Over 8 million people in the UK deal with anxiety disorders at any time1. This big number is a serious concern. But, getting medical cannabis for anxiety is not simple in England. The NHS mostly prescribes it for severe epilepsy, to help with nausea from chemotherapy, and for specific muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis2. So, the chance of getting medical cannabis for anxiety is rare. This shows how tight the rules are for prescribing it.
There are different types of medical cannabis. They help with various symptoms. For example, you can get CBD oil easily. It’s sold as a dietary supplement. But, certain cannabis-based products are only given with a doctor’s prescription in the UK. They help a limited number of patients1. Epidyolex is one such medicine. It’s a CBD liquid for very rare types of epilepsy2. There’s also Nabilone. It’s a capsule like THC, helping cancer patients who can’t control their nausea2.
If other treatments don’t work, then medical cannabis may be an option. But, its safety is still being checked. The use of cannabis with THC is closely monitored. We need more tests on its effects and safety2. The NHS warns about some risks. These include getting addicted or developing psychosis from THC products2. As more people show interest, the NHS is careful. It makes sure to protect people’s health. It also watches how mental health treatments with cannabis are changing.
Key Takeaways
- Very few people in England can get medical cannabis on the NHS2.
- It’s mainly given for specific seizure types, chemotherapy nausea, and certain MS symptoms2.
- In the UK, medicines like Epidyolex, Nabilone, and Sativex are examples of what’s prescribed2.
- We still don’t know everything about the safety of cannabis with THC. More studies are needed2.
- It’s crucial to keep an eye on anyone using THC products. This helps to avoid bad effects like addiction or psychosis2.
Understanding Medical Cannabis in the UK
Medical cannabis in the UK covers products like CBD oil and hemp oil. They help with different symptoms. But, not all items sold are of good quality or legal. Knowing about these products’ types and legal status is crucial.
Definition and Types
Medicinal cannabis UK includes specific products like Epidyolex, Nabilone, and Sativex, given under strict rules. Epidyolex treats severe epilepsy without making patients high, mainly because it has no THC2. Nabilone acts like THC and eases nausea from cancer treatments. Sativex is for muscle tightness in MS patients2. There is growing evidence that medical cannabis helps with pain, but more research is needed before it’s widely used2.
Legal Status
The rules about medical cannabis in the UK are very tight. Only a few people in England might get a prescription for it on the NHS. This includes conditions such as severe epilepsy, sickness from cancer treatment, and muscle tightness due to MS2. You can buy some CBD oil over the counter, but how legal and good they are might differ. Having cannabis, even for medical use, is against the law unless a doctor prescribes it2. The government doesn’t plan to make cannabis legal for fun use2.
Conditions Eligible for Medical Cannabis Prescription
In the UK, medical cannabis is only given for severe and uncommon conditions. For example, people with rare types of epilepsy like Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndrome can use Epidyolex. This is a special CBD liquid made for them2. Chemotherapy patients with bad nausea might get Nabilone, a capsule that works like THC to help2.
People with MS who have muscle stiffness and spasms might use Nabiximols (Sativex). It’s a mouth spray made from cannabis that’s meant to help with their symptoms2. It’s not easy to get a prescription for medical cannabis in the UK. Doctors will only give it when other treatments won’t work3. This shows how carefully medical cannabis is used in the UK.
Getting medical cannabis on the NHS in England is very rare2. Buying cannabis products online without a prescription might not be safe. They could have too much THC, which is not good for health2. Using medical cannabis without proper care poses serious risks, like the chance of developing a mental condition or needing it all the time2.
Medical marijuana is becoming more popular for problems like anxiety. But, the rules in the UK are strict. To use medical cannabis for anxiety, there must be proof from research and trials. Right now, having a serious medical condition is the main rule for getting medical cannabis3.
Can You Get Medical Cannabis for Anxiety in the UK?
In England today, getting an NHS prescription for medical cannabis is very rare2. The UK Medical Cannabis Registry keeps track of people with different conditions, such as anxiety. Yet, prescriptions mainly go to those with severe epilepsy, people suffering from nausea due to chemotherapy, and those with muscle stiffness from MS2. This shows how strict the rules are for using cannabis products medicinally.
Current Guidelines
It’s tough to get medical cannabis for anxiety in the UK due to safety concerns about THC. These products could lead to issues like psychosis and dependency. Thus, special severe conditions mostly get these prescriptions2. Doctors stress the importance of more research. It’s to make sure cannabis treatments are not only safe but also work well for anxiety.
Real-World Evidence
Still, real-life stories are starting to show the good of CBD for anxiety in the UK. More than 8 million Brits have an anxiety disorder. Studies are beginning to look into how well cannabis treatments work for them1. The UK Medical Cannabis Registry tells us many patients say they feel less anxious with medical cannabis1. But, it’s vital to have full trials to confirm these benefits. This will help make sure these treatments can be used safely for treating anxiety widely2.
Anxiety Disorders and Current Treatment Options
In the UK, over 8 million people suffer from anxiety disorders. This number shows just how many are affected. Traditionally, treatments have included cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and certain medicines like SSRIs and benzodiazepines. Though CBT has helped some, the medicines can bring problems. They might cause insomnia or make you lose your appetite.4
Common Treatments
Treatment for anxiety in the UK mixes talking therapies with medicine. CBT is often top of the list, helping people spot and deal with negative thinking4. Doctors might also give out drugs like sertraline and diazepam to ease symptoms4. But, these drugs can have irritating side effects, pushing some to look for new solutions.
Limitations of Traditional Medications
Even though current anxiety treatments work, they do have downsides. They could cause irritation, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, and tense muscles4. This has led to more interest in treatments beyond medicine. For example, some in the UK are thinking about using medical cannabis for anxiety5.
Since the UK okayed its use in 2018, medical cannabis for anxiety has been a big topic4. The way the body reacts to stress with cannabinoid receptors might make cannabis oil a good fit for calming anxiety in the UK5. Studies suggest that CBD, one part of cannabis, can drop anxiety levels, especially for social anxiety5. But, we’re still learning how well it works for other anxiety types like GAD and Panic Disorder5.
CBD vs. THC: What’s the Difference?
When we talk about cannabis oil for anxiety in the UK, it’s key to know the difference between CBD and THC. These two come from the same plant but affect you in very different ways.
Effects on Anxiety
CBD (cannabidiol) is praised for its calming benefits, helping people with anxiety without making them feel high. One study with 300 folks found CBD can cut anxiety a lot, especially after 1–2 hours of taking it6. On the flip side, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) can cause a feeling of being high and might lead to problems like psychosis and needing it too much7. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD from hemp with super low THC is now off the list of illegal drugs in the US7.
Safety and Side Effects
The worries about safety lean towards THC. It’s linked to needing it a lot and potential mental problems, especially the stronger types that now make up 12% of the market2. World Health Organization says CBD is generally a safe bet. It’s not habit-forming and tends to cause less trouble, like dry mouth, than THC6. In the UK, special rules keep medical cannabis, like Epidyolex, THC-free, and only for a few specific health issues2.
It’s vital to check the quality and legality of CBD and THC products like oils and edibles. Items with THC could lead to serious problems, making good rules for cannabis use an important issue in the UK2.
How to Get a Prescription for Medical Cannabis in the UK
Getting a cannabis prescription in the UK is not easy. It’s for people who haven’t found relief from usual treatments. Doctors look at each person’s condition carefully. They will consider giving cannabis if someone has severe epilepsy, MS problems, or is very sick from chemotherapy. This special step aims to help those who really need it.
Eligibility Criteria
For a medical cannabis prescription, you must have tried other treatments that didn’t work well. Doctors prescribe it mainly for very few cases. This includes severe epilepsy, sickness from chemotherapy, and muscle issues in MS. For example, Epidyolex helps those with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome2.
Process for Obtaining a Prescription
To get a cannabis prescription, you need to see a specialist doctor at a hospital. The first appointment costs £150 at Mamedica. Follow-ups cost £758. Doctors will try other medicines first. They take a careful and personal approach to this treatment. In England, only 18 people got prescriptions for cannabis between March and June 20208. This shows how careful the system is.
The daily cost for this medication is about £5. But, Mamedica has a way to help reduce costs for some people. Those on low incomes or veterans might pay less8. The detailed steps show how serious the country is about the safe and right use of medical cannabis.
Risks and Side Effects of Medical Cannabis
Using medical cannabis in the UK can lead to various side effects and risks. These need constant checking and regulation. People looking into medical cannabis for issues like anxiety should be aware of these concerns.
Common Side Effects
People may see effects like not feeling hungry, diarrhoea, and changes in how they act when using medical cannabis. A CBD-based drug called Epidiolex can help rare types of epilepsy but may cause diarrhoea2. Also, Nabilone, a drug similar to THC used for sickness from chemotherapy, can affect behaviour2. These signs show why it’s crucial to use medical cannabis with close medical supervision9.
Long-Term Risks
Long-term risks mostly relate to products with THC. These can include issues like possible psychosis and needing it to cope, which are bigger worries than with products that just have CBD, such as Epidiolex. While CBD is considered safe and helpful for children with epilepsy, using THC risks harming the brain’s growth9. NHS doctors can prescribe cannabis medicine but usually for severe cases, with a lot of care to avoid these risks2. Groups like NICE stress the importance of checking patients often to prevent problems with other drugs and to look after the liver9.
Patient Experiences and Outcomes
Lately, people in the UK are looking into cannabis oil for anxiety. Studies from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry show how helpful medical cannabis might be. These studies looked at 302 people who were dealing with anxiety and were given cannabis-based products. They found that some people felt better after just a month of using these products1.
In fact, more than a third saw improvements in their anxiety levels within a month. The best results were seen at the three and six-month marks. This means that for many, the benefits of these products grew over time1.
Data from UK Medical Cannabis Registry
The analysis by the UK Medical Cannabis Registry found something interesting. More than half of the people saw their anxiety scores improve after just one month. This improvement slightly lessened by three and six months, yet many still felt better.
After six months, around half felt their life quality had improved. Also, 35% said their sleep had gotten better1. This shows cannabis oil might really change patients’ lives for the better.
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures
A small number of the patients, about 13%, mentioned some problems. These included things like a dry mouth or feeling tired. Problems like these are important to watch. It’s crucial to make sure the good effects of medical cannabis are more than these issues1.
Across the UK, over 8 million people face anxiety at some point. This shows the real need for good anxiety treatments. Since everyone reacts differently to these treatments, it’s key to keep an eye on how each person is doing. This way, changes can be made when needed.
Conclusion
In the UK, getting medical cannabis for anxiety is hard. This is due to strong rules and few tests. These rules are to keep patients safe when using medical cannabis. There’s some hope from stories and early evidence. But, we need more research to know if it really helps with anxiety.
Over 8 million people in the UK face anxiety at the same time1. Shockingly, fewer than half get the help they need5. There is a bit of good news. A study showed that taking 300-600mg of CBD may reduce anxiety5. However, we still need big tests to confirm cannabis helps with anxiety disorders.
The medical world is still looking into how helpful cannabis might be. Both patients and doctors are eager for updates. Making sure people can get good treatments for anxiety is very important. Further research could make medical cannabis more common for anxiety. We’re moving forward hopefully but carefully.
FAQ
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Source Links
- https://curaleafclinic.com/outcomes-for-generalised-anxiety-disorder-from-the-uk-medical-cannabis-registry/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/medical-cannabis/
- https://myaccessclinics.co.uk/2022/10/what-are-the-requirements-for-a-medical-cannabis-prescription/
- https://curaleafclinic.com/conditions/anxiety/
- https://lyphe.com/medical-cannabis-anxiety/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cbd-more-effective-for-anxiety-than-thc
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325871
- https://mamedica.co.uk/can-i-get-medical-cannabis-on-the-nhs/
- https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/cannabis-based-products-for-medicinal-use-cbpms/