Opioids are among the most addictive substances on the market. Many people have found their lives overwhelmed by serious addictions to heroin, oxycodone, and other drugs ripe with high quantities of opioids. Now, researchers believe that CBD (cannabidiol) might be a viable treatment to help people suffering from opiate withdrawal.
CBD comes from hemp, a cannabis plant similar to marijuana. Unlike marijuana, which contains high traces of THC, hemp contains low traces of THC and high levels of CBD. CBD is now a natural substance that’s become a common additive in health products, including oils, lip balms, and even the occasional protein bar.
CBD for mental health treatments
Studies have already tested the validity of CBD as a natural treatment for underlying mental health conditions. Over the course of a number of clinical trials, CBD has been proven to contain a variety of therapeutic properties that can improve one’s mood with little to no effect on psychomotor or vital sign abnormalities.
Physicians have used CBD in clinical trials for patients suffering from depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and other mental or psychological conditions. While the trials are still in their early stages, the initial results suggest that patients suffering from mental health or psychological syndromes could greatly benefit with regular doses of CBD.
Does CBD oil help with opiate withdrawal
One of the more common forms of CBD is Epidiolex, which has been tested in a number of clinical trials. In fact, the FDA officially approved Epidiolex as an oral treatment for two rare and severe forms of epilepsy. Newer studies are now underway to test if a similar therapeutic treatment can be determined using CBD for opiate withdrawal.
In one study, sponsored by John Hopkins University, physicians will conduct a controlled administration of both Epidiolex as a treatment for opiate withdrawal, and compare the results of that treatment against treatment using a placebo. Phase one of the study will include 100mg of Epidiolex as an oral treatment to help patients cope with opiate withdrawal. Phase two of the study will use a cherry syrup oral solution as a potential treatment for opioid cravings in people who are addicted to the substance.
Preliminary results of the study suggest CBD decreased withdrawal symptoms in heroin-dependent patients more effectively than patients who were administered the placebo as treatment. If further results continue to show this trend, the sponsors intend to submit an R01 grant application in order to administer more conclusive medical trials.
CBD pills for opiate withdrawal
CBD pills or capsules are an ideal form of treatment to control the daily dosage administered into human bodies. For example, clinical trials like the one supported by John Hopkins for opiate withdrawal require a controlled dosage for patients of 1500mg on a daily basis. Capsules that are produced with that exact quantity of Epidiolex ensure patients are administered the correct amount of CBD, down to the milligram.
Using CBD pills for opiate withdrawal treatment improves the likelihood for physicians to test and analyze a very controlled medical pilot. This will help ensure that the data submitted at the end of the trial is clean and accurate, allowing greater analysis of medicinal benefits available within CBD.
Patients administered CBD for nerve pain, anxiety, epilepsy, and other conditions have been given Epidiolex in oil, pill, and even gummy form. Some medical experts say CBD pills or gummies are easier to administer to patients in order to ensure they ingest the required daily dosage for treatment. It’s yet to be determined if there’s a preferred method of ingestion in using CBD for opiate withdrawal treatments.
Using CBD to treat other conditions
In addition to treating psychological and physical addictions, CBD products have also helped patients with underlying mental conditions. Mental disorders like ADHD are very common in the world today, and physicians strive to introduce new means of treating this disorder.
Early studies show that CBD oil can treat ADHD by triggering chemical responses in the brain that help lessen the effects of anxiety, stress, and hyperactivity – all symptoms associated with ADHD. These early clinical results for conditions like ADHD show promise in the potential for CBD as a viable treatment for more severe conditions, including opiate withdrawal in recovering addicts.