Cannabis Dosing

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Cannabis Dosing

There is no scientific definition available for the dosage of medical cannabis for various diseases (indications). Cannabis dosage is very individual and must be adapted to each patient by testing the effect.  Like with other medicines, individual patients will respond differently to medicinal cannabis. Their response depends on numerous factors:

  • Cannabis product used
  • Condition being treated
  • Duration of treatment
  • Administration and genetic predispositions

It is important that the dosage is titrated (built up) slowly, whichever product is used.

It is important to find the right dose for each individual patient in order for them to fully benefit from medicinal cannabis.

Start Low, Go Slow

Low dose – it is better to take several small doses in a day that add up to the required result, than to experiment with one single large dose.

Patience – cannabis may have a different effect on each patient. Wait for the effect (if any) to appear. It’s best to use the same (low) dose for several days, and monitor any effects that may occur.

Increase dose slowly – after a few days the patient can increase the dose, but slowly. Take a few days after each increase to monitor progress.

Track and Monitor – A patient should record the daily intake and dosage to achieve the right dosage and effect. Oleo’s mobile app can be used to track usage, dosage and record side effects.  The app will be available to download in early 2022.  In the mean time a patient should manually track this information so it can be reviewed by your consultant at follow up appointments.

It is important to follow the doctor’s dosage instructions. If you are unsure about the effect or if you experience adverse effects, you should consult your doctor.  In about 1-2 weeks the patient should be able to find their own, personalised dose that gives the greatest medicinal effects with minimum side effects.

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Cannabis Overdosing

Overdose can usually be prevented by preparing a treatment protocol. When using too large doses containing THC, a patient may experience intoxication. This is often described as a mild euphoria or results in sedation and somnolence. As time passes, this changes to feelings of being content and relaxation. Some individuals may experience mild impairment of short-term memory and an increase in heart rate. Other effects are uncontrolled laughter and changes in the awareness of surroundings (colours, sounds).

In some cases, the overdose can be experienced as a distortion of reality, mild anxiety, changes in heart rate and blood pressure. In these cases, most often, it is sufficient for patients to sit or lay down in a calm and comfortable location, preferably with someone familiar to talk to.

Overdosing with very high doses may result in a psychotic state or other psychiatric conditions, particularly in those with a pre-existing genetic vulnerability.

Continue to Medical Cannabis Research to find out more

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