Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurological condition that affects the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. It causes these nerve cells to degenerate and die, leading to a loss of muscle control.
ALS is a progressive disease, which means the symptoms tend to worsen over time. Eventually, a person may be unable to speak, eat, move, or even breathe.
It’s also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease in the U.S., named after the famous baseball player who retired early because of his ALS diagnosis. There are currently no treatment options for ALS to arrest or reverse its progression. However, some of its symptoms can be mitigated.
Numerous pharmaceutical medications have been found to help slow the progression of the illness.
That said, some patients have reported seeking ALS symptom relief with cannabis.
If you're wondering whether this works or is legal in Texas, you're right where you need to be. We'll talk about that in just a bit.
ALS is a debilitating illness that significantly impairs the quality of your life.
It becomes difficult to function independently as simple activities feel taxing and exhausting.
Patients are also prone to experiencing anxiety, stress, and depression due to the chronic pain. This further affects their emotional well-being.
The exact cause of ALS is unknown, although evidence suggests that both environment and genetics play a role in acquiring it. Approximately five to ten percent of ALS cases are inherited from a parent.
Identifying the right treatment options for ALS symptoms can be challenging since the symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, depending on which nerves are affected.
The most common signs of ALS include:
Early symptoms of ALS usually manifest in the hand or arm, causing difficulty with activities like eating, writing, or buttoning a shirt. It may also affect the leg and cause you to stumble or trip while walking.
As it progresses, it can lead to increased muscle weakness and atrophy and spread to other parts of the body. Individuals may develop problems moving, speaking, swallowing, and even breathing. While there’s no known cure for ALS, targeted treatment options can help manage some of these symptoms.
For the longest time, people living with ALS could only manage their symptoms using pharmaceutical medications.
These medications are effective for some people, but not so much for others.
They have been found to have several side effects, including nausea, fatigue, low white blood count, headaches, and coordination problems.
A few examples of common pharmaceutical ALS medications include:
This medication blocks the release of glutamate, a neurotransmitter that may be toxic to motor neurons when released in excess.Therefore, it may help slow down the progression of ALS in patients.The common side effects of Riluzole are nausea, decreased lung function, lethargy, vomiting, and drowsiness.
This is an antioxidant used for ALS treatment in Texas and worldwide. Given orally or intravenously, this medication has been found to help slow functional decline in ALS patients.
That said, it does have some side effects, including: clumsiness, blue lips, skin blemishes, and dizziness.
Pharmaceutical medications help manage the symptoms of ALS, but they also come with pretty adverse side effects. That's why so many people are trying to figure out how to get a cannabis prescription for ALS.
Common treatments for Lou Gehrig’s disease include physical, speech, respiratory, occupational, and nutritional therapies. This is often accompanied by a multidrug regimen, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, glutamate antagonists, and more.
Remarkably, research shows that cannabis appears to have activity in all of those areas. Studies have indicated that cannabinoids may even help slow the progression of the disease.
At the moment, medical cannabis is considered a treatment option to help ALS patients deal with a variety of symptoms, including spasticity, drooling, depression, stress, and insomnia. At the very least, it has the potential to noticeably improve the quality of life for someone with ALS.
If you're a Texan living with ALS, you don't have to persevere through the uncomfortable symptoms. Many patients are already enjoying ALS symptom relief with cannabis. We'll tell you more about how to get a cannabis prescription for ALS in the next section.
The process of seeking medical marijuana for muscle spasms and other ALS symptoms is straightforward. When you're working with qualified Texas medical marijuana doctors, you will easily get a cannabis prescription for ALS.
The first step is to schedule an appointment with our qualified and compassionate medical marijuana doctors. They will evaluate you and determine if medical cannabis is the best option for you.
If it is, they will submit your details to the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas and provide an approval letter. Once your name has been added to this registry, you can now buy cannabis for ALS symptoms and other qualifying conditions. Your doctor will give you a prescription, which you can fill at a licensed dispensary in the program.
Want to take cannabis for ALS symptoms? Wondering how to get a cannabis prescription for ALS in Texas? We've got your back. Let's answer some pressing questions many patients have regarding ALS and medical marijuana:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a neurological illness that targets the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain. When someone has ALS, these motor neurons degenerate and die, resulting in less muscle control.
This neurodegenerative illness causes the nerve cells to die, causing muscle stiffness, weakness, and wasting.The patient may have difficulties moving, eating, or speaking.
Most cases of ALS (about 90% - 95%) have unknown causes. They are, therefore, known as sporadic ALS. The remaining 10% - 15% of ALS cases are caused by genetics, and patients have a family history of the disease.
This type of ALS is called familial ALS. If one's family has a history of developing this illness, there's a 50% chance they will inherit this mutation from their parents.
The early symptoms of ALS include twitching and cramping muscles, slurred speech, and clumsiness. Patients will then experience a progressive weakness in their arms, neck, and legs, and stiff, spastic muscles in the shoulders. As degeneration continues, the symptoms become more severe. One may find it difficult to swallow, breathe, and speak altogether.
If you live in Texas and have ALS, you can legally use cannabis for ALS symptoms. Medical marijuana has been found to help with muscle spasticity, cramping, and twitching.
That said, you'll need to consult a qualified medical marijuana doctor who will then recommend whether or not you should seek ALS symptom relief with cannabis. This is crucial, especially if you're already using other medications.
Texas medical marijuana doctors will evaluate your symptoms and determine whether you qualify for CURT medical cannabis for ALS. Make sure to tell them about your experience as accurately as possible. If you qualify, your doctor will submit your name to be registered in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas.
Texas 420 Doctors is proud to help eligible Texans access medical cannabis. If you or your loved ones suffer from ALS, you can book a telemedicine appointment with one of our doctors. Each of them is CURT-registered and board-certified. Post your evaluation, you’ll receive everything you need to order medical cannabis from your local dispensary, including your approval letter and dispensary recommendations.
Learn more about our yearly medical cannabis services. Reach out to us if you have questions about our service or medical cannabis treatment options for ALS.
