Could the people that are using this Med, please give me the following info?
(a) When you do take the Meds, how does it make you feel please?
(b) Is it an ‘as and when needed’ type of medication pls?
(c) Can you still drink ‘alcohol’ when using this med pls?
(d) Are you still ‘allowed’ to drive whilst using this med pls?
Regards
Anna x
I don’t know, put have answered your blog to boost it, as these are things I would like to know,also how the hell do I get it,
Jean x
I can’t answer your questions either sorry, like Jean although the neuro saidn10 months ago I fit the criteria, I am still waiting to hear about it. Deep down I don’t think I will get in in my postcode, but I wish you all the best.
Pam x
Same as others…my neurologist suggested it to me last month, telling me she has a lady who takes it, and reports great results. I was told it’s not available on the HSE, Ireland’s NHS equivalent and would cost around €300. My pharmacy told me more like 500. They tried to request it for the Long Term Illness Scheme, which will be free of charge. Met with a resounding “no”, all I could do was ask the neurologist to complete the appeal form given to me by the pharmacy. I’m waiting to hear from anyone!
Oh, and I was told it’s an oral spray that is sprayed inside of the cheek.
Tried Sativex various occasions over the last 2 or 3 years, and unfortunately it did nothing for me, apart from giving me an headache and dare I say making my legs feel heavier.
I’ve had it removed from my repeat prescription as I found it did nothing.
My MS consultant and MS nurse were both in agreement that Sativex is not all it’s bragged up to be, but they allowed me to be assessed by a spasticity consultant who had the final say on whether I could have it, and then decide for myself if I thought it did any good.
Here in Wales it’s free but you have to be assessed by a third party consultant to trial Sativex, your MS consultant/clinic cannot prescribe it, after the initial trial the third party consultant then passes over the prescription rights to your GP.
At least thats how it was when I was assessed for it.
I’ll try answer your questions on my experience.
A. You can take it throughout the day up to a max of 15 sprays per day on the inside of your cheek or under your tongue, it really is a trial and error medication, where you try to find the best dose that works for you.
B. Yes, you can increase/decrease depending on symptoms but it’s recommended to try and take your doses the same time each day.
C. In small doses.
D. Grey area this one. It is advisable to carry a letter stating you are taking this prescribed medication in case you get stopped by the police, ultimately it’s down to that police officer/ force whether or not they press charges for driving under the influence of drugs, hence the letter.
By law you must inform the DVLA if you have MS. You must also inform your insurance company if you have a medical condition that you have declared to the DVLA.
You will be issued a “Medical Licence” by the DVLA.
The grey area here is that when you declare you MS to the DVLA they ask about your medication, usually theres no problem at all with the standard meds taken for MS, however, if you are taking Sativex and declare it to the DVLA they may NOT issue you with a new medical licence because Sativex contains THC, after all if they allow a licence they are basically allowing someone to drive under the influence of a controlled drug.
The DVLA also contact your GP to confirm your medical history including your medication, so if Sativex is listed as one of your meds and you don’t mention it when declaring the MS theres a chance that the DVLA might refuse a medical licence ?
That was another reason why I’ve stopped taking it and had it removed from my prescription.
REMEMBER, if you have not declared your MS to the DVLA and you find yourself involved in an accident it could open up a world of great difficulty, basically your driving licence & insurance would be void as you’ve not declared your disability to both the DVLA & insurance company.
If you are driving with MS and it’s not been declared to the DVLA/insurance company, you are driving illegally, it’s as simple as that, in the eyes of the law your basically driving without a licence or insurance !
The last thing you need on top of that is to be found positive for driving with THC in your system !
It’s just not worth it, and more importantly, theres no need not to declare your MS as it’s simple to swap over to a medical licence (depending on medical history/ current medication) and it dont effect your insurance policy, they just want you to declare it !!
Thank you for your reply and yes it was very helpful.
I thought that they give you ‘Sativex’ because they have taken the ‘THC’ out of it. So what we get in ‘Sativex’ doesn’t make us ‘get high’. Is this correct please?
Regards
Anna
Thank you for your reply and yes it was very helpful.
I thought that they give you ‘Sativex’ because they have taken the ‘THC’ out of it. So what we get in ‘Sativex’ doesn’t make us ‘get high’. Is this correct please?
Regards
Anna
It’s a licensed drug because It contains THC, the psychogenic ingredient, but in a controlled measured quantity that is consistent with every dose.
Poppy is correct.
It contains THC at a controlled level.
It can give you a “high” on similar grounds as normal cannabis, obviously depending on the amounts you take, hence why it’s a grey area in regards to driving whilst taking it.
Even at the lower dosages I definitely felt that I had taken something different to my normal MS meds, not in a way that it helped my symptoms but made me feel woozy, tired, and nauseous.
hi @jactac, i been on it over 2 weeks hate it. is it just me but it TASTES VILE like over active peppermint and the smell too. I found it made me feel dizzy and disocriented, supposed to keep on it for at least 4 weeks but in between several things have happened so i have left it for now and will start again when in a better place.
its 50% THC and 50% CBD.