As medical director for Medical Cannabis of Southern California I often evaluate patients who complain of vertigo to see if cannabis can help with their symptoms and improve the overall quality of their life.
Vertigo is the sensation of spinning or swaying while the body is actually stationary. In most cases it is a symptom as a result of a primary disease process. Most of the time it is caused by malfunctions in the inner ear or vestibular system. Common causes are infections, Migraine headaches, Meniere’s disease labyrinthitis, benign positional vertigo and a host of other disease processes. On a physiological level there are multiple neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) which play a role in vertigo. The dizziness can lead to nausea and vomiting which is very debilitating.
Yesterday I evaluated a 49 year old male who has been experiencing chronic intermittent vertigo for the past three years. He suffered from regular nausea and vomiting. It affected his appetite and he had been losing weight as a result of poor nutrition. The battery of tests that his doctor ordered failed to identify the exact cause. The treatment plan had been to try traditional medications. He had been given anti-histamines, SSRI’s like fluoxetine (prozac), gabapentin (Neurontin) and valium. None of these had given him any relief and he suffered from many side effects as a result.
One month prior to my evaluation he had been given cannabis by a family friend in the midst of one of his attacks where he was severely nauseous. To his amazement it almost completely eliminated his nausea and he regained his appetite. As a result he worked up the courage to come to my office to see if he qualified under California’s proposition 215 which gives patients the right to cultivate, possess and transport cannabis in california.
Upon evaluation I determined that the benefits of trying cannabis far outweigh the risks. He left yesterday with a recommendation and went to purchase medicine within 5 minutes of leaving my office. I was very encouraged by his feedback and look forward to following up with him in a few months.
If you would like more information about cannabis to see if it can improve the quality of your life please visit our website at www.MCSoCal.com or call our professional staff at 877-721-0047. Dr Sean Breen has two offices located in Orange County and Long Beach and see patients daily.
