Myalgic encephalomyelitis

Myalgic encephalomyelitis medical cannabis treatment

Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, can be very challenging to live with. Constantly feeling exhausted or excessively tired can not only make it hard to carry out day-to-day activities, but also affect physical and mental health if untreated. If you have myalgic encephalomyelitis and conventional treatments have been unable to meet your needs, or have caused you to experience unpleasant or unwanted side effects, you may be eligible for cannabis-derived treatments at Releaf.

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Disclaimer: The availability of consultations for Myalgic encephalomyelitis 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.

250,000

A quarter of a million, or 250,000 people in England and Wales are believed to have myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome.

4

It's estimated around 4 in every 5 people with ME/CFS are unable to work full time because of their condition, and 25% are either housebound or bed bound.

68%

According to representative research, 68% of adults in the UK would consider trying cannabis-derived treatments if their doctor had recommended them.

51%

The largest observational study of medical cannabis patients in the UK found a 51% increase in self-reported quality of life (using EQ-5D-5L) within 3 months.

Symptoms

Feelings of excessive tiredness

Flu-like symptoms

Issues staying asleep

Memory issues

Muscle or joint pain

Poor mental health

Problems with concentration

Sore throat

Still feeling tired after rest/sleep

Taking a long time to recover from physical activity

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

Treatment options:

At the moment there is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, or myalgic encephalomyelitis - but its symptoms can be treated. Often accompanied by making lifestyle adaptations, CBT and energy management is advised and medicines to manage sleep, pain, and depression may also be prescribed.

Amitriptyline

Clonazepam

Duloxetine

Gabapentin

Low-dose benzodiazepines

Pregabalin

Find out if you may be eligible for medical cannabis myalgic encephalomyelitis treatments here
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A word from our specialist

"Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), is a condition that causes pain, severe fatigue, disordered sleep, brain fog and post-exertional malaise. It is thought to be inflammatory in origin, and may also be due to a deficiency in the endogenous endocannabinoid system.

Cannabis, especially THC, can decrease the pro-inflammatory and increase the anti-inflammatory parts of the immune system, helping to relieve these symptoms and improve quality of life for patients suffering from this condition."

Dr Crystal Hamel-Smith

Generalist

Find out if you may be eligible for medical cannabis myalgic encephalomyelitis treatments here
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Articles on Myalgic encephalomyelitis

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In the UK, can patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis receive medical cannabis treatments?

Although conventional treatment’s offer relief for many with Myalgic encephalomyelitis, for others, they can cause unpleasant or unwanted side effects, or simply be ineffective in managing their condition. For these patients with Myalgic encephalomyelitis, medical cannabis may be considered a suitable alternative, or adjunctive treatment, in the UK.  

This is because, medical cannabis is multifaceted, and is known to interact with sleep, pain, anxiety, and inflammatory regulation - all of which could help to improve health outcomes for those with myalgic encephalomyelitis. Medical cannabis has its demonstrated potential in improving sleep quality in a number of studies due to its sedative properties, and its positive influence on pain is also well noted in medical journals. 

The chemical constituents within medical cannabis (called cannabinoids) can also interact with immune responses. For those with chronic fatigue syndrome, this could prove useful in managing the flu-like symptoms that commonly accompany myalgic encephalomyelitis. 

While research in this area is still ongoing, it's important that medical cannabis myalgic  encephalomyelitis treatments are carefully monitored for efficacy and safety by qualified healthcare professionals like those that work for Releaf. To find out if you may be eligible for cannabis-based options, fill out our online eligibility form to get more information.

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