Medical Marijuana for HIV/AIDS
If you or a loved one is struggling with HIV/AIDS, you should know that medical marijuana may be available for treating symptoms of this condition. Schedule an appointment with us at 888-316-9085 to start your evaluation process!
HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a contagion that primarily affects the immune system of the body.
AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is a severe condition which is caused by HIV. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system of the body loses its ability to defend against disease-causing organisms. Essentially, AIDS is an advanced stage of an HIV infection.
Gone are the days when marijuana was considered only a psychotropic drug in the United States. In addition to treating chronic pain, anxiety, and a number of other qualifying conditions, many people are using medical marijuana to manage their HIV/AIDS symptoms.
Patients living with HIV/AIDS are eligible for treatment with medical marijuana in PA. Compassionate Certification Centers is here to help!
What Causes HIV/AIDS?
HIV/AIDS is typically transmitted when infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions enters the body. Below are the most common ways a person contracts HIV/AIDS:
- Having sexual intercourse with an infected person
- Sharing syringes and needles with the infected person
- Blood transfusion from an infected person to an uninfected person
- Transmission from an infected mother to a child during pregnancy
Qualifying Conditions of HIV/AIDS
- Acute HIV Infection
- AIDS Related Complex (ARC)
- Asymptomatic HIV Infection
- Cachexia Associated with HIV/AIDS
- Cognitive Impairment Due to HIV/AIDS
- Symptomatic HIV Infection
- HIV/AIDS Associated Histoplasmosis
- HIV/AIDS CDC Stage A3 – C3
- HIV/AIDS Dementia Complex
- HIV/AIDS in Childbirth
- HIV/AIDS in Nephropathy
- HIV/AIDS in Postpartum
- HIV/AIDS in Pregnancy
- HIV/AIDS Lipoatrophy
- HIV/AIDS Myelitis
- HIV/AIDS Related Cognitive Impairment
- HIV/AIDS Related Non Hodgkins Lymphoma
- HIV/AIDS Wasting Disease
- HIV/AIDS with Dementia
- HIV/AIDS with Polyneuropathy
- Lipoatrophy Due to HIV Infection and Treatment
- Myelitis Due to HIV/AIDS
- Nephropathy Due to HIV/AIDS
Common Symptoms of HIV/AIDS
Untreated or undertreated HIV infection may result in the patient developing AIDS. Some common symptoms in case of HIV/AIDS include:
- Abdominal pain
- Dry cough
- Persistent high fever
- Fatigue
- Appetite loss
- Night sweating
- Sore throat
- White spots on the tongue
- Continuous diarrhea
Why Cannabis HIV Treatment?
Conventional treatment of HIV/AIDS involves the use of drugs called antiretroviral. Though these drugs are helpful in treating the disease, but in most cases, they cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, depression, anxiety, weight loss, and cachexia, which can lead to AIDS wasting syndrome.
These side effects can be severe enough to force the patient to abandon the treatment thereby making the disease worse. According to a report in the Journal for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, cannabis contains cannabinoids such as THC and terpenoids, which can help treat side effects from antiretroviral therapy, as well as the symptoms associated with the disease itself.
Below are a few examples of the benefits of medical marijuana for HIV/AIDS:
- Stimulates appetite
- Reduces nausea
- Manages continuous vomiting
- Reduces joint and muscle pain
- Reduces peripheral neuropathic pain
Other studies have shown that medical marijuana helps manage inflammation of the brain caused by HIV/AIDS by restricting the virus from attaching to cells and restraining the virus from replicating.
Medical Marijuana Studies and Results
- A study conducted by Columbia University in 2007, states that HIV/AIDS patients who inhaled cannabis four times daily reported a substantial increase in food intake without any impairment of cognitive performance
- A survey conducted in 2005 on 143 HIV patients who used cannabis states that around 130 patients reported improvement in their nerve pain. More than 94% of the patients reported improvements in muscle pain while approximately 93% reported positive results in depression and anxiety
- A study found that among 450 patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy, 67 admitted that cannabis improved their symptoms
How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card for HIV/AIDS
Due to the seriousness of the disease, many states have legalized the use of medical marijuana for HIV/AIDS. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to get your medical marijuana card:
- Register over the phone or online
- Talk to a medical marijuana doctor
- Get your medical marijuana card
Compassionate Certification Centers is here to provide you with the support, care, and guidance you need to get certified for a medical marijuana card. Schedule an appointment with us at 888-316-9085 to start your evaluation process!
