Medical Marijuana and Migraine Headaches
Aug
Medical Marijuana Can Help With Migraines
Migraine headaches can be extremely severe and debilitating. Scientists and doctors are not sure exactly why some people get migraines but it appears that genetics and environmental factors both play a role. About 15% of the population suffer with migraines. They are more common in women. About 80% of people who have migraines have a family member who also has migraines.
Migraines are possibly caused by changes in the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway. Imbalances in brain chemicals also may be the culprit. One of our neurotransmitters, serotonin — which helps regulate pain in the nervous system — also may be involved.
There are a number of factors that can be the starting cause of migraines; these are called triggers. Some well known triggers for migraines are hormonal changes (menstruation, menopause, pregnancy), certain foods (MSG, chocolate, cheese, nuts, alcohol), missing a meal, change in weather, or very commonly, stress.
About 20% of migraine sufferers have an aura (usually a visual disturbance) before the onset of pain. More often there is just the onset of pain which becomes severe and debilitating. Although migraine pain usually appears on one side of the head, 30-40% of migraineurs have them on both sides. One can have nausea, vomiting, light-sensitivity and sound sensitivity. Migraines can last anywhere from 4 hours to 3 days.
Many of the medications currently used for migraine headaches have significant side effects and often do not prevent or relieve all of the symptoms. Marijuana, pot, weed… whatever you wan to call it has been used to treat migraine headaches for many years in the nineteenth century, however due to the political climate and attitude towards marijuana in the twentieth century, it was not researched or promoted as an effective treatment for migraines. Many people who suffer from migraines found on their own that marijuana either prevented or lessened the intolerable pain from this condition. Recent research has shown that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, inhibits the release of serotonin from the blood of migraine sufferers during an acute attack, thereby reducing symptoms of pain.
Although further scientific research is needed, many patients are using medical marijuana safely and effectively to prevent and treat their migraine headaches. Many patients have found that they no longer need prescription medications with adverse side effects in order to treat their migraines. Others have found that there are other benefits, such as just learning how to grow medical marijuana. From that alone patient find improved sleep and feel less stress and anxiety, reduce the frequency of their migraines. Overall, medical marijuana patients who have migraine headaches find that their quality of life is improved with this treatment.
I get frequent migranes. There are times that I have taken the medication prescribed by my doctor and gotten no relief. By then the pain has increased and I am vomiting. Obviously, I cannot drink to take any more medication…..but smoking works. I don’t vomit, and the pain is dulled, and if I’m really lucky it’s gone.
Unfortunately, I live in a state where it is still illegal. With so many people in our country who use and NEED this, why is it still illegal? It’s not new, it’s been tested and re-tested for years. They KNOW the benefits……and side effects. Most of the drugs that the government is giving us now has more side effects than benefits. Why don’t they just admit they were wrong in taking it away, and give it back? I, for one, would not see that as “weakness”, I would see that as “compassion”.
i have been getting migraines for years. sometimes they are to the point where i cant function. the drs have tried me on almost every med. that has been out. a friend told me that she heard that mj helped migraines. i was constantly going to specialists or to the hospital for shots of fenegeran mixed with stadoll which usually resulted in having a boomerang headache the next day, so after about 15 yrs of no relief i called upon a friend to help me out. it relaxed my whole body to the point where i cold actually sleep thru the rest of the phases of the migraine. i was so amazed that i even told my pain specialist about my disvovery. i am not the type of person that takes advantage of it. i only do it mayby once or twice a year thats only if i am out of migraine meds or cant get to hosp to get a shot..my pain specialist drug tests all of his clients every month. so i dont hide anything from him, i just wish we could get cards in ky like ca has that way when i do have to bum some i wouldnt feel like a hardened criminal.maybe one day the drug companys will start listening …