Migraines medical cannabis treatment

A migraine feels like an extremely intense headache. Often characterised by a throbbing pain on one side of the head, migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, and it's not entirely clear what causes them, which is why they are so difficult to treat. However, recently in the UK, migraine medical cannabis treatments have emerged as a potential and promising option in migraine symptom management, helping to improve pain, nausea, sleep, and anxiety in some individuals.

Am I eligible?

Only 10%

of the 4,210 UK-based adults we knew surveyed knew migraines are eligible for medical cannabis treatments

CBPMs

could be more effective in treating migraines than non-cannabis options, suggests limited inital study

76%

of migraine sufferers support the use of medical cannabis migraine treatments shows US survey

Over 2/3

of UK adults would consider medical cannabis treatments shows our representative research

“The Releaf+ subscription simplifies the entire process of my medical cannabis treatment.“

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Nigel, Releaf Patient

October 2023

Am I eligible?

Articles on Migraines

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12. 07. 2023

Cannabis for migraines treatment

Migraines are a common neurological condition that is characterised by a severe headache (often on one side), sensitivity to light or sound, and fatigue. Over 6 million people in the UK suffer from migraines. There are over 190,000 migraine attacks per day in the UK, so imagine how much disruption to home and work life this health issue causes. More women than men develop this complex neurological condition. 

12. 07. 2023

Exploring the benefits of cannabis for cluster headaches

The incidence of cluster headaches in the UK, and in the world generally, is quite low. Roughly 27,000 people in the UK suffer from cluster headaches, with a majority experiencing episodic cluster headaches. Looking past the incidence, cluster headaches can be intimidating and traumatic for anyone.  

Symptoms

Eyes become sensitive to light

Fatigue

Increased pain when concentrating or engaging in physical activity

Loss of appetite

Moderate to severe throbbing/pulsing pain

Nausea or vomiting

Sensitivity to noise

If you are displaying these symptoms, you may be suffering with migraines. Please speak with your GP to find out more.

Treatment options:

Typically, people treat migraines at home, by resting in a dark room or drinking plenty of water, or with over the counter treatments like ibuprofen and paracetamol. But, if a person frequently experiences debilitating or long-lasting migraines, they typically seek professional medical advice. They may be prescribed painkillers or anti-sickness medicines to treat their migraine symptoms, or medications designed to prevent the likelihood of migraine occurrence.

Amitriptyline

Anti-sickness medications

Beta blocking drugs

Topirmate

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Triptans

Find out if you may be eligible for medical cannabis migraine treatments here
Am I eligible?

A word from our specialist

"Many conditions that lead to chronic pain often respond poorly to conventional pharmaceutical medications. More and more is being understood about how the endocannabinoid system interacts with the more well known pain pathways to work synergistically with these conventional medications. Chronic pain comes with a variety of associated symptoms such as poor sleep, fatigue, brain fog and reduced appetite – all of which treatment with medical cannabis can improve."
Dr David Tang

Clinic Director

Can medical cannabis help with migraines?

Although the exact cause is unknown, there are known ‘triggers’ for migraine onset including stress, fatigue, too much caffeine, menstrual cycles starting, or skipping meals or not eating regularly. 

Because these triggers are known, there are preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of migraine onset, however, these don’t tend to offer relief whilst a migraine is occurring. 

In addition to this, unfortunately, those who experience migraines commonly, typically build up a resistance to conventional painkillers and pharmaceutical analgesics because of their regular use. 

But, recently in the UK, medical cannabis migraine treatments have proved increasingly popular because of their beneficial effect on pain, sleep, nausea, and anxiety - all of which are symptoms associated with, or exacerbated by, migraines. 

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