Fainting

While medical marijuana offers several benefits to patients, such as pain relief, it also poses several side effects, like many other medicines available today. One side effect some patients have experienced when using medical weed is fainting.

Additional Side Effects of Medical Marijuana

For medical marijuana physicians, the goal is to ensure you’re receiving treatments that offer you the maximum benefit. Because of that, they weigh the potential side effects of medical marijuana for your condition and consider your medical history to predict how you may respond to medical weed.

In some cases, you and your doctor may decide to incorporate medical cannabis into your treatment plan because of its side effects. People with insomnia, for instance, have benefited from using medical weed in the evening, as it can cause drowsiness.

How Does Medical Weed Cause Fainting?

Fainting from medical weed is caused by several factors, including:

• Blood Pressure: One of the cannabinoids found in medical cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is a vasodilator, which means it expands your blood vessels — this is one reason patients with high blood pressure use medical pot. That decrease in blood pressure, however, can cause an increased heart rate and, in some cases, fainting.
  
• Administration: When you smoke or vaporize medical marijuana, you feel the effects faster. In comparison, edibles and oils need more time to take effect. So, if you smoke medical cannabis, you may experience a sudden drop in blood pressure, which can surprise your body and result in fainting.

While standing doesn’t affect how medical weed interacts with your mind, it can make you more prone to fainting.

Signs of Fainting From Medical Cannabis

Signs you may be about to faint include:

• Feeling dizzy
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Headache
• Blurred vision

If you’re at home with loved ones, they may notice you becoming pale or unresponsive before fainting.

Long-Term Side Effects of Fainting

In most cases, fainting doesn’t cause any long-term side effects. One of the risks with fainting, whether it’s after giving blood, standing up too fast or using medical weed, is harming yourself when collapsing, such as by hitting your head. If this happens, don’t hesitate to go to the hospital. Should you faint on multiple occasions, it could be a sign of a more serious heart-related condition.

How to Prevent Fainting From Medical Marijuana

For most patients, fainting isn’t a tolerable side effect, and physicians agree. Because doctors understand why medical weed can cause fainting, they’ve developed several techniques for preventing it, including:

• Switching Your Strain: Since THC acts as a vasodilator, choosing a strain with low-THC and high-CBD content can limit its effects on your blood vessels, which then minimizes the chance of you fainting. Your doctor or budtender may be able to recommend a specific strain for your condition.
• Administering Your Medicine Sitting Down: Compared to sitting, standing places you at a higher risk of fainting. In fact, remedies for preventing fainting suggest sitting or lying down. Having fresh air, such as a breeze from an open window, can also help you avoid feeling faint.

If you’re having fainting spells when you use medical weed, consult with your physician before altering your treatment plan.

Talk to Your Medical Marijuana Doctor About Your Fainting

Because physicians understand the cause of fainting from medical weed and how to prevent it, it’s often still beneficial for patients to continue their treatment. But, it’s crucial that you continue meeting with a licensed, knowledgeable and compassionate medical marijuana doctor to discuss your symptoms and any potential changes to your treatment plan.