Medical Cannabis for Palliative Care

Since 2018, medical cannabis has been legally available on prescription through licensed clinics like Alternaleaf for 50+ conditions. You can find out if you’re eligible by completing the quick eligibility checker on our website. Below we’ll be exploring medical cannabis for end-of-life support and how palliative care and medical cannabis in the UK may potentially be used alongside each other to improve the lives of patients.

What Is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is a specialised form of medical support aimed at improving the quality of life for people living with serious or life-limiting illnesses, such as cancer, heart failure, neurodegenerative conditions, or those approaching end-of-life. It focuses on relieving pain, symptoms, and emotional distress, rather than curing the underlying disease. 

Palliative care can be offered at any stage of an illness - not just at the end of life - and is often introduced alongside other treatments. The aim of palliative care is to help patients manage symptoms and maintain comfort, dignity, and independence for as long as possible.

Which Symptoms Are Commonly Treated in Palliative Care?

Some of the most common symptoms that are managed by palliative care include:

Pain: This is one of the most frequent and impactful symptoms. It’s reported that between 35% and 96% of advanced cancer patients feel pain. Opioids are usually prescribed as part of palliative care to give patients some relief. 

Nausea and Vomiting: This affects up to 68% of cancer patients during their illness and more than 40% of cancer patients experience nausea near the end‑of‑life. These symptoms can greatly reduce well‑being. Antiemetics are medications used to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting as part of palliative care.

Breathlessness: This symptom is especially common in advanced cancer and chronic lung disease patients. Palliative care often combines treatments like opioids with strategies such as breathing exercises.

Fatigue: Experienced by up to 90% of cancer patients, fatigue can be debilitating. Management may include treating contributing factors like depression, and supportive therapies to preserve energy and function.

Appetite Loss: This symptom commonly occurs as illness progresses. Palliative care strategies may involve small, frequent meals, nutritional supplements, and dietary adjustments to maintain comfort and weight.

Insomnia: Sleep disturbances are prevalent and can worsen overall discomfort and emotional distress. Interventions may include behavioral strategies and, when needed, medications.

Anxiety and Psychological Distress: Anxiety, depression, and existential distress often accompany the physical symptoms of cancer. Palliative care addresses these through counseling, medication, and holistic support systems.

Each of these symptoms, left unmanaged, can profoundly impact daily life and emotional well-being. Which is why it’s so important to improve comfort and quality of life for people in palliative care. 

Research shows that integrating palliative care early can significantly improve symptom control and emotional well-being, and even extend life for some. For example this study looks at how some advanced lung cancer patients receiving early palliative care demonstrated longer median survival compared to those receiving standard care. It also supports patients’ physical and emotional comfort, fosters better communication and decision-making, and ensures care continuity across different settings. 

Palliative care not only benefits patients but also eases the burden on family caregivers, reducing their stress and preserving their emotional and physical well-being.

So, how does medical cannabis for palliative care come into this? 

How Can Medical Cannabis Support Palliative Care Patients?

The cannabis plant produces over 100 cannabinoids, or compounds. Tetrahydrocannabinolis (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are two of these natural compounds, and they’re what you’ll see most often when researching medical cannabis. 

Although THC and CBD have many similar potential medical benefits, they can have different effects. The main difference is that THC can produce a ‘high’, while CBD doesn’t. And remember, whilst there is evidence to give a general idea of how both THC and CBD may react with the body, they can affect every individual differently. 

Medical cannabis works in the body by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, or the ECS. This is a messenger and receptor system that plays a big role in homeostasis (the management of balance) within the human body. Research suggests that the ECS influences and modulates mood, appetite, sleep, pain, and much more.

One of the core components of the ECS are the cannabinoid receptors, which includes CB1 and CB2. Many experts believe that, by consuming compounds like CBD and THC, it’s possible to interact with these receptors in the body. And that’s why medical cannabis can potentially have positive effects for so many different conditions. Here’s some research that explores medical cannabis for symptom management: 

• This study shows how THC has the potential to ease the symptoms of nausea by interacting with the CB1 receptors. We’ve got lots more on medical cannabis for nausea and anxiety on our blog. 
• Animal studies show CBD may reduce excessive daytime sleepiness and THC may improve REM sleep regulation. But whilst THC has sedative properties that can help induce sleep more quickly and enhance overall sleep duration, it’s also been seen to reduce the amount of REM sleep you get. This reduces dreams, and potentially reduces nightmares. If you spend less time dreaming, you’ll spend more time in a “deep sleep” state, which is thought to be the most restorative, restful part of the sleep cycle.
• In a historic study, high dose THC tablets gave patients significant pain relief. While it’s important to note the strength of dose (15-20mg) did cause sedation, this was balanced against the participants’ acute pain. This shows how medical cannabis can support cancer pain relief. But more research is needed. 
• THC has also been known to stimulate appetite. 
• CBD exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-nausea, and anxiolytic properties, offering relief from discomfort, inflammation, and psychological distress.

But did you know that a combination of THC and CBD may reduce or regulate nausea by interacting with the brain and gut receptors responsible for vomiting and digestive discomfort. And this idea that both CBD and THC can play a lead role on certain health conditions, and can sometimes be greater together, is a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. 

The bottom line is, the potential benefits of cannabinoids for symptom relief alongside palliative care may improve quality of life for patients. 

How Can Palliative Care Patients Access Medical Cannabis in the UK?

Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 1st November 2018. Although it’s available on the NHS for adults with vomiting or nausea caused by chemotherapy, very few people have actually gotten a prescription.

Instead, you can get a prescription through a licensed medical cannabis clinic like Alternaleaf. To be eligible, you’ll need a diagnosis for a qualifying condition, and to have been offered at least two conventional treatments for this condition. This can include medication, talking therapy, physiotherapy, surgery and anything else prescribed by your GP. Keep in mind, if you’re pregnant or have a history of psychosis or schizophrenia, you won’t qualify.

Just because it’s legal in the UK, doesn’t mean it’s legal everywhere. It’s always a good idea to check if you’re travelling somewhere, what their rules and laws are around medical cannabis. 

Our specialist doctors can prescribe for 50+ other conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, ADHD and autism. We offer expert guidance throughout your medical cannabis journey to ensure safe and effective use. Find out if you’re eligible by heading to our website and completing our 30 second eligibility checker.

Summary

Palliative care offers patient-centred support throughout the course of serious illness, addressing physical discomfort, emotional distress, and the needs of both patients and their loved ones. 

For those seeking additional symptom relief, a medical cannabis prescription alongside palliative care in the UK  may be an option. The best thing to do is speak to your clinician, or seek the help of a licensed medical cannabis clinic like Alternaleaf if you’re considering medical cannabis treatment. Find out if you’re eligible by heading to our website and completing our 30 second eligibility checker.