Medical Marijuana Offers New Relief Options for Older Adults, Studies Show
Older adults are now the fastest-growing group of cannabis users in the United States. Between 2005 and 2015, the number of people aged 65 and older who used cannabis doubled. It roughly doubled again from 2015 to 2018. By 2023, about 7% of adults 65 and older reported using cannabis in the past month. Some experts believe earlier numbers may have been too low, because older generations might have been reluctant to admit cannabis use due to lingering stigma. However, a study of patients aged 50 and older found that attitudes have shifted: four out of five survey respondents now have a favorable view of cannabis.
Many older adults are finding that cannabis helps with common symptoms and discomforts of aging. For some, it provides better relief than standard prescription drugs, sometimes with fewer side effects—though cannabis itself can also cause difficult side effects.
As people age, they often collect more health conditions, more specialists, and more prescriptions. “Polypharmacy” means taking five or more medications at the same time. This is common, expensive, confusing, and risky. Some primary care patients take 10 or more different drugs. But some older patients are discovering that medical marijuana can help them reduce their reliance on traditional medications. Many have reported better symptom relief, a calmer mood, improved quality of life related to their health, and better care at the end of life.
Chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia are widespread among people 65 and older. Doctors often respond by prescribing more medications. But the costs and side effects can add up. A drug that helps one symptom may make another worse. For example, a sleeping pill might cause more fatigue, balance problems, and memory issues. It is rare for doctors to stop or reduce medications, a process called “de-prescribing.” The medical system is set up for doctors to do more, even though sometimes less is better. Often, patients benefit more when doctors do less and re-evaluate treatments that are no longer needed.
Medical cannabis is different from most prescription drugs because it can treat several symptoms at once. For instance, it may help some patients with chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia simultaneously. This could mean a patient needs fewer medicines overall. Studies consistently show that using medical cannabis is linked to better “health-related quality of life.” Ultimately, health and quality of life are what matter most.
Many standard treatments for conditions like anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain can be especially harmful to older patients. Consider chronic pain, which affects tens of millions of Americans. No doctor wants to prescribe opioids, because they can cause falls, confusion, drowsiness, constipation, addiction, and delirium.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or diclofenac (Voltaren)—can harm or even kill patients. Risks include bleeding, ulcers, heart attacks, and kidney failure. About 16,000 arthritis patients die each year from overusing NSAIDs. Just because a drug is sold over the counter does not mean it is safe. Acetaminophen does little for chronic pain and can damage the liver. Gabapentin (Neurontin), often prescribed for chronic pain, offers very modest benefits but can cause brain fog and exhaustion. These medications are more dangerous for older patients than for younger ones.
Older patients are finding that cannabis can ease chronic pain while also improving their mood. This works best when cannabis is dosed correctly. The key rule is “start low and go slow.” Taking too much cannabis at once can be a miserable experience and may even be dangerous.
Recent studies show a major increase in symptom relief among older cannabis users, with relatively few and mild side effects. A 2018 study from Israel followed 2,736 medical cannabis patients over age 65. After six months of treatment, 93.7% reported improvement in their condition. Pain levels dropped from a median of 8 to a median of 4 on a 0-to-10 scale. The most common side effects were dizziness (9.7%) and dry mouth (7.1%). After six months, 18.1% of patients had stopped using opioid painkillers or had reduced their dose. These findings match the clinical experience of many doctors who treat older adults with cannabis.
Still, cannabis is not right for everyone. Some people have bad reactions, including anxiety or dizziness. Others have fallen or fainted. Some have medical conditions that make cannabis use more dangerous. Some simply do not like how it makes them feel, or find it makes them too sleepy. Like any drug, cannabis does not work for all people. But when it does work, it can be life-changing.
Source: MedPage Today
