Did you know that the use of medical cannabis for chronic pain, including migraines, is gaining recognition in the UK? The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines on the use of cannabis-based products for medicinal use, and medical cannabis has been legal for prescription by certain doctors since 2018.
Medical cannabis contains compounds such as THC and CBD, which are gaining recognition for their efficacy in managing migraines. By interacting with our body’s endocannabinoid system, these components alleviate symptoms such as migraines, pain, anxiety, and depression.1
Key Takeaways
- Cannabis contains THC and CBD, which may help alleviate migraine symptoms.
- Medical cannabis use can reduce the duration and frequency of migraines and headaches.
- The legal status of cannabis in the UK allows for its use under strict regulations.
- Medical cannabis is legally recognised for chronic pain management in the UK.
- Anecdotal evidence suggests potential benefits for migraine treatment.
Understanding Migraines and Their Impact
Migraines are more than just headaches. They are a specific type of pain condition characterised by intense throbbing head pain, often occurring on one side of the head. In addition to pain, migraines can cause nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes even smell. These symptoms can significantly impact daily life, making it difficult to carry out routine tasks.
Proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing migraines. If left untreated, migraines can lead to significant disruptions in work and personal life, resulting in missed days and reduced productivity. Traditional treatments include a range of medications, but they don’t always work for everyone and can have unwanted side effects.
Increasingly, people are exploring natural remedies for migraine relief, partly due to the side effects associated with conventional medications. Medical cannabis, which contains both THC and CBD, has gained attention for its potential to alleviate migraine pain. Studies have shown that cannabis can help manage chronic pain and reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines.
Patients using medical cannabis for migraines report needing fewer traditional pain medications and experiencing improved sleep quality. Inhaled cannabis has been found to reduce headache intensity by nearly half and decrease the frequency of migraines by about 50%. These benefits appear to vary between men and women, with women experiencing greater relief from migraines and men finding more relief from headaches1.
What is Medical Cannabis?
Medical cannabis refers to the use of the Cannabis plant for therapeutic purposes. It includes compounds like THC and CBD that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating pain, nausea, and other bodily functions.
Cannabis has been used to treat headaches and migraines for centuries, suggesting it may be a powerful alternative medicine for chronic conditions. The endocannabinoid system is integral to how our bodies perceive pain, and cannabinoids like THC and CBD can influence this system to reduce pain and inflammation.
Studies support the use of medical cannabis for treating chronic migraines. Reviews have found that it can reduce the intensity and frequency of migraines. Research has also shown that medical cannabis can decrease the number of migraine days within just 30 days of use, offering hope to those who suffer from chronic migraines.
Regulations around medical cannabis vary widely. In the UK, it is legally prescribed for medical use by specialists for conditions such as chronic pain, including migraines. This indicates growing acceptance of cannabis as a therapeutic option2–3.
The Science Behind Medical Cannabis for Chronic Migraines
Medical cannabis helps alleviate chronic migraines by interacting with the brain and body through the endocannabinoid system, which includes CB1 and CB2 receptors. Cannabis contains over 400 compounds, such as THC and CBD, which help reduce pain and improve pain perception through the brain’s serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways.
Although research is limited due to regulatory constraints, existing studies suggest that medical cannabis can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. A review of 34 articles found that medical cannabis decreased the severity of migraines by 47.3% and the frequency by nearly 50% when smoked. A 2020 study further supported these findings, showing that patients experienced fewer migraine episodes and needed less medication with the use of medical cannabis.
Patients often report positive effects on their migraines from using medical cannabis. A large survey revealed that over a third of respondents used cannabis for headache relief, with most preferring inhalation methods. However, some patients who consumed cannabis orally reported side effects, indicating the need for more research to assess the safety and efficacy of different administration methods3.
How Medical Cannabis is Used for Migraine Treatment
Medical cannabis offers various forms for patients to use, with inhalation and edibles being the most common. Inhalation provides quick relief, making it a popular choice. Many patients report fewer migraines and improved sleep with medical cannabis. In one study, patients experienced a reduction in migraine frequency from 10.4 to 4.6 per month after using medical marijuana, which was 51% more effective than other treatments in reducing headaches.
Choosing the right dose and method of administration is highly individual and requires careful consideration. Approximately 43.75% of oral cannabis users reported adverse effects, highlighting the importance of medical supervision. Despite these challenges, the results in reducing chronic migraine days are promising, prompting more doctors to consider medical cannabis as a treatment option.
First, a healthcare provider must approve the use of medical cannabis. They help create a specific treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs, which is essential given the varying legalities of cannabis use. Reviews indicate that cannabis can be as effective as conventional medications in reducing migraine frequency.
Reports from patients treated with cannabis often highlight its effectiveness. For more details, check out patient experiences with cannabis therapy. Approximately 11.6% of users reported completely stopping migraines, suggesting that cannabis could be a viable option for some patients3.
Regulations and Legal Considerations in the United Kingdom
In 2018, the United Kingdom legalised medical cannabis for prescription by certain doctors, including for conditions like chronic pain, which encompasses migraines. However, accessing medical cannabis requires stringent regulations and approval from specific doctors. There are no fixed guidelines on when doctors can prescribe cannabis-based products (CBPMs).
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines for using CBPMs, focusing on chronic neuropathic pain in individuals over 16. NHS England also introduced an e-learning course on the medical use of cannabis for healthcare professionals, reflecting a growing understanding of its therapeutic potential.
The British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA) predominantly supports the use of CBD (Epidiolex®) over THC, especially for severe epilepsy in children, due to concerns about the safety and potency of THC-containing products. A Cochrane review in 2020 concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of cannabis products for long-term pain relief, indicating ongoing scrutiny of medical marijuana in the UK5.
Comparing Medical Cannabis to Traditional Migraine Treatments
Traditional migraine treatments include over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription medications designed to reduce pain and prevent migraines. However, frequent use of these medications can lead to medication-overuse headaches and other side effects. In contrast, some studies suggest that medical cannabis may provide comparable or superior relief.
One study found that medical cannabis reduced headache frequency by 42.1% over nearly five months and decreased migraine severity by almost half. Research by Cuttler et al. showed that smoking cannabis reduced headache intensity by 47.3% and migraine severity by 49.6%. These findings suggest that medical marijuana could be as effective, if not more so, than traditional treatments.
Medical cannabis offers an alternative for patients who do not find relief from conventional treatments. Patients reported a significant reduction in monthly migraine days from over 10 to fewer than five with medical cannabis. While it appeared more effective for reducing headaches in men, women reported better management of migraine symptoms.
Regulatory barriers complicate extensive research on medical cannabis. Despite these challenges, over 60% of patients reported fewer migraines with cannabis use, indicating its potential as a viable treatment option. More studies and regulatory changes are needed to fully understand how cannabis can be integrated into migraine treatment6.
Conclusion
Exploring medical cannabis for migraines reveals its potential as an effective treatment option. Studies have demonstrated improvements in headache severity and frequency, particularly in patients with chronic migraines. These results highlight the promise of medical cannabis for chronic migraine sufferers.
However, much remains unknown, especially in the UK, where research is limited by strict regulations. Current knowledge is based on anecdotal evidence, retrospective studies, and surveys. Large-scale, controlled studies are necessary to establish the safety and efficacy of cannabis for migraines.
In the UK, obtaining medical cannabis involves navigating stringent regulations and receiving approval from qualified doctors. Using medical cannabis for migraines should only be considered after thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional and in compliance with all legal requirements.
Moving forward, more research on the effects and benefits of medical cannabis is needed. Such studies could provide stronger evidence supporting the use of medical cannabis for migraines, potentially integrating it into standard treatment protocols for chronic migraine patients.
Have you visited private medical cannabis clinics in the UK? Consider leaving a medical cannabis clinic review at Cannabis Access Clinics to support the community!
Source Links
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8459575/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9845509/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9197380/
- https://practicalneurology.com/articles/2021-may/medical-cannabis-for-migraine-pain
- https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/cannabis-based-products-for-medicinal-use-cbpms/
- https://cannabisaccessclinics.co.uk/migraines-and-medical-cannabis/