A brief summary of the condition, it’s causes,
common symptoms and treatment pathways
and how Medical Cannabis could help.
A brief summary of the condition, it’s causes,
common symptoms, treatment plans
and how Medical Cannabis can help.
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterised by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks. This is a sudden and intense episode of overwhelming fear which can cause chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness and stomach upset, among many other symptoms.
Panic disorder can sometimes lead to people avoiding certain situations because they fear this will trigger another attack, which can create a cycle of “living in fear of fear”, further worsening the sense of panic and fear about an attack happening.
Panic disorder is a common mental health disorder and is thought to affect around 1 in 10 people in the UK.
As with other mental health conditions, the exact cause of Panic disorder is not fully understood. It is thought to be linked to a combination of things, including traumatic or stressful life experiences, having a family member with Panic disorder, or chemical imbalances in the brain (eg serotonin).
Panic disorder treatment usually involves psychotherapies. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective treatments for Panic disorder. It helps individuals focus on identifying and changing the distorted thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to panic attacks.
As part of CBT, exposure therapy may be used to help individuals confront their fears in a controlled way.
Antidepressants, such as SSRIs or SNRIs, are frequently used in Panic disorder.
Short term use of benzodiazepines can sometimes be prescribed to control acute anxiety or panic attacks.
Betablockers (such as propranolol) can be used to combat the physical symptoms of Panic disorder such as racing heart / palpitations / shaking.
The two primary compounds in medical cannabis are the cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body, and can help with the different symptoms of Panic disorder.
CBD has calming and anti-anxiety effects. It interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, specifically by influencing serotonin receptors, which play a role in mood regulation. Some studies have shown that CBD might reduce general anxiety, including social anxiety and fear responses, which could be beneficial for people with Panic disorder.
THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis that produces the “high” feeling. In many individuals, especially those prone to anxiety or panic attacks, THC can cause increased anxiety, paranoia, and even panic. When using medical cannabis to treat Panic disorder, it is therefore vitally important to have the correct ratios of CBD to THC.
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4.8 overall rating on Google
May 2024
Where do I start?! I have to admit I was very nervous, considering I have tried numerous treatments for my fibromyalgia and EDS and had a medical prescription 3 pages long and really complex medical issues. I was in an awfully high level of pain, even with all that.
Every single staff member from reception, nurses, pharmacy and my lovely Dr Vanessa Hutchinson have been consistently friendly, professional, helpful and incredibly fast in progressing me from initial online enquiry to receiving my prescription (just under 2 weeks and we had the Easter 4 day break in-between!).
In this very short time, my pain levels have reduced significantly (as have my other medications!). I cannot recommend this clinic enough. Thanks CB1 MEDICAL 🙂
March 2024
Staff really nice, and keep in touch to monitor my progress and any questions I may have. I feel very comfortable talking about my situation as no judgement or negative feedback. I feel like my life, health and symptoms are being taken seriously but with care.
Follow up appointment over the telephone was relaxed, no rushing, he answered all the questions about my medication and progress without prejudice, sarcasm and was so easy and a breath of fresh air. I can say that if you are thinking of treatment and support like nowhere else then you will be in very caring and professional hands that really do make you feel that you are important and heard with respect and understanding. 5 stars are not enough.
October 2024
My life has been transformed since starting medical cannabis with CB1 Medical.
Dr Richard Pertwee was friendly and so knowledgeable. The relief I’ve experienced has been nothing short of miraculous. The quality of life I now have is something I never thought possible, started to smell the roses eg I’m incredibly grateful to you all.
Highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling or has ineffective medication.
April 2024
I know when you pay for an appointment, you expect a different service, but honestly, this is beyond what I expected. The appointments were scheduled quickly, and happened within days, mostly late evenings to fit around my work. The doctors listen and I didn’t feel like I was being judged as just a junkie after pain meds. That’s how I feel in an NHS appointment.
The meds were delivered quickly and I got to using them right away. In the last 11 days, I’ve used painkillers once, and only paracetamol. This is down from multiple painkillers multiple times every single day. And I sleep so much better as well.
