No matter which ailment you may suffer from, it is important to pay close attention to the effects your medication has on your body. Some medications can have serious short-term effects like sleeplessness, while others can have long-term effects like organ failure.
Knowing the long-term effects of any medication you are taking is important. You should always weigh the side effects against the benefits and inquire about any alternatives available.
Medical cannabis can be an alternative to many medications on the market today. It has been used to relieve ailments and pain for thousands of years and has been shown to have minimal side effects.
Below we compare a well-known medication, Oxycontin, with medical cannabis to explore why using medical marijuana in place of other medications could be beneficial to your overall health.
Oxycontin
Use: Treating moderate to severe pain. This controlled substance is generally used for patients recovering from major injuries, surgery, or those who suffer from chronic round-the-clock pain.
Side Effects: Constipation, nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, itching, headaches, dry mouth. Serious side effects brought on by this medication can also include respiratory depression, apnea, respiratory arrest, circulatory depression, hypotension, shock, and even death.
Long-term use effects: Severe constipation, persistent vomiting, muscle spasms, dangerously slowing the heart and lung functions, kidney and liver damage, reduction in the brain’s ability to adapt to new input, addiction and dependence, overdose, and death.
Medical Marijuana
Use: Treating symptoms of many diseases, chronic conditions, and pain. This controlled substance is prescribed for a select number of diagnoses in New Mexico.
Side Effects: Increased tolerance, drowsiness, fatigue, temporary impaired balance, temporary paranoia, dry mouth, increased appetite, dry or red eyes, altered sense of time.
Long-term use effects: Can affect brain development if used regularly at a younger age. Long-term use of medical cannabis is not recommended before the brain is fully developed, generally between the ages of 22 and 25.
While both of these medications require a prescription, alleviate chronic pain, and have side effects, medical cannabis can offer a more natural approach with little to no long-term damaging qualities. When these medications are compared side by side, medical marijuana seems the safer choice.
Sacred Garden is the perfect place to obtain your natural medicine. We carry a wide variety of products and our highly skilled staff can help guide you through finding the best medical cannabis for your needs. Come visit one of our many dispensaries today!
