Medical Cannabis for Migraines in Canada

Living with migraines can be extremely challenging, affecting your ability to work, maintain relationships, and enjoy everyday activities. Migraine headaches vary in severity and length, but can be debilitating episodes that last upwards of three days, causing intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and other disruptive symptoms.

For many Canadians suffering from migraines, traditional treatments provide only partial relief or come with unwanted side effects. Taking cannabis when you have migraine symptoms has been known to quickly decrease the pain, offering a potential alternative or complementary approach to conventional migraine treatments.

Migraines are more than just headaches—they’re a neurological condition characterized by severe, debilitating headaches often accompanied by other symptoms. They affect approximately 2.7 million Canadians, or about 8.3% of the population, with women being three times more likely to experience migraines than men.

Types of Migraines

There are several types of migraines, each with distinct characteristics:

Migraine Without Aura (Common Migraine)

• The most frequent type of migraine
• Characterized by pulsating, one-sided headache
• Moderate to severe intensity
• Aggravated by routine physical activity
• Associated with nausea, vomiting, and/or sensitivity to light and sound

Migraine With Aura (Classic Migraine)

• Includes visual disturbances before or during the headache
• May experience flashing lights, zigzag lines, or temporary vision loss
• Can also include sensory auras (tingling or numbness) or speech/language auras
• Usually followed by the headache phase, though not always

Chronic Migraine

• Headache occurring on 15 or more days per month for more than three months
• At least eight of these headaches must have migraine features
• Often results from medication overuse

Other Types

• Vestibular migraine (associated with vertigo)
• Hemiplegic migraine (includes temporary paralysis)
• Retinal migraine (affects vision in one eye)
• Abdominal migraine (primarily gastrointestinal symptoms)

Migraine Phases

A typical migraine may progress through four phases, though not everyone experiences all phases:

1. Prodrome: Occurs hours or days before the headache, may include mood changes, food cravings, neck stiffness, increased thirst, and frequent yawning
2. Aura: Visual, sensory, or motor disturbances that precede or accompany the headache
3. Headache: The pain phase, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, and smells
4. Postdrome: The “migraine hangover,” characterized by fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mild headache that can last for a day or more

Common Migraine Triggers

Dealing with migraine pain starts before the migraine itself even occurs. Preventative treatment is a large part of pain management, and sufferers of migraines attempt to pinpoint and understand their specific triggers to cut down on painful episodes.

Common triggers include:

• Hormonal changes (especially in women)
• Stress and stress release
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Certain foods and food additives
• Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages
• Sensory stimuli (bright lights, strong smells, loud sounds)
• Weather and barometric pressure changes
• Medications
• Physical exertion

Research into cannabis for migraine management is growing, with encouraging results. In May 2015, The American Headache Society conducted a comprehensive review of the clinical use of medical cannabis to treat migraines, finding supportive evidence for its role in several headache disorders.

The effectiveness of cannabis for migraines may be linked to several mechanisms:

1. Endocannabinoid deficiency: Some research suggests migraines may be associated with a deficiency in the body’s endocannabinoid system, which cannabis compounds can help supplement
2. Anti-inflammatory effects: Cannabinoids may reduce neurogenic inflammation involved in migraine pathophysiology
3. Serotonin modulation: THC and CBD may affect serotonin levels, which play a role in migraine development
4. Vasodilation control: Cannabis compounds might help regulate blood vessel constriction and dilation implicated in migraines
5. Pain modulation: Cannabinoids interact with pain receptors in the brain and nervous system

Studies have shown vaporizing cannabis allows THC to enter the bloodstream quite rapidly, meaning it may also help alleviate migraine symptoms as quickly as they are noticed. This rapid onset makes it particularly suitable for migraine attacks, where quick relief is essential

A 2016 study found that medical cannabis use was associated with a significant decrease in migraine frequency, dropping from 10.4 migraines per month to 4.6 migraines per month. Additionally, about 40% of subjects reported positive effects, with the most common effects being prevention of migraine onset and decreased migraine frequency.

For Canadians struggling with migraines, medical cannabis may offer several potential benefits:

Primary Symptom Management

Many patients report improvements in core migraine symptoms, including:

• Reduced headache intensity
• Shorter duration of migraine attacks
• Decreased nausea and vomiting
• Relief from light and sound sensitivity
• Prevention of migraine progression when used at aura or prodrome stage
• Improved sleep during and after migraine episodes

Complementary Therapy

Others find cannabis helpful as a complementary treatment to address the limitations or side effects of conventional migraine treatments:

• Alternative for those who cannot tolerate triptans
• Reduced reliance on NSAIDs and their gastrointestinal side effects
• Decreased need for opioid medications
• Option when other acute treatments fail
• Support for preventive strategies

Potential Advantages Over Traditional Medications

While not everyone experiences these benefits, many patients report meaningful improvements in their migraine frequency and severity when incorporating medical cannabis into their treatment plan under proper medical supervision.

Medical cannabis comes in various forms, each with different onset times, durations, and potential benefits for migraine management. Finding the right option depends on your specific symptoms and migraine patterns.

Vaporized Cannabis

• Rapid onset of effects (within minutes)
• Studies have shown vaporizing cannabis allows THC to enter the bloodstream quite rapidly
• Potentially helps alleviate migraine symptoms as quickly as they are noticed
• Particularly useful for stopping migraines during prodrome or aura phases
• Avoids the harmful effects of smoking

Oils and Tinctures

• Moderate onset time (30-60 minutes)
• Longer-lasting effects (4-8 hours)
• Good for prevention when taken regularly
• Precise dosing capabilities
• Discreet and easy to incorporate into daily routines

Capsules

• Slower onset (1-2 hours)
• Extended-release options available
• Similar to taking traditional medication
• Convenient for preventive use
• May be less suitable for acute attacks due to delayed onset

Sprays

• Quick sublingual absorption
• Moderate duration (3-6 hours)
• Discreet and portable
• Easier to adjust dosing as needed

Many migraine patients find that a combination approach works best—perhaps using a vaporizer for acute attacks and an oil or capsule for prevention and reducing frequency

Your healthcare provider can help determine which forms might work best based on your specific migraine patterns, triggers, and previous experience with cannabis.

If you’re considering medical cannabis for migraines in Canada, here’s how to begin the process:

1. Consider if medical cannabis may be right for you

To determine if medical cannabis may be appropriate for your situation:

•  You have been diagnosed with migraines or experience recurring headaches with migraine features
•  You may have tried conventional treatments with inadequate results or experienced significant side effects
•  You must reside in Canada
•  Provincial age requirements typically align with the legal cannabis purchase age (19 in most provinces, 18 in some)

2. Book an online consultation

Our streamlined process makes it easy:

•  Schedule a video consultation with a healthcare provider
•  Complete a brief triage questionnaire after booking
•  Discuss your migraine symptoms, treatment history, and goals

3. Receive your online prescription

If approved, you’ll receive:

•  A personalized treatment plan
•  A legal medical cannabis prescription
•  Guidance on product selection and dosing
•  Registration assistance with licensed producers

4. Ongoing support

Our care doesn’t end with your prescription:

•  Follow-up consultations to monitor progress
•  7 day a week support by phone and email
•  Dosage adjustments as needed
•  Access to healthcare professionals for questions
•  Educational resources about cannabis and migraines

Starting medical cannabis treatment for migraines is a significant decision. Our team of healthcare professionals specializes in cannabis medicine and can help you navigate this process safely and effectively through online prescription services across Canada.

An important consideration for anyone with migraines is how medical cannabis might interact with other medications you may be taking for headache prevention or treatment.

These interactions could affect how your medications work or potentially cause unwanted effects.

For your safety, always:

• Disclose all medications to your healthcare provider during your consultation
• Start with low doses of cannabis when using with other medications
• Monitor for any unusual effects and report them promptly
• Never adjust migraine medications without medical supervision

A comprehensive consultation with a healthcare provider at Apollo Cannabis is essential to ensure your treatment plan considers all aspects of your health, providing the best opportunity for successful migraine management with your online prescription.

Finding the right cannabis dosage for migraine management is a personalized process requiring individualized guidance. While we recommend consulting with a healthcare professional for personalized advice, here are some general principles:

For Prevention:

• Begin with minimal doses
• Start with 2.5mg THC or less (if using THC)
• Consider starting with 5-20mg CBD, which has anti-inflammatory properties
• Use consistently, typically on a daily basis
• Consider timing doses to coincide with known trigger periods

For Acute Treatment:

• Consider higher THC content for pain relief
• Start with inhalation methods for faster onset
• Begin at the earliest sign of a migraine (prodrome or aura phase if possible)
• Have a pre-measured dose ready for quick administration

Gradual adjustments:

• Increase by small increments
• Allow time between adjustments to assess the effects
• Focus on finding the minimal effective dose
• Consider different CBD:THC ratios to find what works best for your migraines

Tracking response:

• Document dosage, timing, and effects alongside your migraine diary
• Note effectiveness at different migraine phases
• Track frequency, duration, and intensity of migraines
• Record any unwanted effects

These general guidelines are based on standards from The College of Family Physicians of Canada but must be tailored to your specific needs by a healthcare provider during your online consultation.

Remember that cannabis affects everyone differently, and finding your optimal dosage may take time and patience. Working with a healthcare provider experienced in cannabis for migraines can significantly improve your results when getting an online prescription in Canada.