Disclaimer: For up to date information on Medical Cannabis in Australia please visit the TGA’s website here. The TGA offers a range of resources surrounding Medical Cannabis such as guidance for the use of Medical Cannabis in Australia, Medicinal Cannabis products and FAQs.
Dosing and Administration
One of the most frequently asked questions from Medical Cannabis users is “How do I know my dose?”
Cannabis is a very personal Medicine and the first thing to have in mind is that dosage will vary from person to person. It depends on many aspects such as:
- Patient’s Weight.
- Patient’s Age.
- Patient’s Metabolism.
- Type of product.
- Patient’s Endocannabinoid System.
- Patient’s Condition.
Due to these factors, it is important to note that Medical Cannabis may not work for everyone and that it is important to review all factors and symptoms in order to determine the best treatment possible. CDA Clinic’s Doctors and Nurses specialise in a range of treatments such as chronic pain assessment, natural approaches, Medical Cannabis and chronic disease assessment.
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Micro dosing
People falsely believe that a big dose is necessary to relieve their symptoms faster. When consuming Medical Cannabis products, low doses can be much more effective than larger doses. Microdosing is the practice of taking or administering very small amounts of a drug in order to benefit from its physiological action while minimising undesirable side effects. Here at CDA, we say, “Start low and go slow”, slowly titrating the patient’s Medicine until they have found their effective dose. Titration is the process of adjusting the dose of a medication to reach the maximum benefit without the adverse effects.
The biphasic effect:
Low and high doses of the same substance can produce opposite effects. Small doses of Medical Cannabis tend to stimulate, while large doses tend to sedate.
Titration
During your consultation with CDA Clinics after assessing your condition, our Doctors and Nurses will provide you with a treatment plan and customised dosing schedule guides.
You can find your suggested dosing in your script and label provided by the pharmacist. If you have further questions regarding your product dosing, we recommend you contact your pharmacist, or discuss it during your follow up appointment with us.
Titrating THC vs Titrating CBD
THC and CBD Medicine properties are not the same and when titrating the patient must keep this in mind and adjust accordingly. When consuming THC medical products, cautious titration is urged. One’s sensitivity to THC is a key factor is determining the optimal dose.
The goal during your treatment is to find your optimal dose using slow titration techniques, resulting in the minimum effective dose.
Drop vs Dropper
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How’s Medical Cannabis Consumed?
Inhaled / Vapourising (rapid absorption)
When inhaling, the active ingredients are absorbed almost immediately into your bloodstream through the lungs.
The effects can be felt within 10 minutes and generally lasts between 2-4 hours.
This administration technique is ideal for managing acute symptoms.
Oral Ingestion (slow absorption)
It’s important to ‘’Start Low & Go Slow’’ when ingesting Cannabis because the effects can be a lot stronger and longer-lasting when ingested.
It can take 90 minutes to absorb the active ingredients with a longer effect of 4-8 hours.
This administration technique is ideal for managing chronic (long-lasting) symptoms.
What if I have too much THC?
When a patient consumes too much THC and feels ill, it’s known as “Greening out”. This is usually THC dose-related and happens to people who aren’t used to Medical Marijuana or are using larger amounts than usual. The symptoms of a THC overdose are very temporary, and you’re more likely to fall asleep then experiencing any harmful effects. THC is non-toxic and has never directly caused a death. If you’d like to find out more about Medical Cannabis please visit the TGA’s website here.