Medical Marijuana as a Palliative Treatment for Hydrocephalus

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Medical Marijuana as a Palliative Treatment for Hydrocephalus

Beginning palliative care is a difficult process for both patients and their families. Ensuring your loved one is comfortable, however, is your priority, which is why more individuals in the medical community are considering how medical marijuana could work as a palliative treatment for hydrocephalus, as well as other conditions.

What Traditional Treatments Are Available for Palliative Hydrocephalus Care?

The goal of any palliative care plan is to make your loved one comfortable and relieve them of their chronic symptoms, such as cranial pressure, nausea or loss of coordination. As a result, medications used in palliative treatments are often more aggressive.

These treatments for hydrocephalus include:

  • Pain Relief: Because hydrocephalus can cause intense headaches due to the build-up of fluid in the brain, palliative care includes extensive use of pain relievers, including morphine. Many pain medications are delivered subcutaneously.
  • Fluid Release: Shunts are often inserted during surgery to redirect built-up cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Physicians and nurses will continue to manage the redirection of CSF to help alleviate pain and discomfort. Shunts for children are often replaced every few years due to growth.

Many palliative care facilities also offer emotional support for family members. It’s recommended to take advantage of this offering, as it can help you come to terms with the nature of your loved one’s disease and understand how you can support them.

How Medical Marijuana Provides Palliative Care for Hydrocephalus

Because medical marijuana offers relief for multiple conditions and symptoms, including hydrocephalus and chronic pain, it’s become a medicine that more palliative care treatment centers are providing to patients who want to be comfortable, but free from the side effects of aggressive prescription drugs.

As a palliative treatment, medical weed eases the following symptoms:

  • Seizures: Several studies, as well as the story of Charlotte Figi, demonstrate that medical marijuana can treat conditions that produce seizures, such as hydrocephalus. Cannabidiol (CBD), which is one of the primary cannabinoids found in medical cannabis, binds to receptors to reduce the frequency of seizures.
  • Nausea: CBD and another cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are credited with decreasing severe and chronic feelings of nausea. Researchers are unsure why medical marijuana reduces nausea, but believe it’s related to receptors.
  • Pain: Relief from hydrocephalus-related pain comes from THC, with more than 25 different studies confirming the power of medical weed to alleviate discomfort, which hydrocephalus patients may experience due to fluid build-up.

Why Use Medical Marijuana as a Palliative Treatment for Hydrocephalus

Several reasons palliative centers offer medical marijuana for hydrocephalus include:

  • Relieves several symptoms
  • Delivers minimal side effects compared to traditional treatments
  • Provides more benefits than risks for most patients
  • Offers multiple delivery options to meet various health needs

It’s essential that your loved one’s physician weighs the benefits and side effects of medical weed before recommending it as a palliative treatment for hydrocephalus. In most cases, the advantages of medical pot outweigh its side effects, which can include red eyes and hunger.

What Medical Cannabis Strains are Ideal for Palliative Treatment for Hydrocephalus

Medical cannabis strains that are useful in palliative treatments for hydrocephalus include:

  • Erez
  • Alaska
  • Remedy

Your loved one’s treatment center and overseeing physician should be able to determine the best strains for your symptoms.

Learn More About Using Medical Cannabis as Palliative Care for Hydrocephalus

If you’re interested in learning more about medical weed for palliative care, it’s essential to meet with a physician who specializes in palliative treatments and medical cannabis to ensure you or your loved one receives the best care possible.

To find a licensed, compassionate and knowledgeable medical marijuana doctor, browse our verified directory.

Information About Medical Marijuana & Hydrocephalus