Dr. Philip Blair through our website, he can work with you to make serving size recommendations specific to your situation.\n\nelixinol\n_____________________\nIf cost is an issue, might I offer a very easy recipe for an infused oil/ topical with cannabis?  It should be much cheaper than purchasing one and in my experience, pt's who make their own topicals seem to get more pain relief (perhaps love is the secret ingredient?).  This recipe is very easy and all it requires is a slow cooker/ crock pot,  1 cup coconut oil (you can buy in bulk @ Costco),  15-17 grams of plant material (shake, flowers).  You combine all three for 6-8 hrs at 250 degrees. Apply to the back, combine w/ use of heat pack.  Don't forget to do myofascial release daily (I teach pts to do self massage using tennis/ racquet balls against a wall to provide pressure to localized myofascial points.  Don't forget to ask health insurance if they cover basic PT sessions or provide accupuncture sessions like Kaiser and other plans.  I hope this helps out!\n\ndrpark","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10837-markdown","title":"I need pain relief for nerve damage but do not want to get stoned. Is Canna-Tsu a good strain for me?","slug":"i-need-pain-relief-for-nerve-damage-but-do-not-want-to-get-stoned-is-canna-tsu-a-good-strain-for-me","content":"\"I am curious why someone chooses Canna-Tsu over another strain and if will help with chronic pain. I am trying to get off pain meds and would like to find something where I can function but also find relief.\"\n_____________________\nCanna-Tsu is a hybrid that is considered \"CBD-rich\". Recent lab profiles show about a 5:4 ratio of CBD to THC in this strain. With this ratio you would expect to receive the anti-inflammatory, pain relief and anti-spasmodic benefits of both the THC and CBD without much cognitive disturbance. \nHowever, if you are new to cannabis you may still \"feel\" a mental sensation as the medication takes effect. It is doubtful you would experience any \"psycho-stimulatory\" effects at this ratio.\n\ndrgerhart\n_____________________\nCanna-Tsu has a high-CBD, low-THC cannabinoid profile which gives it a relaxing, mellow body effect while maintaining mental clarity. A high-CBD strain will have a lot of the medicinal benefits you are looking for - anti-inflammatory, pain relief - while being very mildly psychoactive. Someone would choose this if they want the medicinal benefits, but don't want to feel high. You may also find relief by looking into high-CBD tinctures and edibles.\n\nandrea13","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10826-markdown","title":"I have a lot of chronic pain and have had multiple back surgeries. Is OG Kush a good strain for me? ","slug":"i-have-a-lot-of-chronic-pain-and-have-had-multiple-back-surgeries-is-og-kush-a-good-strain-for-me","content":"\"I am not new to smoking but used to grow my own. I’m trying to find the right bud for my pain now and would like some input on this strain. \"\n_____________________\nIt is difficult to recommend specific strains as each person has a very individual reaction to each strain. Additionally, if you used concentrates or edibles of a specific strain the reaction may be different as well. \n\nOG Kush is a very popular strain that grows well in Southern California. It is considered a Hybrid, but its exact genetics are poorly described. Current lab profiles show a high THC content between 20-25% and a very low CBD content (less than 1%). It has several terpenes that exceed the CBD content and are pain relieving  (Linalool and Myrcene). Myrcene also sedates and reliefs muscle spasms.\n\nIt would be a reasonable choice for back pain relief. Note the concentration of THC and start with lower doses if you are new to cannabis.\n\ndrgerhart\n_____________________\nOG Kush is a high THC strain known to produce strong euphoric feelings. People report that the high comes on quickly and in a strong way. Some say it's like a burst of energy, other say it's like a wave calm. It's a predominantly indica strain, which should give you more of a body high and therefore should ease physical pain. However, it's likely best for night time or any time that you don't have much to do as many report it being a strong strain that makes them want to relax after smoking. It may also alleviate physical pain while you're falling asleep and help produce a restful slumber.\n\nandrea13\n_____________________\nMy approach to treating a condition such as yours is to separate out the acute pain your feel vs. the chronic condition (inflammation, chronic pain, and whatever direct issues triggered the surgeries). \n\nSmoking or vaping is good for immediate (acute) pain relief. The bio-availability is approx. 4-6 hours and you will hopefully feel some relief. You are getting about 3-5 mg. of THC via the mode of administration.  In my experience, you also should be on a tincture ( If you are smoking a lot then make it a high CBD) or edible product as well. The bio availability is longer and can work overtime and you are also consuming other cannabinoids (Delta 11 THC and, as mentioned, CBD). The edible, because it lasts longer, will also help you sleep better, allowing you to heal (I'm assuming your sleep is also disrupted because of the pain. \n\nTopicals can also work when applied directly to the injured area and don't have a psycho active effect. \n\nAlso, remember that a number of the effects of, say, OG Kush, come from the terpenes that are present (OG Kush has a high myrcene level, for example) in the bud. Best of luck and let us know if this information helps.\n\ndneice\n_____________________\nOG Kush is a great strain and there are some great answers here. I do not have much to add, but your back pain could also be helped by introducing a CBD strain, like ACDC, into the mix. A lot of back pain can be caused by inflammation, which will be helped by the CBD in the ACDC. I know a lot of users feel they need to inhale/ingest their cannabis, but do not discount topicals for your back!\n\nryan","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10824-markdown","title":"Product and dosage suggestions for high tolerance?","slug":"product-and-dosage-suggestions-for-high-tolerance","content":"\"I went to a dispensary over the weekend and got two vapes. One was 110mg (I believe) of CBD for my lower back pain and the other was a little stronger at 250 mg. The guy explained to me that it would help me with all of my symptoms (chronic lower back pain, insomnia, and anxiety). But after spending almost $100 on those, they aren't touching me at all. Now while I understand that I have to try different things to find out what works best for me, I also can't afford to keep \"testing\" products out. I don't have much money so I'm hoping i can find something within the first couple tries. Also, maybe I should have mentioned this to the dispensary, but my tolerance to meds in general is very high. I can take 1600 mg of Advil for my back pain before I start to feel the pain relief. So I'm starting to think now that maybe I have to apply that tolerance to marijuana as well? The guy at the dispensary was pretty adamant that I would notice a difference with the vape and that I would be able to sleep better, but honestly, it's not touching me. Any thoughts or recommendations on what I should do?\"\n_____________________\nTolerance is effected by many factors, including individual metabolism and frequency and duration of use. Rather than increasing your dose over time as your tolerance builds, it may be better to lower your tolerance by decreasing the dose and frequency of use.  Similarly, some patients take a \"drug holiday\" for several days or weeks to cleanse themselves of cannabis and \"reset\" their endocannabinoid receptors. \n\nEdibles, because they are longer acting, have to be taken less frequency than inhaled medicine and maintain cannabinoid levels at a more constant levels. This may help prevent the development of tolerance as compared to frequent, high-dose spikes of vaporized cannabis.\n\ndredmunds\n_____________________\nFor long term users, I advise patients to abstain from cannabis use for 48 hours then to resume at about 1/3 the dose they were using and titrate up to the effective dose. It sounds as if your case may be a little different.  I would recommend trying a tincture sublingually. You lose quite a bit of medicine to the atmosphere with inhalation and as Dr Edmunds stated, the effects are short lived. True edibles (cookies, etc) lose quite a bit of medicine to the digestive process and renders the cannabis to be more psychoactive. With tinctures (chocolates and lozenges act more like tincture in that they melt and stay in your mouth longer), the medicine is absorbed through the small capillaries in the oromucosa of the mouth and very little is \"lost\".  The drops are placed under the tongue and should be held there for 60 -90 secs before swallowing. It takes about 20 mins to observe the effects. So you have to titrate your dose by adding a drop or two every 20 mins or so until your pain is relieved - then add up the number of drops you've used and that's your dose for the next time. When used properly, the effect of tinctures can last 5-6 hrs. I would also suggest using a variety that has both THC and CBD. While they are individually good pain relievers, together they synergize each other's pain relieving effects. The CBD will mitigate the psychoactivity of THC. Also... acetaminophen potentiates the pain relieving effects of THC so try taking a dose at the same time you use the cannabis. A 1:1 THC:CBD strains that is particularly good for pain and very mentally relaxing is MediHaze. If too much psychoactivity, try a strain with a 1:2 ratio.\n\ndrfrye\n_____________________\nI'm sorry to hear that you're having a tough time with your back; is the pain causing your insomnia? \n\nHere's the thing; not all pain patients respond to CBD alone. You may need to have a more balanced product with some THC included to get a good response. I've worked with many, many pain patients who only get partial relief from CBD. Patients tend not to need much THC to get a lot of relief; even at lower doses it can make a big difference. I've found that small amounts of THC are especially helpful for nerve pain, so if you have sciatica or shooting pains down your legs, it's certainly worth trying.\n\nIt's important to remember to avoid Sativa sources of THC since it can make anxiety worse.\n\nIf THC during the day isn't an option, you may get relief from a topical. Topicals will not make you feel high, but they work very well for pain. Two of the best that I've tried are made by Daddy Bones, as well as Salvation made by a collective in California called WAMM.\n\nAnother possibility is that even though that vape has 250mg of CBD in it, how much are you getting with each puff? Are you absorbing it efficiently? It could be that the dose you are getting is too small to help you. Also, vaped cannabis usually provides relief for a few hours at a time; you might want to look into capsules or tinctures for longer lasting relief. \n\nThe Capsule Cooperative carries a variety of CBD capsules, but we also offer a 1:1 CBD/THC capsule that's great for pain. Try a week of 10/10 or 20/20 at night, and a 20mg CBD capsule during the day; you might find that upping your CBD dosage and including some THC works a lot better than vaping.\n\nI hear that high doses of NSAIDS aren't touching your pain, but tolerance there doesn't necessarily mean that you have a tolerance to cannabis. CBD works on similar pathways, but there's still enough of a difference that Motrin tolerance shouldn't translate over to CBD tolerance. When you find the right kind of cannabis, you may be pleasantly surprised by how little cannabis you need to make a big difference in your pain.\n\nartemiscrow\n_____________________\nI think the ideas from Dr.'s Frye and Edmunds are excellent as are the thoughts from @artemiscrow.   Since you've already purchased the 2 CBD vape cartridges, I might suggest that you keep both of them and when you've been able to save enough, buy a cartridge that predominantly THC (in low or medium dose) or tincture that is mainly THC.  To take advantage of the en\\tourage effect seen w/ co-administration of diff. cannabinoid combos like CBD and THC together, I would then suggest taking a puff of either CBD vaporizer and within minutes also administer a small dose of THC via vape or tincture so you effectively combine the effect of these two different cannabinoids.  \"Drug Holidays\"/ short term abstaining from med cann is also a good idea periodically imho.  I hope this helps!\n\ndrpark","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10798-markdown","title":"My mom wants to get of of the opioid meds, but she doesn't wan't to replace it with THC","slug":"my-mom-wants-to-get-of-of-the-opioid-meds-but-she-doesnt-want-to-replace-it-with-thc","content":"\"My mom had chronic pain due to nerve damage. She currently uses CBD and is working to stop using opioids. It's not going as well as we hoped it would, but is there something she can use to get off the opioids and not replace it with THC?\"\n_____________________\nActually, in one study, patients were tested and they voted the most effective pain reliever was a \n4:1, CBD : THC oral spray. If a nerve is in the process of dying or if it's being restored, it screams because your body can't call you on the telephone, it has to communicate internally. \nWhat happened to the nerve?\nWhen I started taking super high CBD, low THC tincture regularly, twice daily, I had a nerve reawakening after 30 years of hypersensitivity on the skin and numbness all around from a nerve being severed, but nothing brought it back until I use CBD. The 28 : 1, CBD to THC is not psychoactive but the THC does augment the function of the CBD cannabis.\nIn order to effectively control pain, the pain cycle must be broken with regular medication use otherwise we actually imprint the nerves to keep firing the pain signal and the pain will not stop even though the body may not be experiencing pain. \nCBD cannabis with low THC appears to be safer then all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.\nMaybe showing your mother the information on our website will be helpful to get her away from opioids and I honor your willingness to help her, be proud of yourself.\n\ndrolson\n_____________________\nI highly recommend your mom go to a medical detox. Getting off of pain killers is not easy on your own. I was on pain killers, of 1 kind or another for 16 years. I tried to stop taking them on my own Many times. I'd always end up in the ER because of it. The only way, @ least for me, was a Medical Detox facility. It was the best thing I'd done for myself (& my family!) in 16 years!\n\njanetp\n_____________________\nHello there, \n\nI hope this finds you well! \n\nI'd like to state i'm not a doctor; I own a delivery service in Marin County, California and I'm proud to say I have helped dozen's of people off opiates and onto cannabis - I think that everyone's body is different and it will take some experimenting on how much / which strains / methods you use of cannabis but yes you will most likely be very successful switching / detoxing from opiates and onto cannabis. \n\nI hope this was helpful! \n- Nurit w/ ONA\n\nnurit\n_____________________\nYes, in my experience. Orally and topically CBD has been helpful for all patients. If it does not remove all of the pain it will make the opioids more effective at lower doses.\n\ndrblair\n_____________________\nHello! We believe that one of the greatest potentials for treatment with cannabis is to help patients who are suffering from opiate addiction. Cannabis can help treat chronic pain as well as helping to alleviate opiate withdrawal symptoms. Even those individuals who are not addicted but who seek to avoid the use of unnecessary opiates can find treatment alternatives with cannabis. For more information and a video on this subject, \nBest of luck!\n\ndrjacquelynlew","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10760-markdown","title":"Can CBD drops help my migraines and chronic pain?","slug":"can-cbd-drops-help-my-migraines-and-chronic-pain","content":"\n_____________________\nThe short answer is yes, and this is one of the most commonly recommended purposes for CBD tinctures! CBD acts on the same endocannabinoid receptors, found throughout the body, as THC; but it seems particularly effective in treating pain and does not have the psychoactive effects of THC. It does have sedative properties but typically patients find that they are highly functional with high CBD / low THC formulations. \n\nMany patients carry an oral tincture and apply the drops or spray under their tongue for approximately ten seconds when symptoms indicating onset of migraine occur; this may blunt the severity of migraine and in the best cases reverse them. The tincture may also be added to food or beverages and ingested for longer acting treatment of pain.\n\ndredmunds\n_____________________\nYes, CBD drops can help you with migraine problem and you can also get relief from chronic pain. CBD is the major non-psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa which has antipsychotic effects and also reduces anxiety. \n\nadmin4356","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10738-markdown","title":"Is marijuana safe for A-Fib?","slug":"is-marijuana-safe-for-a-fib","content":"\"I am 68 years old and have a pace maker. I suffer with infrequent bouts of Atrial Fibrillation. It's managed with medications. I want to try cannabis for chronic pain. Should I be worried about my heart?\"\n_____________________\nShort Answer:\n\nCannabis consumption in a systemic form such as smoking has been associated with heart palpitations and fast heart rhythms. Smoked cannabis should likely be avoided in your case for this reason. Some studies suggest the negative cardiovascular effects of smoked cannabis are related to THC. There has not been enough research on CBD extract products to determine if they are safe for those with atrial fibrillation. There have not been any studies associating localized forms of cannabis with harmful heart rhythms. It is likely safe, from a cardiovascular standpoint, to use topical cannabis infused patches, balms, salves, massage oils, etc. in limited quantities for localized pain control.\n\nYou should discuss your particular case closely with your cardiologist and cannabis-recommending physician before use.\n\nLong Answer:\n\nA growing number of case reports have demonstrated an association between smoked cannabis consumption and adverse cardiacvascular effects. This includes cardiac dysrythmia including atrial fibrillation and increased cardiac work, which can precipitate cardiac chest pain and even heart attacks. Smoked cannabis has also been associated with low blood pressure upon standing which can increase the risk of fainting. These effects are likely mediated by an effect in which THC triggers the sympathetic nervous system in intermittent users. Chronic users appear to develop tolerance to triggering of the sympathetic nervous system; however, they may suffer from microscopic damage to the arteries that supply the heart.\n\nInterestingly, a recent large case-control study from Denmark demonstrated that NSAID type medications (Ibuprofen/Advil and Naproxen/Aleve etc) are also associated with increased incidence of atrial fibrillation. This is in addition to prior literature that shows NSAIDs can aggravate hypertension. A series of two studies published in 2015 additionally show that opiates are likely associated with a higher risk of heart attack and atrial fibrillation. Unfortunately, there is no ideal option for chronic pain control in the setting of atrial fibrillation. \n\nReferences:\nKorantzopoulos P. Atrial fibrillation and Marijuana Smoking. Int J Clin Pract. 2008;62(2):308-313\nJones RT. Cardiovascular system effects of marijuana. J Clin Pharmacol 2002; 42 (11 Suppl.): 58S-63.\nSidney S. Cardiovascular consequences of marijuana use. J Clin Pharmacol 2002; 42 (11 Suppl.): 64S-70.\nRezkalla SH, Sharma P, Kloner RA. Coronary no-flow and ventricular tachycardia associated with habitual marijuana use. Ann Emerg Med 2003; 42: 365-9\n\n\nsankmd\n_____________________\nI like Dr. Sank's response and agree but I wanted to add some information that may be of benefit to you.\nDo you know your blood level of vitamin D? Optimizing your vitamin D level reduces the risk of heart disease as well as many other devastating diseases in the body. You must maintain your 25-OH D, blood level above 50 ng/ML for optimum health benefits including reducing your risk of heart disease, hypertension, auto immune disease, infections, mental health conditions and even cancer. Vitamin D deficiency is rampant in our culture because everyone is working inside, we wear clothes, sunscreen and we shower frequently washing the vitamin D off our skin before we have a chance to absorb it. \nI tested my patients in Hawaii for 10 years and found one patient with a normal vitamin D3 level! \nWhy would Hawaii be so low in vitamin D? Because everyone showers before they leave the beach and most are very brown skin so they block the production of vitamin D.\nAnother substance that has a lot to do with your heart function is your own human growth hormone. I'm not advocating you inject yourself with human growth hormone since it costs about $1000 a month and it takes over control of your ability to make your own human growth hormone but when your level is too low you will experience all the diseases of an aged person including heart disease which you already have.\nNow add to the vitamin D and human growth hormone problems the fact that you are probably hormone deficient at 68 years old. My hormones took a precipitous decline after the age of 60 and I felt like I was dying by the time I was 63 years old but I have fully restored my health by addressing all these issues. I don't know if you are male or female so I can't go into detail about what hormones you should take but when we lose our sex hormones the universe is ready to recycle us. If you're not ready for the recycle bin you may want help with natural hormones and I might be the person to see.\nI came back from the brink of death because I wasn't ready to be recycled and I want you to know that if you are alive, you can likely improve your health tremendously.\nDo not accept the negativity of most Western physicians. Good luck in your journey.\n\n\ndrolson\n_____________________\nYes that is my user name.\n\njamesady","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10728-markdown","title":"I'm a medical patient that dabs with wax. It controls my chronic pain, is it bad for me?","slug":"im-a-medical-patient-that-dabs-with-wax-it-controls-my-chronic-pain-is-it-bad-for-me","content":"\"I read a recent article in the NYT that claimed dabbing is horrible for people. I have used marijuana for years to control my pain and dabbing is by far the most effective. Is there a reason I should be concerned about my health? I do not hallucinate or have psychosis but find it takes away pain immediately.\"\n_____________________\nIt should not be bad for you. It is the extract of the plant, you are basically only consuming thc with no other chemicals. It also depends on the source of the extract. Most of the extracts go through extensive testing to provide patients with the most healthy and effective medicines \n\n506thc\n_____________________\nThe article you read, did it mention that 'smoking' dabs using a combustion method were more harmful than 'smoking' flower/dry herbs using a combustion method. This has some studies that back it up, but it also depends on how much you are consuming. Dabs are much higher in THC levels so you do not need to have as many hits. If you are not already you should be using a vaporizer for dabs instead of a lighter/flame. Here is a portable dabbing vaporizer that many people enjoy using that can be used as an oven packing vaporizer and as a tip heating dab pen - http://vaporsmooth.com/dipper-vape-pen-dip-stick-best-dab-pen/\n\ncanada","image":null}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":120,"numPages":12,"currentPage":11,"id":5112,"name":"Chronic","slug":"chronic","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}