Once you decide to consult with me , you will fill out an intake form so I can learn about you, your health issues, and any concerns you might have regarding the use of medicinal cannabis and other herbal medications. Then, I can begin researching and creating a cannabis regimen, specifically for you.  Haven’t used cannabis before? No worries! I always start with micro-doses to quell any of your fears.

Designing a protocol for medical cannabis and other integrative medications is highly individualized. The protocols I design for my patients take into consideration many factors including current lifestyle, mental and physical health and previous cannabis use. To do this, I draw upon my 28 years of experience and knowledge as a Pharmacist, as well as my personal experience of using cannabis to treat the symptoms of cancer and it’s treatments and Lyme disease in my own life. There are so many factors to consider in order to realize the positive effects of using cannabis and other integrative medications as a part of your journey to greater health. 

Cannabis and integrative medications can have many drug interactions affecting how your other medicines work and could put you at risk of side effects and toxicity, even possibly worsening medical conditions you might already have.  My intake is designed to get a thorough picture of your current state of health so that I can mitigate any possible drug interactions and potential pharmacologic or pharmacokinetic effects. 

That said, here are some drug interactions to consider before you start working with me.

  • Blood thinners CBD interacts with certain blood thinners and increases the bioavailability of the blood thinners themselves. Use caution and consult with your physician when using CBD and blood thinners in tandem.

  • Grapefruit warnings Caution should be exercised when combining Cannabis with medications that have a grapefruit warning. 

  • Surgery If you are planning on having any kind of surgery and are regularly consuming high-dose CBD, research has found that it may have an anti-coagulant effect which puts patients at risk for increased bleeding during and after surgery

  • Cannabinoids & immunotherapy Administering cannabis to patients with cancer undergoing immunotherapy may lower the tumor response rate of the therapy, according to one retrospective study.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30670598

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • A full review of your healthcare needs and concerns.

  • A full review of your current medications to identify drug interactions or concerns.

  • A 30-minute consultation with a Board Certified Pharmacist. 

  • A specific medical cannabis and/or integrative medication regimen, including recommended product(s)and dosing instructions.

  • A printout of all product recommendations, where to purchase products, your specific dosing regimen and valuable research links for your review.

For full booking terms and conditions please click here.

A NOTE FOR CANCER PATIENTS:

I consult with cancer patients on a variety of issues including pain, nausea and vomiting, radiation burns, anxiety and insomnia.  I do not generally consult on tumor reduction strategies except in partnership with your oncologist for the reasons outlined below:

Using cannabis for tumor reduction is complex. There are a variety of studies showing that cannabis has anti-tumor effects, via induction of cell death, inhibition of cell growth, and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis invasion and metastasis. In vitro and in vivo cancer models both show that cannabinoids can effectively modulate tumor growth. Unfortunately, anti-tumor effects appear to be largely dependent on the pathology of the cancer and the specific cannabinoid and dose used. There are very different effects between each cannabinoid (all >100 of them). The bottom line is that using cannabis as a tumor reduction strategy should be very patient and cancer-specific. Using cannabis in this manner is an emerging science and anyone who tells you otherwise is not being honest. However, if you and your oncologist are still willing to integrate it into your current cancer protocol, I would be happy to research the most updated information for you. It is certainly worth investigating.