Schizophrenia and CBD

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Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that influences the brain by creating hallucinations. This chronic condition can create the illusion of voices, sights and other sensory experiences that are not really happening. The symptoms of schizophrenia can make it difficult for the patient to maintain a job or keep a daily routine schedule, causing great debilitation within their everyday life.

What Are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Some of the common signs and symptoms of schizophrenia include:

  • Hallucinations
  • Jumbled thoughts and speech
  • Difficulty completing ordinary activities
  • Delusions
  • Emotional detachment
  • Anxiety

The severity and appearance of the symptoms mentioned above may vary from patient to patient. When left untreated, many complications can result from schizophrenia, including:

  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Self-harm
  • Thoughts or attempts of suicide

Many individuals with schizophrenia may go through periods of worsening symptoms. They may also experience a phase where no symptoms appear at all. However, it’s essential to seek treatment for all cases to keep the side effects of this mental illness under control.

Because the cause of schizophrenia is still unknown, it’s crucial to treat the symptoms that manifest for every patient individually. Patients should develop a treatment plan under the supervision of a trained health professional.

How Schizophrenia Affects the Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system is mostly responsible for keeping the body at homeostasis, a state in which the body can self-regulate and normally respond to both internal and external factors. This system is particularly essential to ensuring the stabilization of pain, inflammation and moods. In patients with schizophrenia, there may be a disruption in the compounds that regulate this system, producing hallucinations and a distorted sense of reality.

Although doctors and scientists have only recently begun to examine the role of the endocannabinoid system in the formation of schizophrenia, it’s important to note a disturbance is recognized within this system.

CB1 receptors are typically found in higher densities, causing an imbalance in neuropathic functioning. Because cannabinoid receptors are essential to controlling cellular functions, neurotransmission and hormonal regulation, any imbalance in these receptors could create unwanted side effects.

How CBD Regulates the Endocannabinoid System of Schizophrenic Patients

Cannabis is one form of medicinal therapy that produces promising results for patients, who experience a decrease in symptoms from their condition. A versatile medicine, marijuana is made up of several cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD). CBD works to activate the endocannabinoid system by stimulating different receptors necessary for normal functioning.

However, pure cannabis can be known to produce a hallucinogenic effect in some patients — which is why it’s crucial to opt for CBD products. In studies examining the effects of marijuana on schizophrenic patients, smoking cannabis was found to aggravate their common symptoms, causing a worsening effect.

Meanwhile, CBD does not produce an excitatory or psychoactive response. This is essential for schizophrenic patients because they may already be experiencing hallucinations without any medication. CBD boasts many of the benefits of conventional cannabis, only without the altered mental effects.

Forms of CBD for Schizophrenic Patients

If you or a loved one are experiencing the unwanted symptoms of schizophrenia, CBD might provide you with the relief you desire. Although people typically associate marijuana with hallucinogenic effects, CBD has many medicinal benefits without eliciting psychological symptoms.

Patients with schizophrenia can use CBD products in a variety of ways, including by:

  • Smoking: Smoking is one of the most common ways to use cannabis, as it produces almost immediate effects. However, one of the downsides of smoking is the potential for throat discomfort or irritation. If you have a history of coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath, consider using another ingestion method.
  • Vaporizers: Vaporizers also deliver rapid-release effects, but they allow the patient to avoid some of the throat discomfort associated with smoking.
  • Ingestibles: Ingestibles are ideal for any patient seeking a prolonged effect. CBD products you can ingest include edibles, capsules, tinctures and more.

The Best CBD Products for Patients With Schizophrenia

If you plan on using medical cannabis to treat your condition, remember to always consult with a trained physician first. Under their guidance, you can successfully develop a plan suited to your unique symptoms. Because marijuana can induce adverse emotional effects for some, it’s crucial that schizophrenic patients meet with their doctor regularly to discuss any issues that arise.

Once you choose a treatment plan, consider selecting from the following CBD varieties crafted to target some of the symptoms caused by schizophrenia:

  • Avidekel (hybrid)
  • Remedy (indica-dominant hybrid)
  • Brainstorm Haze (sativa-dominant hybrid)
  • ACDC (hybrid)
  • Charlotte’s Web (sativa)

For more information on products suited for your condition, be sure to check out our marijuana strains page to find out more about which may work best for your symptoms.

Learn More About CBD and Schizophrenia at MarijuanaDoctors.com

Want to learn more about how CBD can help you find relief from schizophrenia and other conditions? Be sure to check out our resources page and informative blog at MarijuanaDoctors.com! We provide you with the information you need to find the relief you deserve.

Learn More About Schizophrenia

Learn more about Schizophrenia and what makes medical marijuana an effective treatment for Schizophrenia’s symptoms.