What are the FDA-Approved cannabis medications (Epidiolex, Marinol, Sativex)
Cannabis has been utilized as an agent of therapeutic importance for centuries but up until recently, the modern world has been deprived of these amazing medicinal qualities of cannabis because of the inhibitions and restrictions of the law. But finally, thanks to the endless works of pioneers, experts, lovers of cannabis and forward-thinking lawmakers, the cannabis world saw a ban of over a hundred years lifted and since then the industry hasn't slowed down, scaling new heights and breaking barriers with every passing year. With the successful results endless works of research have been yielding over the past couple of years the world has come to see the value and importance of cannabis as a medicinal agent and although the true potential and capabilities of cannabis are yet to be fully unlocked and validated via scientific studies so much has already been shown and proven. Currently, based on these successful works of research certain cannabis-based drugs have been approved for legal sale in the United States. The three drugs currently approved are Epidolex, Marinol, and Sativex. And in this article, I'll run through what these drugs entail, conditions they treat, and so on. Read on to find out more about the drugs pioneering legal cannabis use as a medicine.
A closer look at Sativex
Sativex is one of the FDA approved cannabis-based drugs. It is given as an oral spray dosage form and it contains the cannabinoids CBD and THC as its primary constituents. The major application of the drug is in the management of severe pain, especially pains that result from multiple sclerosis. Currently, Sativex use as a therapeutic agent in the management of pain caused by sclerosis is the major application of the drug approved in the majority of countries where Sativex is legal, including the United States, where it became legal in 2018.
Sativex is produced by the British pharmaceutical company, GW pharmaceuticals, and currently, it is legal for sale in over 25 countries. Sativex is produced basically from purely natural cannabis with no synthetic ingredients. Unlike most other cannabis-based products, Sativex is produced in such a way that the active cannabinoids in it are present in equal proportions to maintain the chemical stability of the drug. Several works of research have been conducted on Sativex and more studies are still being conducted to validate and ascertain the benefits of the drug in the treatment of other health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, ALS, late-stage cancer, and so on. Like most medications, some slight side effects might be experienced with the use of Sativex. Most cases of side effects often occur at the early stages of the treatment procedure when the body is still adapting to the new therapeutic process. But unlike most other cannabis products consumers can easily moderate their dosage as they ingest the drug. Common side effects associated with it include fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, and so on. Another exciting fact that should be noted about Sativex is that unlike most other cannabis products it falls under the umbrella of health insurance.
A closer look at Marinol
Marinol is the cannabis-based drug often referred to as dronabinol. It comes in solid dosage forms (capsules) and as such the doses can be easily adjusted and moderated to suit the needs of a patient. Marinol's primary application is in the curbing of chemotherapy-induced nausea and in the treatment of AIDS induced anorexia and other related symptoms. Patients are placed on Marinol mostly when other drugs and treatment procedures have been futile in controlling the nausea and vomiting. Asides these major applications of Marinol, it is also applied in the treatment of other conditions like loss of appetite, loss of weight, and so on. Unlike Sativex that is based on purely natural ingredients, Marinol employs the synthetic form of THC (dronabinol) as a primary ingredient. And the concentration of this ingredient majorly determines the strength of the drug which averagely possesses an onset period of about half an hour. Works of research solely aimed at validating the diverse ways in which Marinol can be utilized goes as far back as 1990 when the effects of the drug in boosting the appetite of cancer patients were closely studied by scientists. The positive results gotten from this study and many more like it have been the benchmark that set the tone for the discovery of several conditions Marinol can help treat. Marinol is often taken about 4-6 times on a daily basis in the treatment of vomiting and nausea depending on the specific requirements of the patient. It is highly advised that patients see a doctor to get the best advice before starting the use of Marinol as some patients may be allergic to sole ingredients used in producing the drug or may be already suffering from conditions which the drugs that are being used can interact with Marinol and cause more damage or are suffering from conditions like heart diseases, HBP, or any other health problem that can impair the results of the therapeutic process. Like Sativex, patients might experience slight side effects like abdominal pain, drowsiness, sudden mood changes, hallucinations, seizures, and so on. There have also been cases where patients that suddenly stopped the therapy procedure suffered from slight withdrawal symptoms which is one of the many reasons why the approval of a doctor before using this drug cannot be stressed enough. It should also be noted that it is highly advisable that pregnant and nursing women stay away from it till conclusive studies have been carried out.
A closer look at Epidiolex
Epidiolex, unlike Marinol, is delivered as a liquid dosage form. It is a cannabis-based drug that primarily employs CBD solely for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Several patients are dependent on Epidiolex to help manage the frequency of their seizures. Ever since the drug got approved in 2018, more studies aimed at discovering more ways to utilize the drug are being worked on by experts in the cannabis world. Some side effects like fatigue and liver problems have also been associated with the use of the drug although cases where side effects were experienced have been very minimal.
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