Cannabis Does It Really Work in Sickle Cell Disease

Vitamin SC3

Today's show is brought to you by the Essential RX segment with Dr. Lametra Scott. The Sickle Cell Community Consortium powers the VitaminSC3 Podcast.

Today's conversation on the podcast explores remedies for chronic pain that utilizes medical cannabis. Dr. Lametra Scott, a board-certified pharmacist, and Dr. Susanna Curtis, a sickle cell specialist trained in hematology and oncology, discussed questions the sickle cell community might have regarding pain and cannabis in the management of sickle cell disease.

About Dr. Susanna Curtis
Dr. Susanna Curtis is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine and an Assistant
Director of the Adult Sickle Cell Program at Mount Sinai Hospital. They received their medical degree
from New York Medical College, completed a residency in internal medicine at Montefiore Medical Center, and fellowship in hematology and oncology at Yale University, where they also completed a Ph.D. in
investigative medicine. Their research focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of chronic pain in
people living with sickle cell disease and using this to develop targeted treatments. They are particularly
interested in examining the utility of cannabinoids for this pain and are currently examining this with
support from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

During this episode, you will learn the following tips about cannabis and the management of Sickle Cell Disease the conversation brings up the safety and potential risks that exist:

• Our bodies make phytocannabinoids. (Timestamp 4:19)
• How can patients become certified to use medical cannabis for their chronic pain? (Timestamp 10:56)
• THC seems to have the most impact on pain. (Timestamp 14:20)
• Start low and go slow (Timestamp 15:12)
• Topical applications (Timestamp 15:34)
• THC and children (Timestamp 16:34)
• Dr. Susanna Curtis' THC study (Timestamp 19:06)
• Clinical studies (Timestamp 29:10)
• Talk to your primary care provider about your treatment plan and let him or her know what to try cannabis products (Timestamp 34:14)

Quotable phrase:
When you sign up for a clinical study, you always (at any time) have the right to withdraw. - Dr. Susanna Curtis

Follow our guest, Dr. Susanna Curtis:

• Email: [e-mail]

Follow our host, Dr. Lametra Scott:

• Website: Breaking The SSickle Cell Cycle Foundation
• Instagram @brkthesscycle
• Facebook brkthesscycle

Donate:
Did you enjoy listening to this episode? If so, please consider donating to keep this podcast going. Donations are tax-deductible and are made to the Sickle Cell Community Consortium.

The next episode of the Vitamin SC3 Podcast drops on Monday

Please tune in next week for a new episode we will hear from the segment Selfcare is Healthcare with Dr. Majorie Brewer.

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