Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is notoriously difficult to treat because there are many different types from which someone might be suffering. A person may be subjected to a battery of different medications before finding one that works for them, and some OCD medicines have a lot of unwanted side effects. As a result, people are starting to explore medical marijuana for obsessive-compulsive disorder instead.

This is a great option in Florida for OCD-diagnosed individuals. In this article, you’ll learn why and how medical marijuana is effective for treating OCD.

What Exactly Does OCD Mean?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is believed to affect millions of people in the United States alone. Someone who suffers from this affliction will typically start to experience one or some of the common symptoms by the age of 19 years old. The symptoms include obsessive or compulsive behaviors like checking things repeatedly, hoarding, and repetitive actions.

For example, people with OCD may feel compelled to wash their hands frequently, check the locks on their door over and over, or clean things several times in a row.

Beyond those actions, people with OCD may find that they have intrusive thoughts, or that they have uncontrollable obsessions that consume their minds. Such undesirable thoughts will often start to interfere with a person’s pleasant experience of life.

You may find that obsessive-compulsive disorder prevents you from enjoying your time at work or school. It may also make you uncomfortable in social settings and can make it challenging to accomplish what you need to on a day to day basis.

People’s obsessions and compulsions can be so overwhelming that it’s nearly impossible to do anything other than be absorbed by them. As a result, these patients often experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The symptoms of OCD are often separated into obsession and compulsion, but a patient can be diagnosed for exhibiting severe symptoms in either of these categories:

• Obsessive
  • Persistent and uncontrollable thoughts or urges, including suicidal tendencies
  • Unusual need to make detailed plans
  • Extreme discomfort caused by contaminants like dirt
• Compulsive 
  • The perceived need for constant attention or affirmation
  • Washing, cleaning and organizing things beyond what is typical
  • Counting or checking on things
  • Excessive stress when a normal routine is disrupted

Prescription Medicines Vs. Marijuana and OCD

There are two traditional ways to address OCD besides just medical marijuana. The first method involves therapy, which may include exposing oneself to the subjects of obsession or compulsion while trying to mitigate negative responses. Pharmaceutical options like anti-anxiety or anti-depression medications are also commonly prescribed for people with OCD. In some cases, people may use pharmaceutical medications in addition to therapy.

Unfortunately, anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications might cause a long list of unwanted side effects. Below is a sample of common problems reported by people taking medications for OCD:

• Abdominal Cramps
• Agitation
• Confusion and Forgetfulness
• Diarrhea
• Fogginess and Impairment
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Restlessness
• Tiredness
• Vision Problems Like Blurring
• Weight Gain or Weight Loss
• Worsened Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

Medical Marijuana for a Patient with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

People have been using cannabis for medical applications for thousands of years already. In more recent years, some have explored it as an option for symptoms of OCD and reported experiencing valid results. Some of the most commonly reported effects of cannabis include decreased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. All of which are things people with obsessive-compulsive disorder are trying to address. 

Everybody has their unique brain chemistry, and cannabis seems to affect each person a little bit differently. As such, there is no way to know for sure precisely what you should expect as far as the benefits of medical marijuana for OCD. That said, since cannabis does seem to help so many people feel less anxious, it’s reasonable to try it as a way to address obsessions and compulsions. 

People who have used cannabis for OCD in the past have reported that it reduces their experience of symptoms like the following:

• Feelings of social isolation that, if unchecked, might lead people to seek reassurance from others in an unhealthy manner
• General stress, tension, depression, and anxiety, all of which commonly occur for people with OCD
• Impulsive behavior, strong urges, and other repetitive and unwanted behaviors and thoughts

Sometimes people are able to get OCD under better control with standard medications like anti-anxiety pills and antidepressants. Some of those patients still turn to medical marijuana because they say it helps them live with the side effects of their other medications. Until we have more complete clinical trials about the benefits of cannabis for OCD, we can only look to the anecdotal experiences of many people who have used medical marijuana conditions. 

Some of the most common ways people report using medical marijuana for obsessive-compulsive disorder include the following:

• Reducing nausea from their medication, which may help restore appetite and prevent weight loss
• Soothing headaches in addition to other discomforts like abdominal pains caused by their medicine
• Addressing restlessness and agitation with a medical marijuana strain that makes them feel calm
• Getting to sleep at night with the help of cannabis when their other medications have been causing insomnia

What Is the Best Type of Medical Marijuana for OCD?

People use different strains of medical marijuana in various types of cannabis products depending on the exact effects they’re looking for. Some strains seem to have the same benefits for most people but usually, patients have to experiment with different options and dose sizes before they find out what works best for them. Some people have found that they like options with high CBD for OCD, while others find that medical marijuana with more THC potency seems more helpful.

If you’re not sure where to start, work with the most reliable medical marijuana clinic Miami has to offer. The staff will guide you through the entire process to help you gain access to dispensaries, and the doctor will work with you on a plan. Once you get your medical marijuana card in Florida and prepare to visit a dispensary for the first time, you’ll be ready to explore your options with confidence.

Try Florida Medical Marijuana for OCD

If you’re interested in the effects of THC and CBD for OCD, start by getting your Florida medical marijuana card. Dr. Fernando Fandino-Sende has decades of experience in the medical field and is a Board Certified Internal Medicine Doctor and Cardiologist. Now that he’s a leading cannabis doctor in Miami, his expertise will be helpful to you as you explore the potential benefits of medical marijuana for obsessive-compulsive disorder. 

Here at LifeCann, our entire staff is trained to help make the Florida medical marijuana card application as quick and easy as possible. Our patient care professionals will guide you through the entire process, and the consultation comes at no risk. 

If the doctor decides for any reason that you don’t qualify for medical marijuana in Florida, you won’t be charged for your in-person evaluation. Compassionate practices are what have made us the top-rated marijuana referral clinic in Miami, and we remain committed to putting our patients first.

Reach out to us at LifeCannMD today, and we’ll work with you to find relief. 

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