All About The Ailments - Hepatitis C
We'd like to welcome you to our newest series called, “All About The Ailments.” We’ve partnered with OhioMedicalMarijuana.com to discuss and spotlight each of the qualifying medical ailments that cannabis has been approved to treat in the state of Ohio.
This week we will be covering Hepatitis C, how cannabis helps treat it, and what patients are saying about how cannabis helps them.
What Is Hepatitis C
“Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus.” It can be contracted in many different ways but one of the most common is from IV usage. Because hepatitis C can remain silent (not causing any symptoms) people can live with it for years without it being detected. This can lead to severe liver damage and even death. It’s stated that more than 3 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C.
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/index.htm
How Does Cannabis Help Hepatitis C
According to OhioMarijuanaCard.com, “treatment for hepatitis C typically involves taking a combination of antiviral medications for anywhere from 24 to 48 weeks. But, these medications oftentimes have unpleasant side effects. For this reason, people living with hepatitis C may seek out a treatment alternative or a way to help manage the side effects of treatment.”
One of the alternative treatments is cannabis. “Cannabis can be an effective tool to help deal with the side effects of hepatitis C treatment. Common side effects of the antiviral medications used to treat hepatitis C include nausea, aches and pains, and poor appetite. Studies show that medical marijuana can help combat all of these symptoms. Specifically, cannabinoids, chemical compounds found within marijuana, are known to help combat nausea caused by pharmaceuticals. Medical marijuana eases the negative side effects of antiviral medications, and thus makes people with hepatitis C more likely to stick to their treatment plan.
In addition to easing the side effects of treatment, cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has anti-inflammatory effects. Research has shown that cannabis can have therapeutic effects for people with chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis.”
What The Patient Has To Say
One patient described their treatment for hepatitis C as one of the hardest things they have ever gone through. They were placed on a drug called MAVYRET which was taken orally once a day for a period of 2 months. She said that the medication made her “nauseated and anxious” but cannabis was able to calm her nerves and make it so she could get through the day.
With that being said, more and more research is coming out about how cannabis can help treat ailments like hepatitis C. Next week we will cover how cannabis helps treat PTSD patients and their symptoms.
Until then, stay informed and be kind.
Sunny Sansone and SassyLunchBox420
To find out more about obtaining your medical card and more info on medicinal cannabis visit our friends at Ohio Marijuana Card.
Have a comment or want to continue the discussion? Visit our facebook, our instagram, our twitter, or our website.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/index.htm
https://www.ohiomarijuanacard.com/hepatitis-c
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://www.ohiocannabis.com/all-about-the-ailments-hepatitis-c/