HIV medical cannabis treatment

For people living with HIV, managing the associated pain, nausea, sleep, anxiety, and appetite concerns that come along with the condition can become a daily struggle, and unfortunately, traditional treatments and standardised care doesn’t always provide sufficient relief. As a result, more and more individuals with HIV in the UK are turning to alternative options, and medical cannabis, and personalised treatment plans, like those available at Releaf, are proving increasingly popular.

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Disclaimer: The availability of consultations for HIV depends on the availability of our specialist doctors. We encourage you to consult with our patient support team to determine if this treatment option is currently available.

95,000

95,000 people in England are living with HIV according to 2021 estimates. 4,400 are undiagnosed, and unaware.

1 in 5

1 in 5 people with HIV say they experience anxiety or depression finds UK’s largest survey of people living with HIV.

27%

27% of people with HIV have tried using medical cannabis for symptom management finds anonymous UK survey.

90%

90% of those who use medical cannabis for HIV say it improves appetite, muscle pain, nerve pain, anxiety, and nausea.

Symptoms

Body rash

Diarrhoea

Fever

Joint and muscle pain

Night sweats

Recurrent infections

Sore throat and swollen glands

Tiredness

Weight loss

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, please speak with your GP to find out more.

Treatment options:

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an emergency HIV drug, that is prescribed when contact with the virus has been detected within 72 hours. After that, regular blood tests are required to monitor the progression of the HIV infection, and different antiretroviral therapies (ART) are prescribed depending on the symptoms experienced.

Atripla

Dovato

Eviplera

Genvoya

Kivexa

Odefsey

Triumeq

Truvada

Find out if you may be eligible for medical cannabis HIV treatments here
Am I eligible?

Join our growing community of over 50,000 people

Whether you’re new to cannabis-based medicines, switching from another medical cannabis clinic, or self-medicating, we’ll put you back in control of your health.

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A word from our specialist

“Many conditions that lead to chronic pain often respond poorly to conventional pharmaceutical medications. More and more is being understood about how the endocannabinoid system interacts with the more well known pain pathways to work synergistically with these conventional medications. Chronic pain comes with a variety of associated symptoms such as poor sleep, fatigue, brain fog and reduced appetite – all of which treatment with medical cannabis can improve.“

Dr David Tang

Clinical Director

Find out if you may be eligible for medical cannabis HIV treatments here
Am I eligible?

Articles on Hiv

17. 09. 2023

Can you get a medical cannabis prescription in the UK? 

Although recreational cannabis is still illegal in the UK, medical cannabis has been legally available to patients suffering from a wide range of health concerns since November 2018. However, obtaining it through the NHS is quite challenging, which is why many patients are turning to private clinics.

25. 09. 2024

How to decide if medical cannabis is right for your condition

Patients in the UK have been able to access legal, regulated medical cannabis products for almost six years. Since the legalisation of medical cannabis in 2018, tens of thousands of patients have experienced the benefits of this incredible plant and its derivatives. But how do you know if medical cannabis is a good option for your health condition?

23. 04. 2024

Is medical cannabis safe?

In today's continuation of our New Patient series, we'll take a quick but deep look at a burning question on the minds of many - "Is medical cannabis safe?" Yes, medical cannabis is safe, but let's dig a little deeper and see what the science has to say.

Can I get medical cannabis to help HIV symptoms in the UK?

Yes. Although medical cannabis was only legalised in the UK in 2018 for therapeutic use in symptom management for conditions like HIV, in other places like in the US, cannabis has been an available treatment option for HIV symptom management since the late 90s. This is because of the effects medical cannabis can have on pain, anxiety, poor appetite, and nausea when applied appropriately. 

People living with HIV often encounter a myriad of different symptoms at the same time, and this can have a negative effect on overall quality of life. Although there are many treatment options are available to help manage these symptoms - many find them to be ineffective, and are curious to learn more about the alternatives available. 

So far, medical cannabis has shown great potential in alleviating pain and anxiety, and research also suggests it can alleviate nausea, stimulate appetite, and improve sleep when administered correctly, and this could make a remarkable difference for some people living with HIV.  

While further research is still required to have a full understanding of the interaction between medical cannabis and HIV, anecdotal evidence and patient survey responses suggest cannabis-based products can make a positive addition to HIV treatment plans, and they are becoming increasingly popular amongst those effected. 

At Releaf, our team of qualified expert doctors are here to support patients throughout their search for better health, and are here to support them throughout their journey with medical cannabis.

To find out more about medical cannabis, or whether these options could benefit you, assess your eligibility for cannabis-based HIV treatments at Releaf.

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