CBD for dementia agitation? Thoughts?
I'm kinda tired of the psych med game and upping the doses for difficult dementia behaviors. Today my pop had sundowning during mid-day, which isn't his usual time for those sort of stress waves. I gave him a half dose of his olanzapine, and will give him the other half at tonight's medication time. He would not stop doing the same repetitive movements, and kept throwing things (not at me, just around the room for no reason). I just gave him 40mg of CBD oil, which I take for stress and anxiety. It just calmed him down into a nap, which I will have to end in about 30 minutes for dinner and medication, but I'm curious what successes or failures people have had with CBD in elderly dementia patients. He specifically has vascular dementia. Thoughts?
Its an interesting conversation regarding the FDA and studies and such. I am pro-Western medicine and not a woo woo person, however, pharmaceutical companies tend to flourish when 1. A medication treats symptoms, not the root cause of a health problem and 2. When they are able to deter individuals from preventative treatments or off-label uses/alternative products or medicine, it’s profitable. A new medication that hasn’t passed the patent expiration yet is their bread and butter. They look out for their own interests and there are lobbyists at the FDA. Also, from a friend in epidemiology working at a there are way more data error cover-ups at institutions we would prefer to have confidence in. Doctors are encouraged by reps. Look at the opioid crisis and the Sacklers, MD doctors recklessly prescribed OxyContin and now we have a generational opioid crisis in America. Idk, food for thought about putting blind faith in the medical industry. 🤷🏼♀️
(source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2762311)
Fact: Drug patents last 20 years but it is a more complex calculation than that, since this may include the years before it achieved FDA approval and could be sold (if ever). In most cases it is more like 10 years.
So, pharma companies have about 10 years to recoup the 1.34 billion dollars it cost for a single drug that eventually gets approved (and also make a profit since they're not a charity). So, yes: it literally is their bread-and-butter, and rightfully so.
- "Cooked" data will eventually be found out, either through the inefficacy of the drug or through problems it may cause (like reactions/death). If your epidemiologist friend is aware of cover-ups then s/he should be whistleblowing. Are they?
Also, data on each drug continues to be collected after it hits the open market. This is why we occassionally will read about how "a recent study indicated that XX drug is not effective against XYZ illness as claimed".
- The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations decided that "Pain" was the 5th medical vital sign:
"In 2001, as part of a national effort to address the widespread problem of underassessment and undertreatment of pain, The Joint Commission (formerly The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations or JCAHO) introduced standards for organizations to improve their care for patients with pain. For over a decade, experts had called for better assessment and more aggressive treatment, including the use of opioids. Many doctors were afraid to prescribe opioids despite a widely cited article suggesting that addiction was rare when opioids were used for short-term pain. Education, guidelines, and advocacy had not changed practice, and leaders called for stronger methods to address the problem. The standards were based on the available evidence and the strong consensus opinions of experts in the field."
Source: https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/resources/pain-management/pain_std_history_web_version_05122017pdf.pdf?db=web&hash=E7D12A5C3BE9DF031F3D8FE0D8509580&hash=E7D12A5C3BE9DF031F3D8FE0D8509580
The doctors were acting on the recommendation/pressure from this non-profit accredidation/certification organization. The pharmas were acting on the increase in demand, and victims are still suffering from this nightmare.
I needed something for adhesive arachnoiditis and the pharmacist recommended a Hybridol cannabis oil. (Rice grain dose, squeezed into empty gel capsule they provide)
It ended my stinging nerve damage.
It was miraculous and still works to this day.
I’m also in a better mood.
Don’t pass this opportunity by due to a few uneducated in this area.
Curaleaf carry’s CBD products with every “route” available.
They would be able to assist you and it’s FREE information, if your state has it.
Good luck.
think it’s a great idea but I would only do CBD it can be a heavy medication . Happy Buddha Hemp has a 2400 strength give a dropper full after lunch they are based in Colorado and will send you a sample . The gummies from FIVE CBD are very good and they have sales all the time and special - there are 50 mg CBD with 2 THC or 25 mg CBD and 5 THC - if the OCD behavior continues past 2 pm give him a couple 50 mg CBD that is very calming and takes awhile to get into the system . If it’s for sleep give 1 or 2 - 25 mg after dinner - they are strong . I always try things on my self . I wouldn’t mix them with pharmaceuticals . FIVE is located in Laguna and are having a 42% off sale for 420 - buy yourself some . They are good quality .
good luck !
Bright light helps so much, it's wild. He is not activity oriented (yet), really hard to get him to be interested in anything besides talking, he talked nonstop when he didn't have dementia haha, ex barfly, very social by nature. Liked to garden, may try that when the cold weather finally knocks it off.
I think CBD is probably worth a trial but also curious about stigma telling his doctor tomorrow.