Cannabis affects blood vessels with dilation which should make this worse but it is also an excellent pain killer and sedative which these patients need the most or worst.
(MOLALLA, Ore.) - Frequently I get emails asking about Migraines which affect about 30 million Americans and is probably one of the most devastatingly debilitating ills of mankind caused by dilation of blood vessels in the brain and causing pressure on the brain itself.
It has been around for a long time and probably was first treated with alcohol which might have made it worse till the person was anesthetized by the alcohol. Opium was probably next but it caused serious addiction. Both of the above ended up frequently with suicides. The migraines were just too painful. Aspirin was certainly tried but it was too weak.
After this came a whole stampede of medicines which didn’t work well despite television advertising. Here is a listing acquired from my computer as Migraine Drug Information. I have listed their ingredients or how they are supposed to work which is usually very poorly and maybe for the mildest cases.
Acular Opht – NSAID
Amerge Oral – Specific drug not too good
Anaprox Oral – NSAID
Axert Oral – Specific drug not too good
Cafergot Oral – Vaso constrictor & caffeine not too good
Compazine Oral – Anti-nausea, anti-vomiting
Depakote Oral - For treating seizures, brain depressant
Ergomar SL – Vaso constrictor, not too good
Fioricet Oral – Tylenol plus caffeine and barbiturate
Fiorinal Oral – Aspirin plus caffeine and barbiturate
Frova Oral – Specific drug, not too good
Imitrex Inj – Specific drug, not too good
Imitrex Oral – Specific drug, not too good
Maxalt (rizatriptan) – Specific drug, not too good
Maxalt Oral – Specific drug, not good relief
Midrin – Tylenol, vaso constrictor sedative
MIIDRIN Oral – Tylenol, vaso constrictor sedative
Migrana Nasl – Vaso constrictor not too good
Orudis Oral – NSAID
Phrenilin w/Caffeine-Codeine Oral – Vaso constrictor and painkillers
RELPAX Oral – Specific drug, not too good
Stadol NS Nasl – Weak codeine-like drug
Topamax (topriamate) – Specific drug, not too good
TOPAMAX Oral – Specific drug, not too good
Toradol Oral – NSAID not too good
Zomig Oral – Specific drug, not too good
To check to see if any of these medicines were in the TOP ONE HUNDRED PRESCRIPTIONS I checked that list also. None of the migraine drugs listed above were in the first 200. In fact in the first 50 were a mixture of many morphine like drugs (opiates), morphine substitutes (opioids) and aspirin like drugs (NSAIDs). The morphine and morphine-like drugs are probably effective but they are addicting. My favorite for injection was Demerol plus Benedryl but even with those the patient was disabled for about 24 hours.
The aspirin and similar drugs are just not strong enough and the Ibuprofen related drugs aren’t either.
This brings me to the REAL MCCOY, cannabis/marijuana. I don’t know who discovered this but it was probably accident by a recreational user. Cannabis affects blood vessels with dilation which should make this worse but it is also an excellent pain killer and sedative which these patients need the most or worst.
It’s interesting to know the meaning of The Real McCoy. He was a bootlegger on the east coast and his bootleg booze was considered the best – THE REAL MCCOY.
I had about 100 migraine patients, see migraine Leveque on Salem-News.com. They had tried most or many of the drugs listed in all categories. If you read the email comment you will get the message. Even Marinol seems to work but it takes an hour, inhaling the vapor gives relief in minutes.
Try THE REAL MCCOY!!
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Dr. Phillip Leveque has degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and minors in physiology and biochemistry. He was a Professor of Pharmacology, employed by the University of London for 2 years, during which time he trained the first doctors in Tanzania. After training doctors, he became an Osteopathic Physician, as well as a Forensic Toxicologist.
Before any of that, Phil Leveque was a Combat Infantryman in the U.S. Army in WWII. He suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder more than 60 years after the war, and specialized in treating Veterans with PTSD during his years as a doctor in Molalla, Oregon. Do you have a question, comment or story to share with Dr. Leveque? Email him: ASK DR. LEVEQUE
More information on the history of Dr. Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of WWII about his own experiences "from a foxhole". Order the book by mail by following this link: DOGFACE SOLDIER OF WWII If you are a World War II history buff, you don't want to miss it.
Migraines: Trash Medicines and the Real McCoySalem-News.com