Evolving PTSD Treatments Now Look to Cannabis as a Natural Solution
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious condition prevalent in 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women in the U.S. While symptoms are often unique to each individual, U.S. veterans often experience PTSD symptoms as a result of combat, sexual assault, abuse or witnessing death or injury. Clearly, it is not easy to live life while suffering from PTSD, as those diagnosed with the condition often experience intrusions (nightmares), elevated levels of anger, depression, irritability and anxiety.
According to The New York Times, substances that are commonly used to treat PTSD include antidepressants like Zoloft and Paxil, benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax and azapirones (buspirone) to name a few. Although substances like antidepressants and benzodiazepines are successful in alieving symptoms of anxiety, the side effects can sometimes be worse than the original symptoms. Antidepressants can cause low sex drive, increased suicidal behavior and can lead to weight gain over time. Benzodiazepines cause day-time drowsiness, may cause agitation and can cause withdrawals in those who stop taking the substance after only using it for a few weeks. Azapirones on the other hand, take time to work to relieve symptoms of anxiety, leading many to believe that they are ineffective.
Because the medications commonly used to treat PTSD can be harmful and lead to worse symptoms, cannabis has recently picked up attention and is being explored as an alternative treatment for this awful disorder that effects so many Americans. Recently, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approved a study that will test the effects of cannabis on U.S. veterans diagnosed with PTSD. The study is sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelics (MAPS) and will study the effects of the actual plant, not synthetic cannabinoids. This study will focus on a group of 76 veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD who will imbibe in various consistencies and strains, according to Military Times.
“Because the medications commonly used to treat PTSD can be harmful and lead to worse symptoms, cannabis has recently picked up attention and is being explored as an alternative treatment for this awful disorder that effects so many Americans.”
As the government is becoming more accepting of the potential benefits of medical cannabis for those suffering with PTSD, information is being compiled by those who truly support cannabis as medicine. A prime example is Care by Design, a California-based medical cannabis company that specializes in CBD-rich products. Recently, Care by Design surveyed over 300 individuals diagnosed with PTSD. The survey revealed that, on average, PTSD patients were being prescribed up to five prescriptions, which had little to no effect on their symptoms. The most common prescription amongst participants were antidepressants, which proved ineffective as only 18 percent of participants said they saw an improvement with antidepressants. Going up against other medications used to treat PTSD, medical cannabis reigned supreme. Compared to medications for five common symptoms of PTSD including insomnia, anxiety and depression, more than half of those who participated in the survey found relief from all five symptoms with some stating they saw no difference and very few stating that their symptoms worsened when using the plant.
Care by Design states that their cannabis therapy may help mitigate the hallmark symptoms of PTSD, including impaired fear extinction, poor memory consolidation and chronic anxiety. Most people avoid using cannabis as a medicine in fear of experiencing its psychoactive effects but not many know that CBD is a non-psychoactive alternative to high THC medicines. In the Care by Design survey, 80 percent of participants shared that they used CBD-rich products, which in turn revealed that over half of the participants consumed less alcohol while medicating with high CBD products. This new finding suggest that cannabis is not a gateway drug as previously perceived.
As studies continue to evolve, cannabis will eventually become the new and only alternative to helping those diagnosed with PTSD find peace. It is clear that conventional pharmaceuticals cause more harm than good as the side effects often worsen a person’s well-being. For those in fear of feeling the psychoactive effects of cannabis remember, that products like those offered by Care by Design are a convenient alternative as they are high in CBD not in THC, and won’t get you “stoned.” Cannabis also comes in many other forms at many levels of potency and you can get an individually unique recommendation from a doctor to help you with your symptoms.
