Patient Eligibility

The Commonwealth Department of Health in conjunction with state and territory governments, have passed specific laws to allow the prescribing and dispensing of Plant-Based medicine products.

Plant-Based Medicine is not considered a first line medication and therefore you would have had to be diagnosed with a condition for which previous treatment options have failed. You might be eligible for Plant-Based Medicine if you have any of the following conditions lasting 3 months or more:

• Chronic Pain
• Palliative Care
• Epilepsy
• Chemotherapy induced nausea & vomiting
• Multiple Sclerosis

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has also approved other conditions including:

• Neuropathic pain,
• Cancer Pain,
• PTSD,
• Depression,
• Fibromyalgia
• Autism,
• Anxiety,
• Schizophrenia,
• Alzheimers,
• Spasticity from neurological conditions,
• Anorexia and wasting associated with chronic illness (such as cancer).

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Plant-Based Medicine Guide - Patient To Script Process

1A. Eligibility

• Chronic condition lasting 3 months or more, unless justifiable, not responded to first line therapy, experienced side effects.
• TGA “fast track side effects” conditions - Chronic Pain, Palliative Care, Epilepsy, Chemotherapy induced nausea & vomiting, Multiple Sclerosis.

To date, the TGA has also approved other conditions including:

• Neuropathic pain, Cancer, PTSD, Depression, Fibromyalgia, Autism, Anxiety, chronic insomnia, Parkinson’s, Migraine, Crohn’s disease, lupus, Glaucoma, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, Spasticity from neurological conditions, Anorexia and wasting associated with chronic illness (such as cancer)

1B. Contraindications to medication containing THC

• History of hypersensitivity to any cannabinoid or products used in manufacture (e.g. sesame oil).
• Severe and unstable cardiopulmonary disease (angina, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease and arrhythmias) or risk factors for cardiovascular disease - THC acts through the CB1 receptors to decrease blood pressure, increase cardiac demand and causes vasodilatation (in patients with unstable ischemic heart disease who smoke cannabis, there is four- fold increases risk of myocardial infarction in the hour following smoking)
• Previous psychotic or concurrent active mood disorder or anxiety disorder.
• Pregnant/ breastfeeding - there are some reports of pre-term labour and low weight. Cannabinoids appear in breast milk

Relative contraindications

• Care should be taken in prescribing medical cannabis products containing THC to patients under 25 due to potential adverse effects on the developing brain. A risk analysis should be undertaken prior to prescribing these products
• Severe liver or renal disease
• Drug dependence, including nicotine and heavy users of alcohol
• Other medications especially other sedatives such as opioids and benzodiazepine
• Paediatric and elderly patients - little is known about how these patient groups react to cannabis. As metabolism in the elderly is slower it is likely they will be more sensitive to the pharmacological effects of cannabis. Treatment should, therefore, be commenced at very low doses and adjusted very slowly

2. Clinical Assessment

• Existing condition and assoc. Systems
• Current medications - are they working and any side effects
• Previous treatments - did they work, why were they stopped, what were the side effects
• Patient’s expectations and knowledge of MC – Do they expects a cure for their disease or are they looking for symptom amelioration
• Address the potential cost of MC – Products are not on the PBS
• Current employment duties and day-to-day responsibilities- drive a car for work, operate heavy machinery.

Patients should seek their doctor’s advice before driving or operating due to the risk of experiencing drowsiness. While drowsiness is not a known effect of CBD alone, it may occur if the CBD interacts with other medications. Some products may also include THC, in which case there is a strict bas on driving and operating machinery.

3. Initial Treatment Plan

• Discuss treatment goals - control of symptoms, aims to improve quality of life, aim to improve the side effects assoc. With polypharmacy
• Risk management process
• Monitoring arrangements (patient diary)

4. Application process via SAS A or B TGA Access Scheme for Individual Patients

5. Patient Monitoring

• Patient Diary will record doses, time of the day taken, side effects, symptom changes and feelings
• Doctor will be reviewing patient at 4 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, and provide ongoing monitoring. Patient diary will be reviewed at each consult.

Getting Started

If you have a condition where previous treatment options have failed, you may be elligible to receive plant based medicine.

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