Pubdate: Mon, 29 May 2017
Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.pentictonherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664
Author: Keith Roach
Page: A2

EXPLORING PITFALLS, BENEFITS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

DEAR DR. ROACH: What advice do you have for both doctors and patients
for approaching medical marijuana use? What is your ideal vision of
its future?

ANSWER: I look at marijuana as a potentially useful medicinal plant
that has several potential downsides.

One of the downsides is an unrealistic expectation of its usefulness
by believers. I increasingly see claims that marijuana (or one of its
extracts) can treat or cure almost every known disease.

It also is hampered by its status as a Schedule I drug by the Drug
Enforcement Agency, so high-quality research is difficult to do.

Finally, it has been used for many years as a recreational drug (which
is partially responsible for the first two downsides). This has led to
resistance to the idea among nonbelievers that it might have
legitimate use.

The psychological effects for which it is used recreationally can
cause it to be intolerable for some. Further, a small percentage of
people (estimates range between 2 and 6 per cent) have difficulty
quitting the drug, even when they want to.

Marijuana contains many potentially active chemicals, of which only
two (THC and cannabidiol) have been studied well.

The best evidence of effectiveness for any type of marijuana product
is in epilepsy and chronic pain, but the quality of the data is limited.

There are very few situations where I would consider prescribing
medical marijuana, but they do exist.

Most of the risks of medical marijuana are also unknown. Anecdotal
reports suggest that fewer users of medical marijuana are smoking it,
in favour of ingesting extracts.

I suspect that this will lead to lower risk of heart and lung
problems, but I withhold judgment until there are good data.

It also is clear that marijuana can cause or worsen anxiety in some
people. Adolescents who use marijuana may be at higher risk of
schizophrenia.

My ideal future regarding medical marijuana is one where it is studied
openly and subjected to the same scrutiny as other medicines, where
both the purified extracts are studied as well as the whole plant.

Marijuana needs to be compared against the best treatments we have,
not just against placebo.

Only this way can we confirm or refute the benefits and risks of this
drug.

DEAR DR. ROACH: My physician has recommended a colonoscopy. I've never
had one and am overdue.

My question involves the prep protocol. My wife had one with the
doctor who will do mine at the local hospital, and he prescribed a
liquid prep mixture that my wife found quite unpleasant.

A friend from out of state who had a colonoscopy was given a single
pill as a prep. Please discuss the difference and efficacy of these
two types of prep. I'm inclined to ask the doctor doing my colonoscopy
for the pill prep rather than the liquid.

ANSWER: There are several different preparations available. Most of
them involve a fairly large amount of liquid: 2 to 4 litres. I'm
afraid my experience is like your wife's: The preparations are not
particularly pleasant, but drinking them quickly, having them cold and
using flavourings in them (such as Mio or Crystal Light, but not
red-coloured ones, though) can make them much more tolerable.

Pill-based colonoscopy preparations, like your friend had, are based
on sodium phosphate, and they are used less frequently now because of
safety concerns. This is especially true in people whose kidneys are
less than perfect (which includes a lot of older people).

I recommend the lower-volume liquid (polyethylene) preparation as a
good balance between safety and tolerability.

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Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but
will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may
email questions to  or request an
order form of available health newsletters at 628 Virginia Dr.,
Orlando, FL 32803. Health newsletters ordered from www.rbmamall.com.
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MAP posted-by: Matt