Medicinal Cannabis - Complex chronic disease

The Medicinal Cannabis - Complex Chronic Disease course offers a comprehensive guide for healthcare providers to manage patients with challenging chronic conditions using medicinal cannabis. Combining expert-led lectures with practical examples, the course emphasises safety, efficacy, and patient-centred care.

Unit 1: Introduction to Complex Chronic Disease
Led by Dr. Orit Holtzman, this unit defines complex chronic diseases, characterised by conditions persisting for over a year and requiring ongoing care. The discussion covers:
- The prevalence of multimorbidity, with one in five Australians managing two or more chronic diseases.
- The impact on quality of life, personal interactions, and work capabilities.
- Challenges of managing multiple symptoms and the potential role of cannabis in addressing them.

Unit 2: Polypharmacy and Drug Interactions
This unit examines the intersection of medicinal cannabis with polypharmacy, focusing on:
- The prevalence of polypharmacy in patients with complex diseases.
- Cannabis as a multi-target drug, potentially reducing the need for multiple medications.
- Types of drug interactions, including CYP450 enzyme interactions, and strategies to mitigate risks.
- Practical guidance on integrating cannabis with existing therapies, including warfarin, antiepileptics, and immunotherapies.

Unit 3: Multimorbidity and Contraindications
Building on earlier units, this section explores:
- Managing patients with coexisting conditions like cardiovascular, respiratory, and hepatic diseases.
- Contraindications, including pregnancy, psychosis, and specific allergies.
- The importance of a multidisciplinary approach and close monitoring for adverse effects.
- Strategies to simplify treatment plans and enhance patient compliance.

Unit 4: Product Selection, Dosing, and Titration
This unit focuses on tailoring cannabis treatments to individual needs:
- Guidance on product selection, considering THC and CBD ratios, patient age, and preferences.
- Dosing strategies: starting low and increasing slowly to optimise outcomes.
- Use of CBD-predominant formulations to minimise side effects in sensitive populations.
- Incorporating vaporised cannabis for breakthrough symptom relief.

Unit 5: Case Study
This unit applies the concepts from previous sections to a real-life example.

This course provides a robust framework for integrating medicinal cannabis into the treatment of complex chronic diseases, emphasising patient safety and improved outcomes. Participants will gain practical skills to manage challenges like polypharmacy and multimorbidity while enhancing patient well-being.