HIV/AIDS Qualifies for Treatment With Medical Marijuana in Louisiana

What is HIV/AIDS?

HIV is a virus that affects 1.2 million Americans and causes the body's immune system to become compromised. If left untreated, the virus can develop into AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which leaves patients extremely vulnerable to common illnesses.

HIV/AIDS is approved as a qualifying condition for Louisiana medical marijuana cards.

Many in the HIV/AIDS community have used medical cannabis to treat symptoms caused by both HIV/AIDS as well as the frequently volatile medications prescribed that treat the condition itself.

What are the Symptoms of HIV/AIDS?

When HIV develops into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the body's defense mechanisms become increasingly ineffective over time until they fail completely and leave the patient open to any variety of mild illness that have the potential to become fatal.

The immune system is a complex network of organs and cells that work together to defend against common illnesses and diseases. When it's not functioning properly, the body isn't able to protect itself from infection, which can lead to serious health problems such as chronic diarrhea, peripheral neuropathy, and wasting syndrome.

A common cold or pneumonia can be life threatening for an HIV/AIDS patient, and having a compromised immune system leaves a patient vulnerable to many common illnesses that would be otherwise non-fatal.

However, there are many different types of infections that can be especially dangerous to someone with an immune system weakened by HIV, and when these mild illnesses are caught by AIDS patients, they're called "opportunistic infections”, which refers to the fact that there is easy access into the compromised immune system.

How is HIV/AIDS Treated?

HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system and causes it to become vulnerable to sickness. In most cases, HIV is spread through unprotected sexual contact or sharing needles with an infected person's blood and there is no cure for HIV or AIDS.

Treatment plans often stress supporting the immune system and preventing progression of the virus. If left untreated or in cases where medications do not work, HIV will progress to AIDS where an individual's immune system becomes highly compromised at a very dangerous level.

Can Medical Marijuana Help with HIV/AIDS?

Cannabis has been used for centuries for both medical and recreational purposes, and medical marijuana is one of the first line medications looked at by HIV/AIDS patients.

It's no surprise that it would be one of the most common medications prescribed to those living with HIV/AIDS, who often experience nausea, lack of appetite, depression, and anxiety, all of which medical marijuana is known to help with.

Dronabinol (Marinol) is a synthetically derived compound based on THC that is often prescribed to HIV/AIDS patients, and it’s even synthesized into an oral mixture called Syndros and is frequently used to combat nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and anorexia.

Though synthetic or pharmaceutical chemical copies of naturally occurring compounds are available, reportedly, over a third of HIV/AIDS patients prefer smoking natural cannabis instead.

HIV/AIDS patients have used medical marijuana to treat a variety of symptoms brought on by both the virus itself and the harsh pharmaceuticals that are often prescribed to treat it.

Some of the benefits that HIV/AIDS patients get out of using medical marijuana include:

· Increased Appetite

· Reduced Depression

· Reduced Inflammation

· Improved Sleep

· Better Quality of Life

· Reduced Nausea

· Reduced Pain

Get a Louisiana Medical Marijuana Card for HIV/AIDS

Louisiana approved HIV/AIDS as a qualifying condition for a medical marijuana card, and HIV/AIDS is one of the most common reasons people use medical marijuana.

Since the 1980s, Americans have been using medical marijuana to treat symptoms of HIV/AIDS and have seen improved quality of life, and because of the associations between medical marijuana and HIV/AIDS symptom improvement, Louisiana has approved medical marijuana for HIV/AIDS patients.

To find out more about using medical marijuana for HIV/AIDS, consult with our staff of qualified doctors that can help walk you through the path of getting medical marijuana to help with HIV/AIDS.

Our doctors can be reached at (833) 253-2943 to help answer any questions you may have about getting a Louisiana marijuana card for HIV/AIDS.