Can CBD Reduce or Replace Opioid Use For Pain? 

In many people’s experience, Cannabidiol (CBD) can help reduce or eliminate opioid use for chronic pain. Opioid addiction at an all-time high and addiction is just one of the many side effects people using opioids regularly experience. In many expert’s opinion opioids are effective for short-term use but should be avoided for long-term use. Many people are looking for alternatives to long term opioid use and CBD can help. CBD has eliminated chronic pain for some people and should be considered as an option. It could potentially save lives from the heartbreaking opioid epidemic.

The Problem With Opioids

Opioids are known for their fast-acting pain-relieving effects but there are several negative side effects with opioids. It is important to know that there are many medical professionals that do not believe opioids for chronic pain are effective. Many physicians agree that opioids are more effective for sudden pain like a surgical procedure or injury.

Chronic pain is pain that persists and may progress over a long period of time. Long-term opioid use has a multitude of negative side effects including addiction and abuse. For many, the opioids will have a diminishing effect as tolerance builds causing increased dosage.

Opioid side effects can include dizziness, nausea, sedation, vomiting, constipation, tolerance, and respiratory depression. Benefits from CBD do not have uncomfortable side effects and are reason enough to look for alternatives, but physical dependence is a national epidemic, and alternatives are needed now. It is estimated the 2 million people suffer from opioid dependency. Many cases can be linked back to prescription medications, many of which are prescribed for chronic pain. Many people suffering from this addiction are completely unaware that CBD may be an option for them. There is a sense of urgency and many medical professionals are interested in the idea that the benefits of CBD could be an alternative to opioid medication.

Recent Medical Research

There have been many studies done in recent years about the benefits of CBD. There has been a focus on controlling seizures and pain reduction. The benefits of using CBD for pain is not a new concept, but most research is still relatively new. Multiple studies exist that support the use of CBD for managing pain that is otherwise difficult to treat. Nerve pain, such as neuropathy, Multiple sclerosis, and Lupus have been without many effective pharmaceutical options and CBD shows much promise in helping with conditions that are nerve based pain.

Many of the CBD benefits come from its anti-inflammatory properties. Research also indicates that CBD can quiet nerves which can provide relief. CBD benefits are at the center of research regarding the treatment of neuropathic pain and pain caused by Multiple sclerosis. There are also many cases that the CBD benefits indicate it could be an option for treating the effects of Fibromyalgia.

How Does CBD Work To Fight Pain?

CBD research is still somewhere in its infancy, and there is lots of research needed to understand all the CBD benefits. A lot has been learned about how CBD interacts with the body. We know it interacts with the body via the Endocannabinoid System. (EDS) The EDS regulates many of the important functions in the body including sleep, emotions, pain sensations, and many other functions. CBD is unique in that it does not act directly upon either CB1 or CB2 receptors like other cannabinoids. There are indications it may react individually within the ECS to affect some systems for the modulation of pain signaling.

CBD interacts directly with receptors in many processes including inflammation and the perception of pain. CBD benefits seem to produce effects that are anti-inflammatory and pain-blocking signals. CBD binds with receptors and one of the main serotonin receptors in the body. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that is subsequently involved in pain signaling as well but also plays a primary role in brain circuit responses related to addiction. CBD benefits indicate that stimulating these serotonin receptors may help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms during the transition away from opioids.

Can CBD Replace Opioids?

There is more and more evidence all the time that cannabidiol could be a pain solution for many pain-related conditions. The evidence regarding CBD’s interaction with the brain and pain-signaling can help eliminate pain on two levels, by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain and by relieving inflammation at the pain site. There is evidence that cannabidiol interacts with the brain in ways that may help ease symptoms of physical dependency.

Replacing opioids is difficult and many times a reduction of use is more common, but many people can eliminate opioids by using CBD. Let us hope that as people become more aware of the benefits of CBD that CBD is used prior to opioids and addiction and other side effects are avoided altogether. The patient cannot stop suddenly using opioids after long term use. A gradual replacement for people who have a high opioid tolerance or who have taken opioids for a long time is needed. CBD may be the best first step in transitioning away from opioid dependency and may manage pain without negative side effects.

Conclusion

Cannabidiol may be a pain solution that many people have been looking for. You should talk to your doctor about CBD before trying it and about how CBD may interact with other medications. Your doctor will be able to help you decide if CBD as an alternative to opioids is right for you, and may be able to help you choose from the many options, like topical products to use on the pain locations and bottoms of the feet, and internal use through oral delivery.

Contact Ortesia.com and look at the pain relief cream. Many Doctors and patients overlook topicals as part of their CBD regime. High quality and high milligram topicals can be extremely helpful and effective and should be considered. Contact: Ortesia.com for more information and ask any questions you have and receive quality information. We hope this was informative and welcome all feedback.