Medicinal cannabis (medical marijuana) is cannabis that's prescribed by a doctor to relieve symptoms or treat a condition. There are several natural and man-made types that can be accessed in Australia.
Medicines
Video: Opioid overdose
Opioids are morphine-like drugs used to treat pain, and include medicines such as codeine, fentanyl and oxycodone. They aren't effective for treating chronic pain and are potentially dangerous.
Hay fever treatments
Antihistamines work fast and are good at treating mild symptoms of hay fever, such as sneezing and runny nose, whereas corticosteroid nasal sprays may take several days to work.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can be useful in treating depression but have the potential for serious side effects and interactions with other medicines, plus certain foods and drinks.
Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors for depression
Venlafaxine, duloxetine and desvenlafaxine are medicines called serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). They are used to treat depression and some anxiety disorders and nerve pain.
Tricyclic antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants (also called tricyclics or TCAs) are named for their chemical structure (3 rings). They can be used to treat depression, anxiety disorders and chronic pain.
Video: Antidepressants work, but some better than others
A large analysis has found 21 different antidepressants to be better than a placebo (dummy treatment), however side-effects meant they were stopped more often than placebo.
Other products you may be taking
Always tell your pharmacist or doctor about any non-prescription, complementary or alternative medicines you may be taking.
Morphine may worsen chronic nerve pain
Morphine may actually worsen chronic nerve pain, increasing the duration and the severity of the pain, researchers have found.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are used to treat depression and anxiety. They’re the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant medicine.
