Day: 05/01/2015

VA Doctors Still Can’t Recommend Medical Marijuana To Veterans

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/30/house-veterans-medical-marijuana_n_7185394.html

The House of Representatives on Thursday killed a bipartisan amendment that would have increased military veterans’ access to medical marijuana. The amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill failed 213-210, with Republicans mostly opposed and most Democrats in favor…

In a letter this week urging lawmakers to pass the amendment, Dr. E. Deborah Gilman, a recently retired VA physician, said it’s “cruel to deny access to any medication for any patient,” especially for veterans.

“Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with debilitating injuries are often prescribed highly addictive opioid painkillers with severe side effects, particularly for long-term use,” Gilman said. “Marijuana possess significantly less risk of dependence, along with fewer and less severe side effects. What’s more, studies have shown marijuana can be an effective supplemental therapy by reducing patients’ reliance on opioids, or even acting as a “reverse gateway” by replacing narcotic painkillers altogether. Other research shows states where medical marijuana is legal have a 25 percent lower rate of fatal overdoses from opioids.”

FDA warns that human meds can be fatal to cats

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/fda-warns-that-human-meds-can-be-fatal-to-cats-043015.html

Your cat is at risk if exposed to topical pain medications containing the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) flurbiprofen. People using these medications, should use care when applying them in a household with pets, as even very small amounts could be dangerous to these animals.

Two households have reported that their cats became sick or died after their owners used topical meds that contained flurbiprofen on themselves, not their cats.They had applied the lotion or the cream to their own neck or feet, hoping for relief from muscle pain and stiffness. They did not apply it directly on their pets. Nobody knows how the pets became exposed.

The products contained the NSAID flurbiprofen and the muscle relaxer cyclobenzaprine, as well as other active ingredients, including baclofen, gabapentin, lidocaine, or prilocaine…

Be aware even though there has not been any warning of toxicity to dogs, they could be vulnerable as well…