Medical Marijuana Reduces Migraine Frequency, Study says

People suffering from migraine or severe headache may experience relief after taking medical marijuana, a new research published in the journal Pharmacotherapy showed.

The study indicated results from the 121 patients treated with migraine from January 2010 to September 2014. Scientists from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus concluded that frequencies of migraine significantly decreased from 10.4 to 4.6 times per month.

Senior author and professor Laura Borgelt, the patients’ use of medical marijuana had direct effects on their ability to function and feel better. But like any other drugs, it bears potential risks as well. Of the 121 individuals examined, 103 reported decreased frequency of migraine against three who apparently saw an increased incidence rate.

Notably, at least two-thirds of the sample population had a history or were currently using marijuana at the time of their first clinical visit. Inhaled marijuana is found to be the most preferred form in treating migraine. Majority of the participants said edible cannabis took longer to have its effects.

Cannabinoid receptors are naturally found in the body, and are believed to have anti inflammatory properties. It also affects neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which Bogelt said are culprits to the development of migraine. However, it is not clear in the study how marijuana relieves migraine.

The study is the first to indicate significant positive effects of pot in reducing migraine frequencies. Bogelt’s team emphasized the need for more controlled experiments in the future to determine other effects of medical marijuana in pain-related conditions.

She added that the ideal study would focus on placebo-controlled trials. Participants will be washed out of possible cannabis strain in the body prior to the start of the experiment. Then, the researchers would assign varied doses of cannabis on different groups of participant. However, the study should be given permission from the federal authorities due to restrictions of anti-cannabis laws on several states.

Bogelt added that if patients are considering medical marijuana as alternative medicine, they should consult their primary physician. The researchers intend to communicate with physicians for patients using marijuana as medicine, so they can keep track of the improvements.

Migraines are usually concentrated in the temporal lobe, causing extreme throbbing and pulsating sensation. In more severe cases, it can cause vomiting and high sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine pains can last from a few hours to days depending on the person’s threshold.

To know more about the latest update on this treatment protocol and treating centers offering the same as well as for getting your reports reviewed, post a query