The study of medical and recreational cannabis in the United States, due to the progressive legalization of these uses in various states, provides new evidence for the effectiveness of medical cannabis as a substitute for opioid treatment in the treatment of chronic long-term pain. term. A team from the CUNY (New York) Graduate School of Public Health published their findings in JAMA Network Open, showing that using medical cannabis for more than 30 days can help patients on opioid treatment reduce their use over time. time.
Paracetamol can calm your ailments: reality or placebo effect?
Its “magical” powers will eliminate with a snap of the finger the deadening concert of percussions which resounds in your head.
Any excuse is good to swallow this thick pearly white tablet in one go!
Are there any risks in overusing Paracetamol? 💊
Very (too?) frequently prescribed, paracetamol occupies a place of choice in the therapeutic arsenal. In medicine, "classical" pain treatments are divided into 3 levels. Like a staircase, we go up floor by floor until the pain stops (the 3rd floor corresponds to morphine derivatives - #Bazooka). At the first level we find our beloved paracetamol and anti-inflammatory drugs.
How does it work?
Well, uh, how to say... We've been using it for almost a century, but we don't yet have all the elements to explain its properties in detail. It seems that paracetamol acts within the central nervous system by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins.
This molecule is involved in pain transmission and inflammatory mechanisms. This gives rise to two main effects: an antipyretic (antipyretic) effect and an analgesic (analgesic) effect.
Is there a risk ?
"I read in the brochure that even pregnant women can take paracetamol in case of pain. So it's safe, isn't it?"
Although paracetamol has excellent tolerance compared to other drugs, it still risks causing side effects, sometimes serious, when taken in excess. Degraded by enzymes, a sort of "molecular scissors", paracetamol is transformed into a toxic product (NAPQI) when it passes through the liver .
Under normal circumstances, the latter is eliminated by the body without presenting any danger. However, if one takes too much (estimated at 8 to 10 grams , or an entire box of Doliprano), the body can no longer keep up. The toxic products accumulate and cause the death of liver cells . This can have very serious consequences and sometimes requires a liver transplant.
⚠️ Thus, it is easier to understand the limit of 4 g per day imposed in the brochure and the minimum delay of 4 hours between 2 doses (the time to eliminate the toxic product).
High intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other over-the-counter pain relievers are associated with an increased risk of kidney disease (ibuprofen) and stomach problems (acetylsalicylic acid) . Even pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, if used excessively and in combination with alcohol, can cause liver problems .
Given all of this (combined with the devastation the drug companies have left with their aggressive marketing of opioids),
one wonders why no one jumped on Marilyn Barrett's original cannflavin discovery in the 1980s.
Flavonoids are compounds produced by many plants that influence the color of flowers, among other things. Beneficial for the plant (attract a pollinator, inhibit mold growth, etc.)
In the 1980s, Dr. Marilyn Barrett identified two flavonoids in Cannabis CBD that were previously unknown. She named them " Cannflavin " A and B.
In 2013, Mahmoud ElSohly and colleagues at the University of Mississippi identified a third, Cannflavin C.
Cannflavins are currently being studied for their anti-inflammatory activity,
Barrett's team had found that Cannflavin was 30 times more potent than aspirin in the cell culture test,
This finding was echoed in the synovial cell assay, in which cannabinoids stimulated the production of PGE2 and Cannflavin had an inhibitory effect .
The principle of operation of the endocannabinoid system is to maintain homeostasis . CBD reduces pain activators by promoting homeostasis, which reduces the release of the inflammatory substance.
Medical cannabis to reduce opioids
Studies show that medical cannabis can be used to relieve chronic pain and replace opioids, which can reduce the risk of overdose and illicit drug use. In this study, researchers analyzed data from 8,000 participants to assess the effect of medical cannabis use on opioid use.
The results showed that patients who used medical cannabis for a longer period reduced their opioid consumption by an average of 48%, while those who used medical cannabis for a shorter period reduced their opioid consumption by only 4%.
The researchers concluded that medical cannabis could indeed replace opioids in the treatment of chronic pain. Some patients even reduced their opioid consumption by 50% after 8 months of medical cannabis use.
Strong painkillers ( opioids ) are known to be addictive, with considerable health risks. Two recent studies suggest that its use may be associated with overweight and obesity.
Opioids are powerful painkillers derived from opium: morphine, codeine, oxycodone, tramadol, fentanyl... They can only be purchased with a prescription.
Initially, these drugs were indicated for severe pain, but were gradually prescribed for moderate pain. Beyond the side effects of these drugs (constipation, nausea, drowsiness...), one of the main problems is addiction and the risk of overdoses (voluntary or accidental), which can lead to coma and death.
CBD is becoming very popular due to its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. It is able to relieve certain neuropathological or chronic muscular pains. It can very well replace aspirin or paracetamol. In addition, know that this product is able to relieve certain health problems, such as migraine , diabetes , liver problems, cardiovascular disorders. It is also in great demand among athletes, as it helps them recover well after intense physical exertion.
In short, taking Cannabidiol , a product with many health benefits , is legal in the treatment of psychic disorders, insomnia and pain. The mode of consumption (inhalation, herbal tea, cbd oil ...) varies according to your objective. Note that it is now possible to order CBD online or in a specialized store .
Interesting Study Reveals Patients Prefer CBD Over Drugs
It's no secret that the products of the pharmaceutical industry kill a large number of people around the world every year.
In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that in 2017 alone, more than 115,000 people died from opioid overdoses.
This does not mean that all pharmaceutical drugs are harmful in all cases for every patient. Honestly, some prescription drugs help some people.
However, pharmaceutical companies and the rest of the medical industry greatly encourage the use of pharmaceuticals, which leads to a lot of suffering and unhappiness.
At the same time, the much safer cannabis plant remains banned in most parts of the world.
Patients who switch from pharmaceuticals to cannabis
A team of Dutch researchers recently conducted a study with more than 2,800 medical cannabis patients on the European continent.
The aim of the study was to assess how often patients switch from medical cannabis to prescription drugs.
According to the survey, 56% of participants said they replaced pharmaceutical drugs with medical cannabis.
The most common types of prescriptions that replaced medical cannabis were opioids, antidepressants, and arthritis medications.
Safer medicine
As the researchers' findings show, cannabis is a better medicine than pharmaceuticals, if only because it doesn't have as many side effects.
Side effects in medications can range from rashes to death, and there are many other side effects.
On the other hand, cannabinoids have never, in the history of mankind, caused the death of a person. By all indications, this is a safe and effective drug. As always, talk to your doctor to find out if cannabis is right for you.
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