Having an allergy to weed is possible, but it’s rare. If you’ve experienced an allergic reaction to it, it’s important to learn what you can do to prevent or manage the symptoms.
Cross-Reactivity With Other Allergens
Using the term “cross-reactivity” is frequently used to describe the association of certain foods with pollen and weed. It is important to understand that cross-reactivity occurs when the body’s immune system recognizes proteins as being similar.
These proteins are found in pollen from a variety of different plants. There are 28 major groups of cross-reactive proteins. These include transport proteins, regulatory proteins, and protease inhibitors.
Cross-reactivity is important to allergy physicians, because it can affect the outcome of immunotherapy. For example, it may be necessary to limit the number of allergens in a vaccine preparation in order to achieve an optimal therapeutic dose for each allergen. In addition, if cross-reactivity occurs with one allergen, it can increase the severity of reactions to other allergens.
One example of a cross-reactive allergen is the EF-hand calcium binding allergens, which occur in pollen from many different plant species. In addition, a few botanical families have been found to contain Bet v 1-like proteins.
Symptoms Of Anaphylaxis
Symptoms of anaphylaxis when allergic to weed can include coughing, hives, nausea and even anaphylactic shock. This type of allergic reaction is life-threatening and can cause a person to lose consciousness. Typically, the symptoms appear seconds or minutes after a person is exposed to the allergen.
The symptoms of anaphylaxis when allergic weed are very similar to those of other common allergies, including food, mold, pollen and dust mites. However, because of the stigma associated with marijuana use, many people do not seek medical treatment for their allergy symptoms.
In addition to symptoms associated with anaphylaxis, those with cannabis allergies may also experience oral allergy syndrome, which includes an increased risk of gastrointestinal problems. They may also experience delayed symptoms, including coughing, hives and nasal congestion.
The symptoms of anaphylaxis can be treated with medications such as intranasal corticosteroids, antihistamines and nasal decongestants. They may also help moderate the symptoms of weed allergy. However, if the symptoms are life-threatening, an epinephrine auto-injector should be the first line of defense.
Treatment For Allergic Rhino Conjunctivitis
Fortunately, there are several treatment options available to combat allergic rhino conjunctivitis with weed. Among them are allergy medications, antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids, and pharmacological measures such as nasal irrigation.
Allergen immunotherapy, or AIT for short, is a slick little treatment option that helps to get your immune system used to an allergen. AIT is a two-stage treatment consisting of two small injections of allergen monthly. The first stage of the treatment involves an injection of allergen that is small enough to get under the skin.
The second phase involves an injection of a larger dose of allergen once a month. This is the medical speak of the “the usual” treatment.
For causal treatment, subcutaneous immunotherapy is the old standby. It has been shown to be effective for both short and long-term symptom reduction. However, sublingual immunotherapy is now receiving some serious attention.
The sublingual version is relatively simple to administer, and is starting to gain traction in certain geographic regions.
Symptoms Of THC Allergy
Symptoms of THC allergy to weed vary from person to person. Some people develop symptoms within minutes after ingesting the cannabis, while others have symptoms that take hours or even days to develop. It is important to recognize that the symptoms of THC allergy to weed can be mild or potentially fatal.
Some people who have allergies to mold, dust mites or animal dander have also been known to have an allergic reaction to cannabis. The allergy occurs when your body releases an immune reaction to a part of the plant.
For example, when you breathe in cannabis smoke, it can cause nasal congestion and a runny nose. Other symptoms of marijuana allergy include a rash, nausea and vomiting. You can treat these symptoms with over-the-counter asthma medications. Or you can use nasal decongestants or ophthalmic antihistamine drops.
In order to diagnose a cannabis allergy, an allergist can perform a skin test or blood test. A skin test is a simple procedure where your doctor pricks your arm or back with a small amount of an allergen. The test will give the doctor a clear picture of your sensitivity to the specific allergen. Depending on the results, the doctor can prescribe therapy tailored to your symptoms.
