Prescribe Pot for Glaucoma?
Every so often somebody asks me about marijuana. No, they don't want to sell me some weed, rather, they want to know if I can prescribe them some!
The practice of ophthalmology and controlled substances go way back. Did you know that the first legitimate medical use of cocaine occurred in 1885? Cocaine drops were administered for local anesthesia during eye surgery. Eye specialists also used topical cocaine eyedrops to establish (or refute) the diagnosis of Horner's Syndrome - an interruption of sympathetic nerve fibers to the eye.
Many glaucoma medications work by reducing the production of eye fluid (aqueous) and/or accelerating its drainage from the eye. For over a decade researchers have known that the active ingredient in marijuana (tetrahydrocannabinol-THC) can lead to a pressure reduction in the eye.
So, dude, should all glaucoma patients start lightin' up?
Scientists want to create chemical analogs, drugs that simulate THC's chemical activity without the psychoactive high. Best data to date shows that THC will reduce the intraocular pressure, but not as much (nor as consistently) as other proven medications. Volunteer patients using topical THC eyedrops do not get high, horny, or hungry.
There already exist many more consistently effective eyedrops that are proven to lower pressure and reduce the risk of glaucoma damage. Given that doctors want to offer their patients the best treatment, there is no moral justification to prescribe an inferior drug.
Related Topics: Supreme Court Rules Against Medicinal Marijuana, Glaucoma
Technorati Tags: medicinalmarijuana, glaucoma
The practice of ophthalmology and controlled substances go way back. Did you know that the first legitimate medical use of cocaine occurred in 1885? Cocaine drops were administered for local anesthesia during eye surgery. Eye specialists also used topical cocaine eyedrops to establish (or refute) the diagnosis of Horner's Syndrome - an interruption of sympathetic nerve fibers to the eye.
Many glaucoma medications work by reducing the production of eye fluid (aqueous) and/or accelerating its drainage from the eye. For over a decade researchers have known that the active ingredient in marijuana (tetrahydrocannabinol-THC) can lead to a pressure reduction in the eye.
So, dude, should all glaucoma patients start lightin' up?
Scientists want to create chemical analogs, drugs that simulate THC's chemical activity without the psychoactive high. Best data to date shows that THC will reduce the intraocular pressure, but not as much (nor as consistently) as other proven medications. Volunteer patients using topical THC eyedrops do not get high, horny, or hungry.
There already exist many more consistently effective eyedrops that are proven to lower pressure and reduce the risk of glaucoma damage. Given that doctors want to offer their patients the best treatment, there is no moral justification to prescribe an inferior drug.
Related Topics: Supreme Court Rules Against Medicinal Marijuana, Glaucoma
Technorati Tags: medicinalmarijuana, glaucoma
13 Comments:
Is there any reliable information out there about how long a person's eye close when sneezing. This is a driving realted question. I have a person who suffered a bout of sneezing (2 to 3 in a row) during which time her vision was impaired. I am reconstructing the event, but cannot find any good source to tell me how long the eyes could be affected???
Though there may be alternatives to cannabis for Glaucoma recovery, one issue that may exist is the cost of said alternatives. Sure cannabis may have side effects, but overall it's fairly easy to obtain, and because it's grown by the user, it can be fairly cheap to produce.
-ANGrem - Medical Forums
Since the nature of the alternatives to cannabis treatments for glaucoma is not mentioned, I can only assume that they are synthetic medications. In this age of the revival of herbal medicines, why not give marijuana a chance? It's been used for centuries as a healing agent. Eleven states recognize it as such and 78 percent of the U.S. population agrees that it should be allowed. One should always remember--even though it is a sacred herb, it should be used wisely.
I read on yor site that there are better medicines than cannabis for glaucoma. Someone should tell that to betopic, timoptic, pilopine gel, and xalatan, all medicines that only worked when I used cannabis.When I did not use cannabis they only led to laser surgery. After 26 years of glaucoma, I think I know from experience what works best. Is the above medicine safe???? Have people died from using the above medicine??????? I know that cannabis is non toxic. In other words no one has died from using cannabis. Yea, Yea any smoke is not safe, yet for years tobacco companies made billions from selling cigarettes. My opthamologist and I know what has saved my eyesight and it was not doctor prescribed glaucoma medicine.
Now, after 41 years of diabetes, my kidneys are about gone BUT my eyes are in excellent shape with no damage from glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. My younger brother was not as lucky. He was blind for 19 years before died. His kidneys and eyes stopped working at the same time. he did not use cannabis.
I am curious, did you just read that cannabis was not good medicine or have you had actual evidence.
I know doctors are given incentives to push drugs made by
pharmaceutical companies. So who can blame them.
Then I ask you. What do you prescribe? Chemically induced pills created in labs? why has pill popping became so except able in our culture? Why not use the medicine that was created from this earth "for the people" of this earth? instead of creating your own concoctions of chemicals that are harmful to the body when overdosed, and they always seem to have side effects. Marijuana's has its side effects of course, but none of which include death. So i say to you doctor. OPEN YOUR EYES AND DON'T JUDGE THE PLANT BEFORE YOU TRY IT.
One year ago they found glaucoma in both eyes from an injruy at work . I did NOT want to go blind so my Wife and I kept looking online ,to see what lowers the IOP of the eyes . And let me say that I'm able to type this under the effects of THC and when i dont my vision is poor as like everything is far away and the pain. Its a relief to know that such thing exist on our plant for those who have sight problems. So consider this IF YOU HAVE GLAUCOMA, USE IT WISELY AND FOR A PURPOSE enjoy the purpose of seeing and enjoy what there is to offer,DOC, Peace
I was diagnosed with glacoma at the age of 5. I have had shunts implanted, two in the right eye and one in the left. I have had 4 different type of laser surgery and I am only 24. i have lost all of my perrifferal vision and things do not seem to be getting better. So what do i do? take part in an illegal action and perserve my sight or continue to take bata blockers that make my eyes burn and don't work effectly because of the tollerance my body has built up. I don't want to loose my sight but i don't want to loose my family behind trying to keep my sight.
So what option do i really have??
since the beginning of the 20th century cannabis has been labeled a threat to society and a lethal drug and yet nobody has ever died from the use of cannabis. Over this same span of time millions of people have died from the affects of alcohol. why is it socially accepted that drinking is safe and cannabis is not? I think its long over due that we, as a society, take a step back and examine our priorities.
dude...pot is just good, i'm not exactly what you would call an "expert" doctor type guy thing, BUT, when i had my wisdom teeth removed, i participated in the use of cannabis the same day of the surgury. a couple days later i went back to the doctor for a check up on the stitched gums, he told me that he had never seen anyone heal up that fast before....coincidence? i think NOT!
My husband was born with a disease called Spinalcerebellar degeneration (that is what they think it is anyway). His symptoms include rapid eye movements, involuntary muscle movements and twitching of the muscles in his whole body, massive muscle spasms and cramps, extreme pain in his arms and legs,(basically his whole body) nausea, and vomiting. He is in a wheelchair because he cannot keep his balance and walk. We have had him to so many doctors to help control the pain and spasms but no one wants to give him medications for this because in the area where we live the problem with people abusing pain meds is very high, so that makes it hard for the ones who really need it.. WHICH IS SAD AND MAKES ME VERY ANGRY! I am the one who watches him suffer everyday and there is nothing I can do for him. Recently, he was diagnosed with glaucoma and they gave him drops to use every nite. Which I find funny because he smokes cannabis to help with all the other symptoms that he has from the other problems he has, so I don't understand why the pressure was so high in his eyes because he has been smoking for so long but then I think what would it be without smoking. They found the glaucoma early, it was like one visit he didn't have it and then the next visit 6 months later it was there. So, maybe he had it alot longer and the cannabis kept the pressure down to where it could not be detected. My point is cannabis is a great thing for people like my husband, he is a totally different person when he smokes compared to when he doesn't. He is very sick without it, cannabis has truely been a wonder drug for my husband. Don't get me wrong it doesn't make him able to walk again, but he is not suffering from the vomiting every single day of his life and the constant pain and muscle spasms it is wonderful......I just hope one day doctors and the people in my area will understand what it does for people like my husband and they will accept it as medication...
My husband was born with a disease called Spinalcerebellar degeneration (that is what they think it is anyway). His symptoms include rapid eye movements, involuntary muscle movements and twitching of the muscles in his whole body, massive muscle spasms and cramps, extreme pain in his arms and legs,(basically his whole body) nausea, and vomiting. He is in a wheelchair because he cannot keep his balance and walk. We have had him to so many doctors to help control the pain and spasms but no one wants to give him medications for this because in the area where we live the problem with people abusing pain meds is very high, so that makes it hard for the ones who really need it.. WHICH IS SAD AND MAKES ME VERY ANGRY! I am the one who watches him suffer everyday and there is nothing I can do for him. Recently, he was diagnosed with glaucoma and they gave him drops to use every nite. Which I find funny because he smokes cannabis to help with all the other symptoms that he has from the other problems he has, so I don't understand why the pressure was so high in his eyes because he has been smoking for so long but then I think what would it be without smoking. They found the glaucoma early, it was like one visit he didn't have it and then the next visit 6 months later it was there. So, maybe he had it alot longer and the cannabis kept the pressure down to where it could not be detected. My point is cannabis is a great thing for people like my husband, he is a totally different person when he smokes compared to when he doesn't. He is very sick without it, cannabis has truely been a wonder drug for my husband. Don't get me wrong it doesn't make him able to walk again, but he is not suffering from the vomiting every single day of his life and the constant pain and muscle spasms it is wonderful......I just hope one day doctors and the people in my area will understand what it does for people like my husband and they will accept it as medication...
my grandma has diabetes and mild case of gluacoma.She had a lasik surgery on her eyes recently and ,well one got infected and now she is losing sight in her left eye.The doctor told her that it would possibly get real irratated ,so irratated that they would have to remove it and replce it with a glass eye,she started to freak out of course ,just wanted to know if anyone can give me some more info about this heres my email to contact me amyga_19@yahoo.com
Marijuana releives intraoccular pressure - the main symptom of glaucoma. But it also relieves people from the stress of pain.
Thank GOODNESS that the psychoactive high of marijuana helps!
The idea of "getting rid" of the "high" is fine - for those who are NOT living in pain.
For those of us who ARE - we're just fine with our pot.
Thank you very much.
Post a Comment