Medical cannabis patients are in the unique position of using what is often considered a prescription medication without the benefits of having an actual written prescription to work with. It is because doctors don’t prescribe medical cannabis in the same way they do more traditional drugs. Patients are ultimately left to figure out the best delivery method and dosage on their own.
Most patients end up working with their medical cannabis pharmacists to figure things out. They might also enlist the help of pharmacy technicians capable of offering limited advice. That’s all well and good. But here is the one thing about dosage adjustments every medical cannabis patient should know: they are normal and expected.
A Different Medication Scenario
One of the things that makes medical cannabis so different is that there are no hard-and-fast treatment standards that come with it. It is not like an antibiotic, for example.
Doctors prescribing antibiotics follow a strict treatment protocol that dictates everything from product strength to dosage and frequency to special instructions – like taking with or without food. None of those standards come with a medical cannabis recommendation.
Instead, medical providers might offer advice based on their limited knowledge. That’s why so many patients work with their pharmacists instead. Pharmacists are far more qualified to help them figure out which products to use and how frequently to use them.
Low and Slow Is the Foundation
There is one standard recommendation doctors and pharmacists tend to stick with: the low and slow principle. The principal dictates starting with the lowest possible amount of medical cannabis along with the least frequent consumption. If necessary, a patient increases both until relief is realized. Low and slow dictates not going any higher.
Although the low and slow approach has its own variations, here are the typical recommendations compliments of the Beehive Farmacy medical cannabis dispensary in Brigham City, Utah:
- Baseline Protocol – Moderate dose increases every 2-3 days.
- Conservative Protocol – Slower adjustments for more sensitive patients.
- Rapid Protocol – Faster adjustments for urgent or more experienced patients.
Beehive Farmacy personnel say it is inadvisable for patients to try to figure out delivery method and dosage on their own. The reason is simple: there is a tendency to over medicate among patients who really don’t understand how medical cannabis works.
Routine Adjustments Are Expected
It’s also a good move from medical cannabis patients to routinely consult with their doctors and pharmacists. As a patient’s condition or symptoms change, a routine adjustment would be expected. So much so that a typical patient could expect at least a few adjustments over many years of using medical cannabis.
Adjustments might be necessary because a patient’s condition improves. Or the opposite circumstances could exist. Moreover, adjustments might be advised if a patient begins using other medications that could negatively interact with cannabis.
THC and CBD are the two cannabinoids known to help medical cannabis patients. Both can interact negatively with other medications. For example, CBD can interfere with certain types of antidepressants and anticoagulants.
Don’t Be Afraid to Adjust Your Dose
If you are a medical cannabis patient, don’t be afraid to adjust your dose as needed. It’s actually okay to consume less cannabis than you started with. And if your doctor or pharmacist recommends more, there are good reasons behind it.
Adjustments are normal and expected. Embrace the. Make a point of staying in contact with your doctor and pharmacist so that they can advise you on the best dosage and delivery method. By collaborating, the three of you can make sure you are getting the most out of your medications.
