How Patients in Charlotte, North Carolina are Using Medical Marijuana to Get Off Prescription Medications
Modern medicine is a miracle. We are able to cure, treat, and tackle many of the maladies and severe symptoms that would have been impossible ten, twenty, or a hundred years ago. While there are undoubtedly extreme cases when prescription medications are necessary to ease the suffering of a patient, there are also plenty of times when such treatment plans can do more harm than good.
Over 46% of adults between 20 and 59 years of age overused prescription drugs. That number only gets higher the older people get. This isn’t to say these are bad treatments. More that if they are not carefully monitored and dispensed, prescription drugs can lead to serious implications like addiction or harmful side effects. However, there is a much safer, healthier, and easier-to-use solution for patients in Charlotte, North Carolina – medical marijuana.
Is Medical Marijuana a Worthwhile Alternative?
Humans have been using marijuana for over 5,000 years. The active cannabinoids inside medical marijuana (THC and CBD) have been shown to cause a wide range of conditions, from epilepsy to cancer symptoms (nausea, body aches, appetite loss, etc.), tumors, and pain. Even emotional and mental health concerns can be treated through carefully managed medical marijuana plans.
Why is medical marijuana such a great alternative to prescription drugs?
No Side Effects: Unlike most prescription drugs, there are no serious side effects to medical marijuana and CBD products. With prescription drugs, you have to be aware of allergies or harmful side effects that may require additional medication to treat, creating a cycle of use.
Non-Addictive: The substance found inside cannabis plants has minor, if any, chances of being addictive. It is incredibly rare and typically due to a genetic predisposition to addiction. Prescription drugs, on the other hand, have resulted in one of the worst addiction situations our country has ever seen.
More Affordable: Ever heard about the busloads of older Americans traveling to Canada and Mexico for prescription medication? That is because the cost of getting their necessary prescription drugs is astronomically high. Medical marijuana and cannabis products are significantly lower and more available without needing constant consultations or doctor’s visits.
The only real danger of using medical marijuana is when you combine its use with prescription drugs. Anytime you “mix medications,” you run the risk of dangerous interactions that can lead to another trip to the hospital. Things like Zoloft for depression, Coumadin for blood thinning, or Ambien to get a better night’s sleep can end up causing unwanted side effects when used alongside medical marijuana.
Charlotte, North Carolina, patients are far better served dropping certain prescription drug treatment plans for a safe, dependable, and easy-to-manage medical marijuana solution.
How are Local Charlotte Patients Using Medical Marijuana?
Now that we’ve established how medical marijuana can benefit Charlotte, North Carolina patients, let’s look a little closer at how it is being used. One of the best features of medical marijuana is you can use it in many form factors. You are restricted to a composite pill like at a pharmacy. Everything from infused pasta sauce to vaping solutions can be leveraged through medical marijuana. Some of the more common forms you’ll find being used in Charlotte include:
- Inhalation: Smoking is the most traditional form of medical marijuana because it allows for the quick absorption of cannabinoids. Vaping is a close alternative as it reduces actual smoke and the majority of risk of secondhand inhalation.
- Orally: Edibles, capsules, and pills are popular with Charlotte, North Carolina patients because they are so easy (and often delicious) to use. You can keep a pack of edible gummies nearby with a low THC percentage for managing chronic pain.
- Tinctures: Liquid cannabis extracts are slowly growing in favor because they are usually felt a little quicker than edibles but do not have the element of smoke or fire-like inhalation.
- Creams & Lotions: For those with chronic pain management on joints, creams and lotions infused with THC and CBD offer relief, especially when directly applied to the affected areas.
There are many other options, like transdermal patches and even suppositories, but the point is you can find practically any form you would like. While medical marijuana is still being considered in the North Carolina House and Senate, the amount of movement and bills being proposed signal we are likely to see legalization soon. Once this happens, you can expect a wide range of products offered by medical professionals similar to the options listed above.
How Does This Relate to Prescription Drugs?
There was a fantastic study of over 2,800 patients using prescription drugs and how they could leverage cannabis products as a replacement. The results were that 38.1% of the people in the study reported completely stopping their prescription drugs for medical marijuana, with another 45.9% showing a substantial decrease in drug use. Most importantly, 85.5% of the people in the study reported that the side effects of prescription drugs were much worse compared to the use of cannabis or medical marijuana.
The facts are in and undeniable. Medical marijuana is safer, comes in many easy-to-use forms, is more affordable, and leads to good outcomes for patients in Charlotte, North Carolina. You’ll find most patients in our area seeking medical marijuana treatment to replace prescription drugs for depression, arthritis, and chronic pain.
Around 21% of the total U.S. population has chronic pain. This could be anything from a sports injury in high school to serious side effects of a botched surgery or car accident. When you live with chronic pain or arthritis, you always feel injured. There is little to no relief, and the prescription drugs you use to manage that pain often include side effects that leave you feeling lost in a mental fog, drowsy and needing a nap, or experiencing minor nausea.
The more we embrace Charlotte, North Carolina, medical marijuana as an alternative, the better the quality-of-care patients will receive. The convenience factor and efficacy of treatment have been proven time and time again. Just imagine tossing those nasty prescription drugs in the bin and switching over to a healthier, easier-to-use solution like a gummy or vape pen.
What Should Patients in Charlotte, North Carolina Consider for Medical Marijuana Use?
Over 8.3 million U.S. adults use medical marijuana on a daily basis. We mention this to help with any anxiety you may have if you’ve never used cannabis-related products before. Medical marijuana is incredibly easy to use, but there are a few things you should consider first.
Start by getting a consultation from our team at Charlotte Marijuana Doctor. We have a pre-registration system that is efficient and tailored to your unique symptoms and treatment plan. We can help advise you on how medical marijuana will help with your specific symptoms and what prescription drugs you should stop using as you adopt this new treatment plan.
After you’ve received a consultation, you’ll want to gradually transition to medical marijuana. This is usually slowly reducing the prescription medication dosage or stopping it entirely and allowing your system to remove any traces. Again, our professional team can help advise in this regard.
While you’re using medical marijuana, be sure to keep track of how the cannabinoids are helping with your symptoms. That way, when it comes time for a follow-up, you’ll be able to note any questions you may have to adjust the dosage or form factor.
Ready to Toss Out Your Prescription Drugs?
Patients looking for Charlotte, North Carolina medical marijuana solutions should sign up for pre-registration with our team today. Once this treatment becomes fully available and legal, it is going to revolutionize everything from helping with PTSD suffering in military veterans to pain management of the elderly.
As you transition, be sure to dispose of your prescription drugs safely so they cannot be abused by anyone else. You may also wish to scratch out any identifying information on the bottles to protect your privacy.
With so many reported deaths and addictions from prescription drugs, we at Charlotte Marijuana Doctor are proud to lead a healthier, more convenient, and safer to use alternative. Sign up today, and let’s get started on your medical marijuana journey!
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