CBD products spread like wildfire when life-saving incidents of CBD popped up across the US. The “fluffy clouds” covering the potential of CBD were soon blown away when it proved its efficacy in all sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics and therapeutics.
Nowadays, CBD is widely used for insomnia, depression, anxiety, inflammation, CBD for chronic pain, tumor suppression, GI disorders, and progressive diseases. You name it, CBD is already on the field, attesting to its effectiveness.
However, three main challenges are hindering the path to the safe use of CBD.
- It is common knowledge now that CBD is still battling for total legality in the US. More than 23 states have legalized CBD; however, many clauses often cause trouble with federal law and Drug Enforcement Agency.
- The partial legal status of CBD has restricted the research and surveys and slowed down the process compared to the rising demand for safety.
- This leads to the third concern: the liability of prescribing CBD; because there are so many gray areas, doctors are concerned about the risks of malpractice.
Despite great reviews and widespread use of CBD, doctors are still undeterred by their stance towards CBD. This article aims to talk about “What doctors say about CBD?” This is a critical question that must be answered to uncover the hidden side effects and possible outcomes of CBD consumption.
Because most CBD consumption incidents started as illegal or self-prescribed drugs, the need for doctor’s consultation was neglected entirely. The success of CBD without this crucial mediation was a go-ahead sign for many retailers. CBD-infused products are now sold at almost every other general store. This raises a serious concern about the safety of CBD. Despite the majority of successful CBD stories, there have been cases where CBD did not bring out the expected life-changing effects. Even these handful of cases are enough blaring alarms for doctors.
Why Are Doctors Against CBD Oil?
A doctor’s first duty is their patient’s well-being, and in no circumstances can they prescribe drugs or medication on partial information. After all, that is what doctors are for. Considering the lack of information and researches on CBD, doctors are still hesitant when prescribing CBD.
There are only two FDA-approved CBD medications that too for severe epileptic episodes in children. This means only these two have been fully approved for all safety criteria. What doctors say about CBD oil is nothing but a reinforcement of the FDA that CBD may still not be safe for everyone to use.
Then there are some patients that come in with concerns after using CBD. The non-prescribed sale of CBD has made it accessible to all, which means consumption is not supervised. Many patients come with concerns after the damage has been done. Doctors repeatedly recommend for patients to consult experts before any usage, no matter how insignificant.
The area of concern in CBD use is that it is closely related to marijuana, as it is extracted from the same Cannabis plant, but from a different species. The first reaction on hearing marijuana is ‘addiction, euphoria’, mainly for recreational purposes. The therapeutic use of CBD products became apparent after the FDA approved the drug ‘Epidiolex’ for seizures.
Although CBD is a non-psychoactive component, people with a history of substance abuse may revert to their old ways. The similar effect of CBD and THC often blurs the boundaries and may constantly push consumers to use the cheaper alternate, THC, the component that is psychedelic
The overrated hype of the product mainly influences the doctor’s view on CBD oil. After the uproar of CBD in America, many consumers view it as a magic potion to solve all their problems. Doctors strongly recommend against the overdose of CBD, though it is rarely heard of. Also, CBD should not be considered as an alternate to therapy and prescription medications.
Furthermore, pharmacokinetic interactions of CBD with other medications are still unknown. Some studies say that CBD can react with anti-depressants and painkillers.
Most importantly, the open retail of CBD has many unregulated aspects. Because CBD extraction is an elaborate procedure that determines the quality and composition of CBD oil, doctors believe you aren’t always getting what you’re purchasing. The levels of other cannabinoids, carrier oils, and contaminants greatly influence the outcomes of CBD consumption. This is also why you are recommended to ask for a verification certificate from a renowned lab.
Many CBD companies that claim false statements have received warning letters from FDA. This means FDA is always on the watch regulating unapproved CBD products.
Prescribing CBD
Doctors may disagree with many aspects of CBD, but they do realize the efficacy of CBD for many conditions like chronic pain and inflammation. To minimize the risk and liability of CBD recommendations, there are a few guidelines.
Firstly, the doctor and patient should have a preexisting relationship. This allows doctors to assess the situation better and prescribe CBD accordingly. The doctor should have a clear understanding of the types of CBD products available in the market, namely broad-spectrum, full-spectrum and isolate. And prescribe according to the needs of the patient.
All evaluations before and after CBD consumption should be recorded and documented. Because CBD is still in its early years, keeping track of the progress is essential not only for personal reference but study purposes as well.
It should be two-way communication. The patient should be open about all symptoms during dosage, and the doctor should convey all the risks and outcomes associated with CBD.
A CBD prescription should include a proper regime, an agreement between both parties. This allows transparency and understanding of all aspects of CBD usage, including dosage concentration, frequency, alternate medications, other prescription drugs, etc.
Finally, the most important condition; the doctor should have an impartial relationship to the recommended CBD or marijuana product. The prescribed CBD product should be irrespective of any business obligations and utterly dependent on the patient’s requirement. Because CBD is still undergoing publicity and marketing phases, it is possible that doctors may be biased to endorse the products for higher credibility. This often raises the question, “Can doctors use CBD oil?” Yes, obviously they can, but doctors should be the first ones to realize that what worked for them may not work for their patients.
This entire article focuses on the normalization of doctor consultation despite all product reviews and safety verification certificates. Because CBD is an individual-dependent drug, many factors need to be accounted for before more research can firmly back FDA to approve other CBD products.