Medical Marijuana: Headaches/Migraines

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A review of The Merck Manual 1999 Edition indicates that the causes of Headaches and/or Migraines are by no means settled and The Manual indicates about thirty possible causes. Possibly, Migraines are the most severe but some will even argue that.

The Manual indicates about twelve different classes of drugs for therapy which should confuse everybody. A few things are certain about Migraines: pain is usually severe, they cause nausea and vomiting, they cause hypersensitivity to light, sound and smell and they usually cause immobility in which case the victims want no more than to rest in a quiet, dark room.

The California Cannabis Doctors appear to be in the forefront in treating Migraines with Cannabis. Whether they were treating on the basis of severe pain or the concurrent nausea and vomiting is not clear because it is beside the point—Cannabis works well for all three conditions and it also affords moderate sedation.

The Manual states that 24 million Americans suffer from Migraines and it is probable that patients found out by themselves that Cannabis gave better relief than any of the other rainbow of medications. Just reading the adverse side effects of these medications is enough to cause a Migraine.

One of the worst features of migraines is that they usually occur quickly without warning or may be preceded by a brief aura. Migraine sufferers sometimes know when a Migraine is starting.

If they are nauseated, oral medicine is usually thrown up. Injections aren't usually available but the adverse effects of most injectable medications make them unsatisfactory. Oral prescription Cannabis (Marinol—THC) probably won't work either as it takes an hour or more to work if it is not vomited and then could cause a panic attack. Who needs that with a Migraine?

Morphine, or more frequently Demerol, injections are used frequently with an antiemetic such as Benadryl. But these are only available by a physician or in an ER.

Cannabis via vaporizer appears to be the best therapy and it is time that physicians figured this out. The new Cannabis preparation, Sativex, which is administered under the tongue, like “nitro” for Angina, could be the answer. It is available in England and Canada, which both are far, far ahead of the U.S. Congress in allowing Cannabis use as good medicine.

Quick treatment of migraines is best by inhaling the medical fumes of Cannabis with a vaporizer. The beneficial action occurs in less than a minute or so.

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Phillip Leveque has spent has life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician and Toxicologist.
Phillip Leveque is a physician, toxicologist and WWII Combat Infantryman. Watch for his video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King.
You can email your questions to the doctor: newsroom@salem-news.com