More good news about cannabis. People suffering from intense vertigo and nausea due to an inner ear problem — a condition of unknown cause and limited susceptibility to conventional medical treatment called Ménière’s disease — find significant improvement from cannabis, according to California doctors.
California doctors routinely approve the use of cannabis by Meniere’s patients who say that it helps ease their symptoms. “Meniere’s causes dizziness, dizziness causes nausea, cannabis relieves nausea,” says David Bearman, MD. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the symptoms caused Mrs. Gee to be a little depressed and of course cannabis helps that, too.”
Robert Sullivan, MD, corroborates: “I’ve issued many recommendations for Meneire’s, as well as tinnitus [ringing in the ears]. It works well enough to make a significant improvement in patients’ lives, i.e., symptoms not gone but much abated so they can function and carry on their daily activities, instead of sitting and suffering. It also aids sleep.”
R. Stephen Ellis, MD, has given some thought to how cannabis might help in the treatment of Meniere’s. “Three possible mechanisms come to mind,” he says. “Number one, the anti-anxiety effect of cannabis would be very useful to a Meniere’s patient. These people are anxious as can be when they hit the ER. When they get an attack it’s as if they are wired — that’s why Ativan is one of the treatments, to bring them down. Two would be the anti-nausea effect. Duh! You’re barfing and there’s a drug that offers relief in 10 seconds. The third is slowing down the vertigo itself — the sensation of spinning caused by the inner ear problem. My patients say cannabis is as good as Benadryl, which is the classic treatment. I recall reading that the auditory nerve does have CB1 receptors. I don’t know about the cochlear structure itself.”
Fred Gardner has more.
Hat-tip to mayan.
November 16, 2006 at 9:50 pm
Ah, very interesting. I need to read and digest this when I’m not sleepy. My graduate degree is in audiology so I’ve had patients with Meniere’s Disease. For now, I’ll say that I feel there are many good reasons for the legalization of cannibas in certain cases, particularly for pain management, but I am not a doctor and am not current with the literature on this issue.
November 16, 2006 at 10:41 pm
I think it should be legal because it helps you be healthier. It’s just that simple.
March 1, 2007 at 4:24 pm
As one who suffers with all of the issues of Meniere’s Disease, I came to find out about how helpful Cannabis can be for the symptoms, etc. from a suggestion (actually a joking suggestion) by a friend.
I had (mis)used Cannabis as a teen, but left the drug behind in my 20′s as did most adolescent users. I had -0- use of the drug until recent years when the Meniere’s was becoming nearly disabling.
One of the more difficult “symptoms” of Meniere’s Disease is when the inner ear, due to excess fluids inside, caused pressure to build up. This causes pressure in the head, but not really “pain” in the classical sense. It does make simple things, like THINKING, a real challenge. This (in my case) often precedes a more severe Vertigo attack, and I can feel it building up throughout the day. I do believe much of this is caused by work & life related stress.
I discussed the possibility of trying MJ for this symptom with my wife first. She had little/no experience with MJ, but told me if it had a chance to make me better then “Go for it!”.
A couple days later I had severe fullness all afternoon, and once the day was over I stepped outside and took just 2 puffs of MJ. Within seconds (literally) the feeling of the fullness was reduced by at least 75%, and within 5 min. it was gone entirely.
Prior to this time I had been experiencing 2-3 severe Vertigo attacks weekly….most times these attacks would last 2-5 hrs. before abating, or I used a Phenagren suppository to stop the vomiting. Valium has litte effect once an attack had begun, and I refused to take it on a regular basis due to the severe withdrawl asociated with stopping regular Valium use.
Spending 2-5 hrs. at a time in the bathroom, most of it leaning over the edge of a hard porcelain toilet bowl, is no fun at all. (we called it the “Vomitorium” as I had spent so much time there).
Since I started regular (once daily) metered doses of MJ I have had -0- (that’s right not one) severe episode, and no vomit level episodes in over 9 months. (that’s heaven for me).
I use less than 1/2 gr. of a specific type of MJ, daily, and am told this is much less than the average MJ user for other medical issues.
I am definitely NOT in remission, as I still experience very mild vertigo at times, and the fullness seems to show up every 2-3 days and remind me that, while I may be knocking down the physical discomfort of the symptoms, I still have the disease. My ability to hear continues to be less and less with each hearing test I undergo.
I have shared this (openly) with my doctors (ENT and Neurotologist). My regular ENT was supportive (asked questions) but didn’t want to touch the legal issue associated with Medical MJ, and the other (a noted specialist) acted like I had leprosy and wanted nothing more than for me to get out of his office. Sad part was, I had taken the time to travel 200 miles to this guys office, sat and waited for 2 hrs, then a 1 hr. audio test, and FINALLY get to see the man and he doesn’t come any closer to me than 5 ft. He acted like I had some incurable and highly contagious disease just because I was honest and straight-forward about the use of a drug I believe could help thousands of Meniere’s suffers.
I am a male, business professional and in my late 40′s, and using Cannabis to treat my Meniere’s has allowed me to NOT have to take any more Valium, Phenagren or other drugs like them. The disease had been so severe that at the time I decided to try the Cannabis, I was also trying to determine if I should sell my firm as I was honestly afraid I would soon be fully disabled, and no longer capable of representing my Principals properly.
Other than a slight loss of motivation in the mornings, I have noted no adverse side effects from using the Cannabis daily.
The only remaining approved medical treatment options (as explained to me by a Neurotologist) were either to surgically cut the vestibular nerve, or destroy it chemically with injections of Gentamiacin. Either of the above require extensive therapy to re-gain balance and motor skills, and I would be permanently deaf in the ear treated with either option.
It (medical cannabis) has truly given me my life and my career back. I find it sad that the social stigma surrounding the use of Cannabis has clouded the potential of it as a medication to the point that most MD’s I’ve met are terrified to even go near the subject for fear of government retribution.
I, for one, refuse to stay sick when there is a safe, highly effective treatment that exists.
Mike
March 27, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Mike-i could really relate to your letter. i have had Meniere’s for 18 years but the episodes have been increasing in frequency for the past year and a half. i have not been able to work since then, was an ER nurse and the anxiety of possibly having a drop attack, the unilateral deafness that left me unable to locate where sounds (eg. alarms) are coming from, and the inability to drive at times have made me feel unsafe.
so, my boyfriend from Colorado has his card and i’ve been trying it. i recently went on vacation with grandkids and nonsmokers for 10 days (no weed) and had 2 drop attacks and 2 vertigos where i lost the day.
i’m still trying to get into remission with daily SERC, diazide but am confident that the MM is my answer, just need to titrate and learn to grow, as the dispensaries are expensive. i am a resident of a non-legal state, or i would have my card! but it is on our ballot for november and they have already passed a bill on how to tax it, so looks good!
i would rather not support the outrageous drug companies.
i had a vertigo attack today, couldn’t walk or focus, and it was while i was caring for a grandbaby–pretty scary. took the regular meds, valium, dyazide, meclizine, and improved a bit. then took a small hit and within minutes was totally fine. i’m a believer!
March 1, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Mike,
I have a couple suggestions for you which may have already occurred to you but are also important for others who suffer from similar problems to be aware of.
First, use a vaporizer if at all possible. Second, consider inhaling the vapor directly into your sinuses. You will find that this could cause temporary exacerbation, but over time this is likely to help improve function of your inner ear.
April 24, 2007 at 4:40 am
I have Meniere`s disease also. I was given the usual medications to take when I was having an attack. I would have to take a valium and a meclizine. But I knew once I took that medication I was going to be couch bound for the rest of the day. I was having a really bad spell one day and my friend suggested smoking some marijuana for the nausea. I did it and it helped immensely. I dont have rapid cycle bouts of Meniere`s but when i do get an attack it is awful.
If I have a choice between the prescribed medications for relief or smoking a few puffs, I chose the latter.
April 24, 2007 at 10:01 am
Heidi, I have a question that might seem out of place, but maybe you can tell me if you tend to grind your teeth. I’m seeing a lot of similarity in the effects of TMJ disorder and what is diagnosed in many cases as Meniere’s. In my own case, I had many of the symptoms such as vertigo on occasion, but when the otolaryngologist examined me he explained what I was doing with my jaw and advised me to stop. Cannabis helps me treat that, too, although it was not the original reason for my medical recommendation. It seems to help a lot of problems for a lot of people, at any rate.
May 3, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Whig:
TMJ can cause a whole slew of symptoms that follow right along the Meniere’s Disease symptoms. From what I have heard from others, it can be treated (the TMJ) and relief found via therapy to the TMJ.
My Meniere’s is caused by repeated ear trauma over a few decades. My Doc looked at every other possibility prior to giving the diagnosos of meniere’s…it typically is the last resort diagnosis doctors want to see.
Good on ya Heidi! After spending too many hard earned $$$ seeing doc’s that were clueless as to a course of treatment that wasn’t barbaric or involved seriously addicitve med’s, I decided to look into the MJ on my own. Damn glad I did, too.
Also, a great resource for diet and other stuff (Meniere’s related) at http://www.meniere‘s.org.
Mike
May 23, 2007 at 12:23 pm
I’ve been using the herbal remedy for sometime and the Oregon medical group dealing with Medical Marijuana have heard from me as it works so very well against the nausea and the anxiety. It also helps me eat as I normally don’t care if I live or die.
I would much rather use Mother Nature than the Lorazepam as I’m sleeping my life away with the latter.
Give it a try if you’re up to it. It’s one of the only ways I get reliefe.
May 24, 2007 at 10:05 am
Hi
I was looking into finding alternative remedies for vertigo treatment. I found some good stuff about homeopathics and vitamins (http://www.vertigo-treatment.info/vertigo-treatment/),but
I guess this is alternative as I can get for treatment.And after reading the comments it seems to be helping many people with vertigo and Menniere’s.I wonder what effect the marijuana has on the inner ear? Fascinating…
You are brave people for standing up for what you believe in….
May 24, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Rebecca and Jim, hello to you both.
Jim, there are a number of things that can help, but it is not only standing up for what we believe in but for what we know is necessary to reduce pain and suffering, and to help people live.
July 27, 2007 at 8:20 am
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=471106&in_page_id=1770&ct=5
Schizo!
July 27, 2007 at 8:58 am
Thanks for the link, None. There is some evidence that people self-medicate with cannabis to treat various mental and physical problems which it helps. There is no surprise that an association exists, but no causal relationship or mechanism has been shown.
October 30, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Mike, you mention “I use less than 1/2 gr. of a specific type of MJ, daily…” Can you please let me know what type of MJ you use? My husband has Meniere’s — was diagnosed about 3 years ago and found the Meclizine did not help at all. Now he takes just the Valium when he has a bad bout. Problem is, we have a 1-yr old, we both work full-time professional jobs, AND he’s going to school for his MBA (nearly done!) I wondered if marijuana might help and finally decided tonight to start doing some research. Any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated.
October 30, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Wifey,
I’m sure Mike can give you some specific information if he would like to about his own experiences, but the general recommendation with medical marijuana is “whatever works.” There’s no risk of overdose, but if he takes more than he needs it may cause him to be more sleepy. Obviously you need to be conscious of the legal risks, but medically there isn’t much of a concern trying different strains at different dosages to get the desired effects that give satisfactory relief.
October 31, 2007 at 7:43 pm
whig,
Thanks for your reply. You mention the legal risks, and I have to add that it really does blow my mind that both alcohol and cigarettes are legal — which you can and do kill people — while providing no medical benefits to the population — but marijuana is illegal and can do so many beneficial things for people in need.
And, I sit hear typing thinking… how on earth will we get our hands on marijuana? Though, I really wonder how many more people use it than I realize. But it’s absurd that I cannot go to a place like a pharmacy… have my husband try out different varieties…
Anyway, thank you for your help.
October 31, 2007 at 9:52 pm
It may be easier or harder depending on where you live. Twelve states have medical marijuana laws that may help.
February 27, 2008 at 8:30 am
Thanks for this article and comments. Fantastic testimonial. This is a horrible disease, and I’m very happy to find personal testimonies about how well marijuana works.
March 10, 2008 at 1:05 pm
So what are the 12 states and do you have to get a prescription from a doctor within that state or what?
March 27, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Hi Lois. NORML has some pages here:
Alaska | California | Colorado | Hawaii | Maine | Montana | Nevada | New Mexico | Oregon | Rhode Island | Vermont | Washington
May 26, 2008 at 4:58 am
Hi, I am having meniere symptoms for over 7 years and i used nearly every prescription drug that is available in my country (Turkey). Nothing made me feel good and those vertigos, ringing in the ears, hearing loss and vomiting(rarely) never stopped.
I then started MJ. I use it everyday now. My hearing loss was %60 and i wasnt able to understand any conversation if i listened it with my left ear. I was having vertigos all the time and for some time and it affected my work also. Now after using MJ i can say that i am healed %85. I can hear with my left ear + no ringing + no vomiting. I get vertigos only for 5-15 secs and they happen 2-3 times a year. But the vertigos now are really bad. As if they are compressed throughout the year and blast with all the resting energy. I prefer having severe vertigos 2-3 times a year than having it all the time. The only downside is that i cannot drive, i fear that the vertigo will catch me while driving (happened once).
I recommend trying it at least for a week every day without any medication. If it doesnt do you any good then maybe it just doesnt work for everyone.
I dont know the type of MJ, it is always a different kind. I hope what i experienced is helpful for those with menieres disease.
GL.
May 26, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Kaan, that’s great that you’ve gotten your symptoms reduced, if you try a dose of homeopathic Belladonna 200C it might help a bit with what remains. It might trigger an exacerbation at first, so take caution. Hope this helps.
November 6, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I also have meniere’s and I am also in chorus with the rest of you. After being prescribed diaretics, valium, antidepressants, you name it, nothing seems to give me any real sense of relief like MJ. I am in the military which puts me up shits creek, but after trying MJ again recently at a concert (the first time since my teens), I actually felt good and experienced some relief to my symptoms. Unfortunately the military is still stuck in ignorant-land and won’t let me receive a prescription that I need. Morphine, percocet, vicodin, valium, and so on are completely acceptable, but THC? No Way!! Sad.
Anyway, I know how you guys feel.
peace.
December 30, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I have Meniere’s, along with other medical problems and as a result I am on disability. I hadn’t had MJ since my teens, but after 16 years of not partaking, I was given some… it was no miracle cure, but I was quite surprised at how it immediately reduced my tinnitus, drastically improved my hearing and while it didn’t eliminate the dizziness, it took the edge off of it and made it tolerable. Had to be careful not to use too much, though.
I haven’t had it in about 5 years now due to reasons of access and also because I am not one of those people who can function well while stoned… I feel much better, but I’m not able to be very productive while high. It’s certainly better to sit and space out listening to music and feeling ok than to lie there feeling horrible. I would like to have it available for the occasional time when I am not able to tolerate my symptoms any longer, however.
April 18, 2009 at 11:11 pm
It works, I have had menieres for 18 years. No salt and Marijuana works for me. I just happened upon this website looking to see if it works for others. Now I’m planning on approaching my Doctor for a prescription. It works for the nausea and is way better for you than the valium. It will be interesting to see if he prescribes it, cause he gave me a script for valium for life 18 years ago. I live in a conservative state. I would think that a little pot would be better than valium. The valium gives you such a hangover the next day. Good luck to all of you with this disease. POT WORKS!!!
June 4, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Yesterday I was diagnosed with Menieres disease, acute motion disorder, and hyrops/migraine dizziness. I have had these symtoms for many years and self treated with MJ. Since I have stopped MJ my symptoms have gotten worse and much more annoying which is why I went to an audiologist. My 82 year old mother (who as never smoked MJ) suggested that I try smoking again to see if there is an improvement. I found this site seaching for someone to validate my findings that MJ helps with the symtoms of Meniere’s. I would like to try to legitimately use Medical Marijuana but I am nervous to see the doctor who writes the prescription for MJ and I am afraid of walking into a despensary to obtain what I need. I am afraid of being arrested or detained even though my state has “so-called” leagalized MJ. Does anyone have any suggestions to overcoming this fear? My only other option is taking the medication from my doctor that put me to sleep so I cannot function or to buy it illegally. I will appreciate any advise to obtaining legal MJ.
June 24, 2009 at 8:43 am
I am 24 years old and have battling with Meniere’s for about 6 years. I have always had ear problems (infections, viruses, etc.) and I am told that it will get worse as I get older. My hearing is getting worse and my work is suffering tremendously! I am a hair stylist and I have lost several clients over the past few years because I am always calling in “dizzy”.
My friends and family have a hard time dealing with illness because “I don’t look sick”. It is really frustrating and I do suffer from anxiety from constantly worrying. I worry about my job, I worry about my relationship, I worry about traveling (even the car ride to the grocery store 2 blocks away).
I smoke MJ regularly, but I don’t consider myself “a pot head”. It really helps me to calm down and assess my barrings. I function normally after use (having said that, I have been using regularly for at least 3 years), so my day goes by a lot better. For me, “regularly” means once in the morning (well before I go to work to decrease anxiety) and when I get home from work or before bed to calm down.
I used to think that i was addicted to the feeling of being high because it felt good or fun, but I realized that MJ really helps me feel and function more normally. I’m used to the feeling of being off balance because that doesn’t go away completely, but when the nauseous feeling subsides, I am MUCH more comfortable.
When I am not dizzy, my mood is better, my confidence is boosted, my life is better.
LEGALIZE IT!
June 28, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Hi there all you poor giddy people like my poor wife,
she was struck by this terrible sneaky monster what
enables you to funtion normally as wel.
As we live in a regeon on the planet where T.H.C is
verry easy to obtain I will ….let you all know how it
rumbles.
raaf
July 9, 2009 at 1:18 pm
we are trying it out
regards
piet raaf
July 12, 2009 at 5:41 am
Hi there all meniere suferers we tried weed yesterday,
IT WORKS god ol mighty,The ringing just a slight murmur instead
of the indian drums,head ache gone after 10 minutes,puking…..
NO,MOOD Much Much better, this works,woke up this morning
with a head ache had a couple of pufs,had a nap feel great now,
THANK YOU NATURE this sure beats lorazepam.
December 11, 2009 at 10:25 am
Currently, I take a diuretic and a potassium supplement for my menieres condition. Does anyone know if I can stop taking them and rely only on the mj? I’m makes me nervous to stop using the diuretic because it works well. But, if anyone could shed some light, I would much rather use the herb. Thanks.
December 12, 2009 at 6:25 am
very nice article, one such symptoms which occur after hearning loud sounds or after concert is tinnitus also known as meniere’s disease, often known as ringing ears and tinnitus treatment is a costly affair. tumour and other ailments are different one..
BTW good and nice information
December 29, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I have found that if I smoke a little weed I never have an attack. As soon as I go off weed for more than a couple of days I start feeling the symptoms of Meniere’s. I do not have medical marijuana yet. I would like to though.
January 7, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Thanks for the info. This is my second vertigo attack, and it sucks, I myself was nervous of smoking mj for vertigo, but I will give it a try.
March 30, 2010 at 9:56 am
Hey, you have a great blog here! I’m definitely going to bookmark you! Thank you for your info. And this is **Tinnitus** site/blog. It pretty much covers Tinnitus related stuff.
April 10, 2010 at 5:58 pm
hey… this is crazy! i have meniere disease,,, i thought smoking pot helped… but no one believed me… so i looked it up and here it is! so i m not crazy! i must hit a couple puffs 3 times a day ..if not i cant function my neck hurts and my head feels heavy… dizzy and i cant communicate…harley
March 27, 2012 at 10:19 pm
I haven’t heard any mention of Merinol, the synthetic equivalent of THC. Does any body tried this?