What to expect from your first consultation

Booking a first consultation can bring up questions and even a little apprehension, especially if you've already tried several treatments without success or still have doubts about medical cannabis. Knowing what the appointment will be like helps you arrive calmer and make the most of the time.

Before the consultation

A few simple steps make a difference:

• Gather your test results and reports: lab and imaging results, prescriptions and reports from other doctors.
• List the medications you take, with doses and times, including supplements and herbal remedies.
• Write down your symptoms: when they started, what makes them worse, what makes them better and how they affect your daily life.
• Think about your goals: sleeping better, reducing pain, having more energy, having fewer seizures or attacks.
• If the consultation is online, choose a private place with a good connection and make sure your phone is charged.

During the consultation

The first consultation is longer and more detailed, because the goal is to understand you as a whole person, not just your diagnosis. It usually includes:

1. 1Listening to your story: your symptoms, previous treatments, what worked and what didn't.
2. 2Reviewing your health history: illnesses, surgeries, family history, lifestyle and emotional health.
3. 3Reviewing the medications you take, with attention to possible interactions.
4. 4Assessing whether medical cannabis is suitable for you, and whether anything rules it out in your case.
5. 5Talking about expectations, the available evidence and the alternatives.

You can, and should, ask questions. There are no silly questions, and no topic is met with judgment.

At the end of the consultation

If treatment is appropriate for you, Dr. Mattheus explains the treatment plan clearly:

• which type of product is recommended and why;
• how to start, with a low initial dose and gradual increases;
• what to watch for in the first few weeks and which side effects are possible;
• how to obtain the product legally, following the rules of Anvisa, Brazil's health regulatory agency;
• when your follow-up appointment will be.

It may also turn out that medical cannabis is not the best option for you at that point. When that happens, you get honest guidance and leave the consultation knowing which paths to consider.

After the consultation

Treatment with medical cannabis is a process. The dose is usually adjusted gradually, and follow-up is an essential part of care. At follow-up appointments, your response, any side effects and the need for adjustments are reviewed.

Between appointments, keeping track of how you feel day to day makes this work much easier and makes each adjustment more precise.

Online or in person?

Both formats offer the same care and the same depth. Online consultations are regulated in Brazil and make it possible to see patients in different cities. The choice depends on your preference and on whether a physical examination is needed. If you're unsure, the team can help you decide.