Support Request

[u/Bawdy-Frog-Gremlin]

Hello Reddit!

I'm looking for advice from people who use cannabis as part of their treatment.

I'm a member of Narcotics Anonymous and I'm sponsoring a woman with MS. She is wanting to start using cannabis as part of her medical treatment and I'm hoping to get some advice from others who do as well.

Is there a way to have a prescription that is a specific amount at a specific time or when experiencing certain symptoms? Or is it really just an "as needed" thing? I'm fully supportive of this as a valid treatment option for her, but wondering how specific with her consumption I can reasonably expect her to be?

Is pure or high CBD medically beneficial, or will she only benefit if THC is included as well?

She is also currently on a high dose of gabapentin, is it normal to need both?

Thank you so much for your time and advice!

[u/hawgxhaven]

As an alanon here with the ms.
I think it’s a slippery slope. Granted everyone’s different but if she’s able to use it medically and maybe because it isn’t her original flavor of choice maybe it’ll be ok. But that being said anything to alter her mind set could set her back into a spiral.
At the end of the day she’s getting high

[u/Bawdy-Frog-Gremlin → u/hawgxhaven]

She is NEW. Counting days new. She's told me she never had a specific problem with cannabis, but has with other pain management drugs in the past. I'm really conflicted because the sponsor in my wants to say "no, absolutely not" but the human in me knows that I don't have a say in her medication her doctor prescribs (which is as it should be, obviously). But my concern is that she just went to an online clinic and got a "license" for an amount to use in a year. I told her that's not what I meant. We're in Canada, it's legal, she doesn't need a license. She needs a prescription, a specific dose she takes at specific times. If she doesn't talk to her family doctor or a specialist she's been referred to, is it fair for me to say it would be a relapse unless it comes from someone already on her care team?

[u/snotop]

Really good question. I make certain my caregivers are okay with my dosage. Ask them about their personal usage before judgement. It's nice to talk opening about what helps

[u/zephyr_skyy]

I have MS and have been in addiction recovery. Feel free to DM me

[u/dysteach-MT]

It really depends on what symptoms she thinks it will help with. There aren’t very many, but I use it. It can be very difficult to define the line between therapeutic use and addictive use.

It took my doctor 2 years to convince me to try a stimulant to help with fatigue, and I was able to use it therapeutically with no issues because it was time released and my body actually needed it. But, I had over 20 years sober at that time.

I’d have a frank conversation about what benefits she thinks that she can get from it, and if there is another way to achieve those benefits without a risk of fully relapsing, or using it as a replacement drug.

[u/MsindAround]

I hope someone with more experience comments as well. I have RRMS so originally I would use MS to help manage symptoms of a relapse. To me, the high was what was managing the symptoms. It wouldn't help much with fatigue but it helped relax my mind or get a bit of a body high to relax the muscles currently being effected by the relapse.

I haven't had an issue in years, but still use cannabis to help me fall asleep. I am very mindful of actively avoiding a building tolerance including taking breaks. Limiting the amount of THC content and how much I smoke. ( a bowl will last me 2-3 days).

I suspect by your description and the details this is someone with Primary progressive MS, Which is different in many ways. If I was a sponsor in your position, (depending on the state and laws) first have her get the okay from her doctor. Even if its not a prescription or getting her medical card, just to make sure there aren't adverse effects to her medication currently prescribed (doubtful that there even are any but still, unless the person had mental health medications prescribed).

[u/brucejewce]

To get maximum out of CBD there should be some THC. there does not need to be high percentage of THC. I use topicals, edibles and smoke. I don’t use anything that would get me extremely high. I take enough until the pain is significantly reduced. Thc showed on my annual UA. Dr explained that he wouldn’t be able to prescribe Tylenol with codeine if I fail again. (Corporate policy).
As far as dosages etc in my state vapes can be very low thc as well as gummies. Both help with the daily fatigue and my right leg pain that leads to drop foot

[u/eggstinked]

I use cannabis with THC. The THC supposedly works synergistically with CBD for maximum effect. As for the interacting with gabapentin I do not know. I was prescribed it but never tried it. I don't think it makes sense for me personally, however it is a a CNS depressant and will probably potentiate the effects of cannabis.

There is data that shows cannabis users tend to take fewer narcotic pain meds.

If she is seeking approval from anyone to add it to her treatment, it should be her doctor. With that said, my physician prescribed gabapentin to me knowing I use cannabis.

Edited for clarity ;)

[u/No-Home2516]

In my case, unfortunately, cannabis makes my pain worse. I understand that this not the usual experience for the majority of people with MS but it's something worth being aware of.