Arkansas Patients With Hepatitis C Qualify For Medical Marijuana

Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the liver. Hepatitis is usually caused by a virus, but can also arise as a response to medications or toxins. There are five different types of hepatitis, classified as A, B, C, D and E. A different virus is responsible for each of the different subtypes of the condition.

 

The most common form of the condition is hepatitis C. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 3.9 million Americans are living with a chronic form of hepatitis C. The disease is highly contagious and is spread through blood-to-blood contact. Up to 25% of people who contract hepatitis C will be able to clear their body of the infection without treatment. But, the majority of people with the disease require treatment with intense drug regimens. Now, people living with hepatitis C in Arkansas can also access medical marijuana to help ease the symptoms of the condition.

 

Does Medical Marijuana Help Hepatitis C?

Treatment for hepatitis C typically involves taking a combination of antiviral medications for anywhere from 24 to 48 weeks. But, these medications oftentimes have unpleasant side effects. For this reason, people living with hepatitis C may seek out a treatment alternative or a way to help manage the side effects of treatment.

 

Cannabis can be an effective tool to help deal with the side effects of hepatitis C treatment. Common side effects of the antiviral medications used to treat hepatitis C include nausea, aches and pains, and poor appetite. Studies show that medical marijuana can help combat all of these symptoms. Specifically, cannabinoids, chemical compounds found within marijuana, are known to help combat nausea caused by pharmaceuticals. Medical marijuana eases the negative side effects of antiviral medications, and thus makes people with hepatitis C more likely to stick to their treatment plan.

 

In addition to easing the side effects of treatment, cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has anti-inflammatory effects. Research has shown that cannabis can have therapeutic effects for people with chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis.

 

Living with any chronic condition is not easy, but medical marijuana can reduce the burden of diseases like hepatitis C. Always be sure to discuss any medication, including medical marijuana, with a physician before use. If you are interested in accessing medical marijuana to help manage your hepatitis C, Arkansas Marijuana Card can provide you with more information and resources to see if cannabis can help you.