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End of Life and Palliative Care

Coping with the news that you have a life-limiting illness must be one of, if not the most difficult experience that anyone has to go through.

So many doors must seem to close when a doctor tells you that there is little more that can be done to your life-limiting condition, and it can feel exceptionally lonely and frightening not knowing what to expect by means of help or medication. For those who care for patients in such situations, or live alongside them, feeling helpless in being able helping to alleviate their pain and suffering, can also be so difficult to bear.

In many cases, the response from conventional medics has been to treat the patient’s physical pain, with increasing doses of medications such as opioids, perhaps with antidepressants, or sleeping medicines, alongside all the other medications that must also be taken, adding the side effects of these medicines to the significant side effects of their oncology medicines. Carers will know well the impact that all these medications can have on their loved ones. Many patients report experiencing ‘brain fog’, extreme fatigue or nausea. They will sometimes talk about how they feel unable to interact with their families in a meaningful way, or feel unable to engage anymore, with activities that bring them joy.

At Integro Medical Clinics, we aim to help patients towards the end of life by helping them achieve the best quality of life for them and their family, while promoting as much independence and enjoyment of life as possible for as long as possible.

How can cannabis medicines help with end of life palliative care?

The Endo-Cannabinoid System (ECS) found in all animals, is part of all our nervous and other body systems and uses natural chemical messengers that are similar to the cannabinoids found in cannabis plants to regulate homeostasis, or ‘balance’, within the body. When it’s working well, the ECS can regulate and normalise such bodily functions as sensation, pain and anxiety and sleep. It may also reduce inflammation.

At Integro Medical Clinics, we have been using cannabis medicines to help people with long-term pain, including some with life-limiting conditions. Cannabis medicines can reduce pain and morphine requirements, and can lift mood and anxiety, and improve sleep, without ever making someone high, or even overly sleepy during the day. Even constipation has been improved. People at the end of their lives have felt that their days have been enhanced, making the very best of the days left, allowing enjoyable activities, and closeness and then meaningful farewells to happen.

Am I suitable for cannabis medication for end of life palliative care?

In a no obligation consultation with one of our specialists, here at Integro Clinics, we will discuss with you, the reasons that you are seeking end of life pain management using cannabis medication. We will advise you on how we feel that cannabis medication could help to ease your symptoms of pain and will develop a bespoke plan for your individual needs and requirements. We will always aim to provide the very best care, empathy and dignified pain-relieving medication, whilst you can focus on spending as much time enjoying life with friends, family and loved ones.

When conventional treatments reach their limit, our work begins.

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