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560501 tn?1383612740

Sativex info from MS Society



   Has anyone read this from the MS Society web Page??
If so...What are your thoughts??  Would any of you be willing to try it??


Cannabis treatment licensed for MS
21 Jun 2010

The first symptom relief drug specifically for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been licensed by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency).


'Sativex' is an oral spray made using cannabis extract and is used to help alleviate MS symptoms of spasticity.

The treatment, which is been rigorously trialled over the last six years, can be prescribed by MS specialists and should be delivered as part of a multi – disciplinary symptom management programme, which includes regular physiotherapy and assessments by occupational therapists.

Ed Holloway, Head of Care & Services Research at the MS Society said: "Sativex can help alleviate one of the most distressing symptoms of MS and its licensing is good news for people with progressive forms of the condition for whom drugs and therapies are sparse. We’d like to see it made available to anybody who might benefit."

~T
Best Answer
Avatar universal
I'd be willing to try it.  I am one of those people who do use marijuana medicinally, although my state does not yet participate.  It does help with MS symptoms, particularly the spacisity.  The big plus about it is that it reduces the amount of narcotics that I have to use to help reduce the pain from MS and degenerative disk disease.  The drawback to marijuana use, at least for me, is that I do not like the so-called euphoria.  Go figure, I would be one of the weird ones. LOL

I really need to learn more about Sativex, however.  There is a drug on the market used for the severe nausea associated with many durg treatments.  It's called Marinol (sp?)  Many people do not think it works.  One of the problems with isolating THC is that it removes the many compounds found in marijuana that may be involved in bringing relief to it's users..  

Unfortunately, in this country, particularly at the Federal level, there is staunch resistence to using marijuana medicinally.  However, with a drug such as Sativex, the gov't/FDA may be more willing to grant approval or even run further trials.

Frank
20 Responses
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560501 tn?1383612740
   Hmmmmm, Perhaps Texas isn't such a bad place to live (grin)
Galveston is rather nice.

~T
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
Texas, of course, is the most conservative state around - I doubt that we'll get MM any time soon.  Not to sound too pessimistic, but it's their way of controlling 'undesirables' - Mexican immigrants, illegals, etc.
Helpful - 0
560501 tn?1383612740

   Hey there :)

     I watched that same show..... And Yes, you are correct...the Majority of drugs were started / used for Medicinal reasons!  Then you have those Addictive Personalities that take it a step to far and not only start to abuse the drug but then found instant Wealth by selling it.

    Florida is like Ohio...same thing here!

Peace,
~Tonya
Helpful - 0
279234 tn?1363105249
My main issue is spasticity. If I had the opportunity I would try it. The US is so uptight about the usage of cannabis. I watched a show, called the "The History of Drugs", where it talks about drugs, and how they were used before they were illegal. It was on the History Channel.

Most  drugs were used for medical purposes before they were abused on the streets and made illegal. Cannabis, back ages ago, was often smoked to relieve pain, headaches, and all sorts of medical conditions. We as a country, should go forward in offering pain relief, not backwards, and just because it has cannabis in it, I'm not sure what Ohio would do with it. Ohio has shot this issue down so many times. I would still like the choice, and the chance to try it to see if it works.





Helpful - 0
923105 tn?1341827649
I read the article with great interest too.

I now live in France, but I am a UK Citizen, so I have been talking with my Husband about going back (temporary) and re-registering with a MS Neuro so I can get the Sativex.

Who knows, I might strike lucky - dealing with the NHS that is:/

Debs


Helpful - 0
560501 tn?1383612740

   ROFL.......I can only imagine!

Peace,
~Tonya
Helpful - 0
738075 tn?1330575844
You'd be surprised how many MDs smoke the stuff...
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560501 tn?1383612740

   Oh my Goodness!  I can not believe what you have just shared w/ us about what Law Enforcement is doing . This is TERRIBLE!!!!!

   if you have the Form.....I would fill that baby out and let it go from there!  Yes! as we all (who have posted) agree that MM is Much, Much safer than all this other crap that we are on.......MM is definately NOT a "Gate Way" drug like society has pegged it to be!
And, as you said....we could get off of the muscle relaxers, sleep aides, and who knows how many other things we could eliminate by using Marijuana Medicinally.

   Have a Great Week,
Peace,
~Tonya

    Hey...I just wonder how many doctor's really smoke it themselves....LOL!
As always, Thanks for your Input.
Helpful - 0
1312898 tn?1314568133
I didn't get in on this thread becuase I had no clue what Sativex was.  

I live in Michigan where we recently (08) passed laws for MM.  I was so happy about it.  Since the passage, law enforcement has made significant 'errors' that have brought trauma and humiliation to people with MS and other illnesses.  

Police have entered homes using battering rams in the middle of the night looking for 'stashes' of drugs that they believe are being wrongfully sold.  Of course, they realize they made a mistake after the fact.   This has caused much trauma to people who are ill and of course leaving the person without a front door.  This has happened multiple times.  Arrests have been frequent, particularly in Detroit.

A few weeks ago patients were arrested after leaving a 'smokers club'.  I really don't know what a smokers club is but it doesn't sound safe to me.  

I am too afraid to ask any of my doctors becuase I know they would say no.  Since I moved here I haven't met anyone who can help me obtain any.  If I had it I would finally sleep----and sleep soundly for hours;  something I haven't done in a  very long time.  If I had the permit I would be using it.  I wouldn't need the muscle relaxants and wouldn't be tearing up my stomach with NSAIDS.  

I have the application but am afraid to give them authorization to get medical records becuase I think it will alienate my doctors.   I am afraid that they will 'know' that they are being req. for the MM program.  

I don't have a problem with it and think it should be legal---period.  It's not dangerous like alcohol and is not a "Gateway Drug"  like people think.  I am a child of the 60's raised in San Fransisco----need I say more?  We smoked it in the girls room at school.  The world was so different then.  

I just want access to something that would help me.  I wouldn't have to depend on doctors to prescribe medications.  

Anyway,  I feel very strongly about this.  

Why is it such a big deal for law enforcement?  Why should we have to be afraid to get something that will help us?  I just don't get it.  Doctors think it's a terrible thing  It's a plant for crying out loud!!!
Helpful - 0
560501 tn?1383612740

   Oh my Gosh...I am so sorry that you had to deal with that TN.  When I was reading your post....My heart just hurt for you as I KNOW how bad TN is...DEBILITATING!

   I have to say that you have an Awesome friend to have givin you a "Just in case", Emergency use joint......And even more...i'm so glad that you tried it and that you GOT RELIEF!  I truly see Medicinal Marijuana coming "Alive" here in the very near future! The medical society alreay knows and has so much proof that it can and does help eliviate so many medical issues (suffering).

    AND,,,yippee, Yah, Hooray, for the 13lb weight loss..you Go Girl!  

Frank:     Your statement is right on when you said that....It Reduces the use of Narcotics!
Through much reading this is absolutely true!  So, a lot of the rx of Oxycontin (sp) could be done away with and replaced w/ Medicinal Marijuana Thus stopping all of the unnecessary drug addiction of such a potentially dangerous drug.

   Ok, I'll stop Rambling ...Lol    I guess I feel so strongly about the use of Marijuana Medicianally (sp) becasue there are so many people out there in the world who are needlessly suffering and could get some relief.

Peace,
~Tonya
    
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thats was some good additional info Tonya.

And just to add, pain clinics I have been associated with, just happen to mention, as an aside, that the evidence is absolutely overwhelming that smoking marijuana reduces narcotic use.  They ov course keep it off the record. LOL

Oh, and Rena, the one thing I do not like is smoking.  I have tried, a number of times, making the "proverbial" brownies.  And eating it does work as opposed to smoking.  You just need to be conservative about how much you use for two reasons: 1)the prohibitive cost, and 2) today's quality/strength is much stronger than that of the 60' & 70's.

Frank
Helpful - 0
335728 tn?1331414412
OK...so I was gonna ask about the use of marijuana to alleviate the pain of trigeminal neuralgia.  
I went to bed night before last with one of the worst attacks of TN I have ever had.  I was home alone and it was a little scary that the pain could be soooo flippin INTENSE!!!
A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend about it and he rolled me a "joint" to have on hand to try if necessary.  

Well, yesterday I had an appointment with my dietician (lost 13 pounds yay!) and after the appointment I had to go to the mall to get a card.  I made it to the Hallmark store when the pain hit and down I went.  I sort of just slithered down a wall to the floor and couldn't move for a few minutes as the pain was excrutiating.  Then I finally managed to get up and made it to my car and came straight home.

I decided to try the marijuana as nothing else seems to relieve the pain when it hits really hard.  I have CÖPD and haven't smoked for 3 years this July but I have to say that this was the best thing I smoked in a long, long time.  The pain in my head magically DISAPPEARED!!  I have tried the Gabapentin, the Topamax, the Oxycontin, the Tegretol...nothing works to stop the pain immediately.  Now I think I will discuss this Sativex with my gp and see if she will consider giving it to me.  It was like a wonder drug!  I have never had relief like that in my life as I have never had pain like that in my life.

I wonder if there have been any tests done regarding the reduction of pain using this Sativex.  If I get any more information I will pass it on!  I feel pretty good today and I even went to visit friends last night...if I hadn't smoked the MJ...I don't say I would be doing anything other than moaning in pain today!

Rena
Helpful - 0
560501 tn?1383612740

Jens;  
  Glad that you too can get some relief....See it really does work!
  Marijuana should not always be associated w/ Thugs, and Dope dealers!

Lulu:
  Thanks for the Welcome Back :)

~Tonya
Helpful - 0
572651 tn?1530999357
Sativex has been available in Canada for over five years.  Perhaps some of our Canadian members have experience with this oral spray.  My understanding of how it works is it enters the bloodstream rapidly through the mucous membranes in our mouth.  

There is no "high" involved with Sativex and that eliminates the temptation for illicit drug use and removes that argument from the debate.  

I would really like to see the US move forward on treating nerve pain and approve this as another option for all of us.  

be well,
Lulu

ps tonya it's good to see you back!
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
There is a lot of resistance to allowing marijuana for medical use.  I find it relieves my spasticity and neuropathic pain, to some extent.  When I'm having spasms, nothing helps except plain ol' muscle relaxers.  But mild spasticity, which is my problem most of the time, is alleviated, as well as the pinprick pains I have constantly.
Helpful - 0
560501 tn?1383612740

  Hey there :)  Yes, Marinol (you spelled it correctly) has been around since the 80's mostly (as you said) used for people on chemo and also as an appetite stimulant.
My brother hade cancer back in the early 90's and was prescribed Marinol....It certainly helped w/ his nausea!

   I just found an article that they are now prescribing it "Off Label" for people w/ MS.
It is now a Schedule III medication which allows doctors to prescribe it for off label uses.

   A number of studies show that THC provides medical benefits for cancer and AIDS patients by increasing appetite and decreasing nausea. It has also been shown to assist some glaucoma patients by reducing pressure within the eye, and is used in the form of cannabis by a number of multiple sclerosis patients, who use it to alleviate neuropathic pain and spasticity. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is currently supporting further research into these uses....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol

     THC can prevent Alzheimer's Disease in an animal model by preventing the inflammation caused by microglia cells which are activated by binding of amyloid protein.[27]

    THC may also be an effective anti-cancer treatment, with studies showing tumor size reduction in mice conducted in 1975[29] and 2007[30], as well as in a pilot study in humans with glioblastoma multiforme (a type of brain cancer).[31]

    All in All I say GOOD for you Frank that you are getting some kind of relief from usung Cannabis to relieve some of your sx!  Many, Many studies have shown that the THC in Marijuana is very effective in treating many things...Even recently been rx'ed for ADHD and Depression.

    I too am very interested in how the Sativex is going to errupt here in the US. And don't forget that the NMSS is backing this 100% for MS patients becasue it is proven time and time again that it does provide relief w/ so many of us that suffer from MS sx.

    Thanks for your input Frank and Jess  :)  
Be Well,
~Tonya

      
    
Helpful - 0
560501 tn?1383612740

   Yes, the US is a bit more uptight! At least some of the states do in fact recognize
that Marijuana can in fact be medicinal......

    I too would be willing to give it a try when available here.  The trials look pretty good.

Take Care,
~Tonya
Helpful - 0
1207048 tn?1282174304
I wonder if the US will ever approve it? We seem kind of uptight when it comes to cannabis.

Admittedly, I'm one of the uptight people, but I never had a strong opinion either way on medical marijuana (thank goodness for spell check on google chrome, because I had no idea how to spell marijuana LOL). Then I started feeling nerve pain... I'm still not too bad off, but I can look ahead 10, 20 years and know that it will be worse, and if some form of cannabis helps with that, I will most likely try it.

Very interesting development, thanks for posting it, Tonya! :-)

~Jess
Helpful - 0
560501 tn?1383612740

  Oh Ya, here is the Web Site ....

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/news_events/news/press_releases/cannabis_treatme.html

~T
Helpful - 0
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