8 million +
People in the UK have an anxiety disorder, and 18% of workers experience anxiety at work
Over ⅓
Of those registered by the UK’s largest observational medical cannabis study were treating anxiety in 2021.
58%
Reduction in anxiety and stress following cannabis use reported by medical cannabis patients in an online survey.
4 weeks
After 4 weeks, significant improvements in anxiety were reported in an open-label, phase 2 clinical trial using CBD.
Symptoms
Constantly feeling ‘on edge’
Difficulty concentrating
Dizziness
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Feeling sick
Irritability
Restlessness
Shortness of breath
Tiredness
Trembling
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms. Please speak with your GP to find out more.
Treatment options:
For people with anxiety, talking therapies like CBT, and lifestyle adaptations such as regularly exercising and cutting out caffeine, can be useful in helping you to learn how to cope with anxiety triggers, or reduce the chances of their onset. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may also be prescribed.
Benzodiazepines
Duloxetine
Escitalopram
Paroxetine
Pregabalin
Sertraline
Venlafaxine
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 significant proportion of adults struggle with anxiety disorders - generalised anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, OCD and Post traumatic stress disorder. Medication based treatments are not always effective and can cause significant side effects of their own. Talking treatments are not always readily available and don’t suit everyone. Medical cannabis is showing remarkable effectiveness in treating the symptoms of anxiety – sometimes helping people to relax and feel some relief from their symptoms for the first time in years!"
Dr Sue Clenton
Medical Director
06. 07. 2023
Anxiety disorders come in many forms, and they all share one thing in common. That is, they are on the rise. With one in six adults in the United Kingdom now diagnosed with some form of anxiety, the need for additional treatment options has never been more pronounced. Below, we will look at what anxiety is exactly, how it can affect you, and the possible ways medical cannabis may be able to help.
06. 07. 2023
15. 03. 2024
With roots stretching back more than two decades, World Panic Day was created to bring attention to the alarming rise in anxiety disorders and the need for improved understanding, support, and treatment. It is a day to educate others about the realities of living with anxiety, to dispel myths and misconceptions, and to promote acceptance.
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05. 07. 2023
Anxiety issues are the most commonly diagnosed mental health issues in the UK. Each week, one in six of us will be battling through some form of anxiety. And while anxious feelings are a healthy part of the human condition, there is a difference between the occasional worry and serious angst.
05. 07. 2023
Yes.
Cannabis therapy for anxiety has been a legal option for adults in the UK to consider since 2018, providing two other treatment types have failed to effectively meet their needs, or have caused unpleasant side effects that outweigh the treatment or medicine's benefits.
In fact, in the UK, and at Releaf, the two most common conditions treated with medical cannabis are chronic pain and anxiety. We’re frequently asked questions like ‘Can you get medical cannabis for anxiety in the UK?’ or ‘does weed help with anxiety?’
We also get more direct or specific questions such as ‘What is the best cannabis strains for anxiety?’ or about the best CBD and THC combo for anxiety treatments. It’s clear there’s a need for factual, credible, and reliable information surrounding medical cannabis and anxiety treatments here in the UK.
So, let's dive in and answer some of these questions:
The interaction between cannabis and anxiety has been under scientific investigation for a number of decades. There is clinical evidence that demonstrates cannabis-based compounds can have a positive impact on conventional anxiety symptoms in a dose-dependent manner.
With medical cannabis being embraced more and more by the western world over recent years, there’s also been an incredible growth in the generation of real-world evidence that displays the benefits of medical cannabis for anxiety management.
Releaf’s patient stories contribute to this real-world evidence, highlighting how medical cannabis applications and precise cannabis oil dosages for anxiety are making a real difference to individuals here in the UK. These stories have been picked up by numerous mainstream media outlets and are helping to further awareness of medical cannabis for depression and anxiety, their availability, and the eligibility criteria for cannabis prescription for anxiety in the UK.
While these options aren’t suitable for everyone, and they are never prescribed as a first-line treatment, Releaf’s team of specialist doctors can work with suitable patients to create their own treatment plan consisting of medical cannabis flower and/or cannabis oil for anxiety symptom management.
At Releaf, patients are closely monitored through regular check-in appointments with our clinical team to ensure their treatment is working well for them. Our patient support team is always on hand to help.
Medical cannabis treatments for anxiety are designed to promote a sense of calm. They work by altering the natural responses our bodies typically issue when triggered by stress or anxiety.
Cannabis contains different chemical classes, some of which are cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Cannabinoids can interact with the brain’s serotonin production (which is responsible for balancing and stabilising mood) and have been shown to alter anxiety responses in a dose-dependent manner.
However, because everyone is an individual and our bodies are unique, there is no ideal THC and CBD ratio for anxiety treatments – and they aren’t suitable for everyone.
Some people respond better to treatments that contain a high concentration of CBD with no THC for anxiety management. Others have found more prominent results with products that include both CBD and THC. For anxiety cannabis-based treatments, and all other treatment plans designed by Releaf, a patient's individual symptoms and circumstances are taken into account when their treatment plan is created.
It's generally well accepted that CBD has stress-relieving and mood-uplifting properties.
CBD products are commonly available over the counter in health and wellness stores in the UK, providing they contain less than 1mg of THC per product container. They are often marketed as natural wellness products. This includes, but is not limited to:
THC has shown to improve anxiety at certain doses. However, it is important to note that THC can exacerbate anxiety at high concentrations. This is why it's extremely important that cannabis treatments are carefully designed and monitored by healthcare professionals like those that work at Releaf.
Because THC is a controlled substance in the UK, products that contain this cannabinoid cannot be purchased over the counter. They have to be prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional, unlike CBD oil.
However, instead of receiving products containing either CBD or THC for anxiety, most patients who are prescribed medical cannabis for anxiety at Releaf receive products that contain both. These treatments can come in cannabis oil or medical cannabis flower form.
