Columns The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias Using Marijuana and Having Surgery? Tell Your Anesthesiologist Using Marijuana and Having Surgery? Tell Your Anesthesiologist by Ed Tobias | August 9, 2019 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link If you’re using marijuana and have surgery scheduled, take heed. In Colorado, where medical marijuana was legalized in 2000 and recreational use in 2012, medical personnel are discovering that weed may complicate the surgical process. The concern, according to an article in Kaiser Health News, is that marijuana use may “affect patientsā responses to anesthesia on the operating table” and “either help or hinder their symptoms afterward in the recovery room.” A small study of Colorado patients found marijuana users required more than triple the amount of the sedative propofol than nonusers. Propofol is the most commonly used parenteral anesthetic in the U.S. for minor and outpatient surgical procedures. The study raises a concern about the increased risks of using larger doses to sedate marijuana users during surgery. Discuss the latest research in the MS News Today forums! The Kaiser Health NewsĀ story reports that these concerns aren’t limited to Colorado ā 33 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana use in some form. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists’ updated clinical guidelines provide information on the potential anesthesia risks that marijuana users may face. In addition to enhancing the effect of medications that cause respiratory or cardiac depression, the guidelines caution about a “profound response to inhaled anesthetics” and a potentially harmful interaction with “nondepolarizing” muscle relaxant medications. How much and how strong? Marijuana’s potency varies, and so does its method of consumption ā it can be smoked, eaten, or dropped under the tongue. So, even when a medical professional knows a patient is using pot, it’s difficult to judge how it’s affected their body. Unlike traditional medications, there is no standard dose for treating someone with medical marijuana. There’s also no government-supervised quality control. As Dr. Joy Hawkins, a professor of anesthesiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, tells Kaiser: “For marijuana, itās a bit of the Wild West. We just donāt know whatās in these products that theyāre using.” Be candid about your marijuana use It may be difficult for a patient to be upfront with a medical professional about their marijuana use, whether medical or recreational. Though some physicians see medical marijuana as a legitimate part of a treatment regimen for an illness such as multiple sclerosis, others are not as open-minded. Being honest about it may be especially difficult if you live in a location where marijuana use hasn’t been legalized in any form. But based upon the information in the above story, if you’re planning to have a surgical procedure, it seems to me that it’s in your best interests to disclose your pot use to those involved in your treatment. You’re invited to visit my personal blog at www.themswire.com. *** Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author Ed Tobias People say to write what you know and Ed Tobias knows about MS. He's lived with the illness since 1980, when he was 32 years old. Ed's a retired, award-winning broadcast journalist and his column combines his four decades of MS experiences with news and comments about the latest in the MS community. In addition to writing his column, Ed is one of the patient moderators on the MS News Today Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram sites. Heās also the author of āThe Multiple Sclerosis Toolbox: Hints and Tips for Living with M.S.ā Ed and his wife split their time between the Washington, D.C. suburbs and Floridaās Gulf Coast, trying to follow the sun. Tags marijuana, medical marijuana, MMJ Comments Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
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