HIV/AIDS

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) leads to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which is a severe, chronic condition that is typically life-threatening. HIV damages the immune system and prevents the body from fighting off organisms causing disease; it’s a rare condition affecting less than 200,000 people per year in the U.S. and spreads through the use of shared needles, unprotected sexual intercourse, or from mother to offspring via pregnancy, labor, or breastfeeding. There is still no cure for AIDS; however, anti-retroviral treatments help with complications and infections.

Appetite Stimulation and Pain Suppression

Studies show that cannabinoids, such as CBD, are reliable and sufficient for weight loss caused by anorexia within AIDS patients. Along with increased appetite, reports noted a decrease in nausea and an improvement in mood. Cannabinoids also have the potential to affect various types of pain as AIDS patients with cannabinoid treatments describe alleviation from muscle pain and nerve pain as well as ease from anxiety, depression, and paresthesia.

Case Developments

In a 6-week, controlled trial with nearly 140 HIV patients, a published study shows cannabinoid treatments provide consistent body weight compared to those given a placebo. Another parallel group study used 50 patients with neuropathic pain due to HIV and utilized inhaled cannabinoid therapy - over half of the patients reported a reduction in pain by 30% against the 24% of participants that received a placebo.