Medical Cannabis for Nausea in Canada

Living with chronic or recurrent nausea can significantly impact your quality of life, making everyday activities challenging and affecting your nutritional intake, work performance, and overall well being. Nausea can stem from numerous conditions including chemotherapy treatment, pregnancy, motion sickness, migraines, digestive disorders, and many other medical conditions.

Cannabis is great for nausea because it treats the symptom at the source, interacting with our pre-existing cannabinoid receptors and disrupting the signals telling our brain that we may need to lie down for a minute. This unique mechanism offers a different approach compared to traditional anti-nausea medications, which may not work for everyone or may come with unwanted side effects.

Many Canadians experiencing chronic or treatment-related nausea have found that medical cannabis provides effective relief when conventional treatments fall short. As research continues to validate cannabis as an antiemetic (anti-nausea) treatment, more healthcare providers are recognizing its potential benefits for this challenging symptom.

Nausea is a complex sensation that can significantly affect quality of life when experienced chronically or severely. It’s important to understand the different types and causes of nausea to better manage this symptom.

Common Causes of Nausea

Nausea can result from various conditions and circumstances:

Medical Treatments

• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Post-operative nausea and vomiting
• Medication side effects
• Anesthesia recovery

Medical Conditions

• Gastrointestinal disorders (gastroparesis, GERD, IBS, IBD)
• Vestibular disorders and motion sickness
• Migraines and other headache disorders
• Pregnancy (morning sickness)
• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Food poisoning and infections
• Anxiety and stress-related disorders
• Concussion and traumatic brain injury

Physiological Mechanisms

The sensation of nausea involves complex pathways in the brain and gut:

• The chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) in the brain that detects toxins
• The vestibular system that monitors balance and spatial orientation
• The enteric nervous system (the “second brain” in the gut)
• Hormonal fluctuations
• The vagus nerve that connects the gut and brain

Nausea can range from mild discomfort to severe, debilitating symptoms that prevent normal activities. When chronic or severe, it can lead to:

• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Weight loss
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Decreased quality of life
• Social isolation
• Inability to work or perform daily tasks

Considerable evidence demonstrates that manipulation of the endocannabinoid system regulates nausea and vomiting in humans and other animals. The anti-emetic effect of cannabinoids has been shown across a wide variety of animals that are capable of vomiting in response to a toxic challenge.

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

1. Endocannabinoid system interaction: The body’s endocannabinoid system plays a role in regulating nausea and vomiting. Cannabis compounds (phytocannabinoids) interact with this system, primarily through CB1 receptors in the brain and gut.
2. Brainstem regulation: Cannabis compounds affect the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and the vomiting center in the brainstem, disrupting the signals that trigger nausea and vomiting.
3. Serotonin modulation: THC and other cannabinoids may interact with serotonin (5-HT3) receptors, which are targets of commonly prescribed anti-nausea medications.
4. Reduced intestinal inflammation: CBD and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids may reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, which can contribute to nausea in some conditions.

Several studies have shown that some cannabinoids can relieve nausea, vomiting, or both. These are side effects of some cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In fact, synthetic cannabinoids (dronabinol and nabilone) have been approved for use in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting since the 1980s, predating the broader medical cannabis movement.

Research continues to validate what many patients have reported anecdotally – that cannabis can provide effective relief from various forms of nausea when other treatments have failed.

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

Primary Symptom Management

Many patients report significant improvements in nausea-related symptoms, including:

• Reduced intensity and frequency of nausea
• Prevention of vomiting episodes
• Improved appetite and ability to maintain nutrition
• Better tolerance of other medications or treatments
• Enhanced overall comfort and quality of life

Complementary Therapy

Others find cannabis helpful as a complementary treatment to address the limitations or side effects of conventional anti-nausea medications:

• Alternative for those who cannot tolerate standard antiemetics
• Added relief when other medications provide only partial benefit
• Reduced need for multiple anti-nausea medications
• Option for breakthrough nausea despite other treatments

Potential Advantages Over Traditional Medications

While not everyone experiences these benefits, many patients report meaningful improvements in their nausea symptoms 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 nausea management. Finding the right option depends on your specific symptoms and circumstances.

Inhalation Methods (Vaporization)

• Rapid onset of effects (within minutes)
• Good for acute, sudden nausea episodes
• Easier to control dose based on immediate effects
• Shorter duration (2-4 hours)
• Particularly useful when oral intake is difficult due to nausea

Oils and Tinctures

• Moderate onset time (15-60 minutes)
• Longer-lasting effects (4-8 hours)
• Good for consistent, ongoing nausea
• Sublingual administration may bypass digestive issues
• Precise dosing capabilities

Capsules

• Slower onset (30-90 minutes)
• Extended duration (6-8 hours)
• Good for preventive use when nausea is predictable
• Convenient for established routines
• May be difficult to take during active nausea

Edibles

• Slow onset (30-120 minutes)
• Longest duration (6-12 hours)
• Challenging to use during active nausea
• Better for prevention or chronic low-grade nausea
• May be counterproductive during acute nausea episodes

Many patients with nausea find that a combination approach works best—perhaps using a faster-acting inhalation method for breakthrough nausea and a longer-acting oil or capsule for prevention when appropriate.

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

If you’re considering medical cannabis for nausea 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 experience chronic or recurring nausea that impacts your quality of life
•  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 nausea symptoms, potential causes, 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 nausea

Starting medical cannabis treatment for nausea 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 using cannabis for nausea is how it might interact with other medications you may be taking, whether for the underlying condition causing nausea or for other health concerns.

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 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 nausea management with your online prescription.

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

Starting Your Cannabis Treatment:

• Begin with minimal doses
• For THC-containing products, start with 1-2.5mg THC
• Consider balanced THC:CBD products to minimize side effects
• For acute nausea, inhalation methods allow for more immediate dose control
• For prevention, longer-acting forms may be appropriate

Gradual adjustments:

• Increase by small increments
• Allow time between adjustments to assess the effects
• Focus on finding the minimal effective dose
• Consider timing doses around known nausea triggers (e.g., before chemotherapy)

Tracking response:

• Document dosage, timing, and effects
• Note how quickly relief occurs
• Track any instances of breakthrough nausea
• 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 nausea can significantly improve your results when getting an online prescription in Canada.