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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by vbs on April 29, 2014, at 3:44:31
Anyone have experience using marijuana for insomnia? I take Trazodone but it doesn't always work.
Thanks for any input.
Posted by burial on April 29, 2014, at 6:01:02
In reply to Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by vbs on April 29, 2014, at 3:44:31
when i smoke in the evening i sleep like a baby, yeah for me it helps
Posted by Guy on April 29, 2014, at 11:10:22
In reply to Re: Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by burial on April 29, 2014, at 6:01:02
Burial, I have a doctor's note for medical marijuana for severe anxiety and insomnia, but am very hesitant to proceed as last time I tried a pot cookie I ended up in ER with a massive panic attack and a feeling that I was losing my mind. I have heard there are different strains for different symptoms. I phoned the local outlet and they said they have just the one strain which is what sent me to the ER last time (it was a pot cookie from their store). Any advice as to where in Canada or US I can get a strain that is good for anxiety and insomnia? I really, really don't want to get stoned again.
Posted by Guy on April 29, 2014, at 11:17:41
In reply to Re: Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by burial on April 29, 2014, at 6:01:02
PS to Burial. If Dr. Bob shuts down this discussion would you mind sending me a babblemail? Thanks for your help.
Posted by burial on April 29, 2014, at 15:39:22
In reply to Re: Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by Guy on April 29, 2014, at 11:17:41
first of all every strain of marijuana makes the user more or less stoned. I don't live in Canada or US so i cannot give you any advice where to get different strains, it's a bitch you get panic attacks though. Probably the strain is high in tetrahydrocannabinol and low in cannabidiol, but that doesn't mean you will get panic everytime you smoke. A lot depends on how you're feeling before you hit the joint and on the amount of cannabis you smoke. One extremely incompetent way to avoid panic is to take a benzo 15 minutes before smoking. Cannabis slightly disrupts GABA's signaling in the brain and the benzo helps to even the things out, but it comes with the withdrawal problems so if you're not currently taking one, better don't. Valerian extracts are also GABAergic and can help.
The best way to avoid panic is to learn to control marijuana, not the other way around. Take a small hit, as small as you can, and build your tolerance from there. If you have trouble with intrusive thoughts, write them down and figure out for yourself what are the triggers.
Posted by phidippus on April 29, 2014, at 16:34:19
In reply to Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by vbs on April 29, 2014, at 3:44:31
After the first toke the mind gets way too stimulated to sleep. Once it wears off, though, it can induce a nice sleep.
Try Gabitril 12 mg.
Eric
Posted by johnLA on April 30, 2014, at 8:09:53
In reply to Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by vbs on April 29, 2014, at 3:44:31
short answer on this;
it depends. for me it it worked and then it didn't...
my first real good pdoc had no problem with me trying medical marijuana for sleep/anxiety. surprised me actually. she was an older doctor too. god bless california. :) she told me she had some of her patients using it.
i did a lot of research online. the results i found was pretty much split right down the middle. hmmm...just like psych drugs.
the key though is the strain and the amount. less is more here. and, if you live in a state where it is legal don't expect any help from the place that will be selling it. they really have no clue. but! just like psychobabble there are numerous sites that you can find and research what strain is best and how much to take.
here is a link to my experience a few years ago;
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120108/msgs/1006932.html
again, i ran into trouble when i took too much. same could happen w/almost any psych drug.
1 or 2 hits of the right strain from a dispensary. don't buy from a friend/etc. you won't know what you are getting.
let me know if you have any questions.
john
Posted by vbs on April 30, 2014, at 12:13:23
In reply to Re: Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by johnLA on April 30, 2014, at 8:09:53
I have a guy that I get it from. There is no medical marijuana in my state.
Posted by johnLA on April 30, 2014, at 12:52:28
In reply to Re: Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by vbs on April 30, 2014, at 12:13:23
vbs-
just my opinion;
i would be very careful getting mj from a friend. the strains that are out there have greatly increased in their strength. it's why one of the nicknames is 'chronic' for today's weed. this is not what you need if you want to try some i think.
if you have no other source i would say smoke very little to start. maybe just one smoke (small at that too) and see how you feel.
if your friend knows, ask him the strain of the bud.
and, again, do some research on the web about what strains you want/need.
good luck.
john
Posted by Phil on April 30, 2014, at 13:30:26
In reply to Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by vbs on April 29, 2014, at 3:44:31
oh, i think i qualify. take 2 hits of ak47 and call me in 12 hours when you wake up.
edibles are extremely powerful. even if you're used to smoking really good weed. they are made differently than 1973 brownies.
there's also exercise in the sunlight for 20 minutes a day. to reward yourself eat a brownie.
smoke indica strains for sleep, sativa's for volleyball.
Posted by vbs on May 1, 2014, at 6:38:53
In reply to Re: Marijuana for insomnia? » vbs, posted by Phil on April 30, 2014, at 13:30:26
Thanks for your responses everyone.
I'm finding that mj helps somewhat with sleep. Relaxes me. It also helps improve my mood which is a bonus.
Cheers. :-)
Posted by Chris O on May 1, 2014, at 21:26:46
In reply to Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by vbs on April 29, 2014, at 3:44:31
Wish that it worked for me, but with my anxiety disorder, marijuana just brings out the worst panic and paranoia imaginable.
Chris
Posted by Babbler20 on May 5, 2014, at 11:55:17
In reply to Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by vbs on April 29, 2014, at 3:44:31
You will not sleep through the night and you will not get restfull sleep. Also, you will be noticeably less intelligent. Have you tried remeron? Remeron is the only med that helps me sleep through the night and I have tried absolutely everything. You may want to expose yourself to 30 to 40 mins of sunlight when you wake up in the morning. This will help you fall asleep at a reasonable hour. It sounds like BS, but it actually works. When you wake up in the middle of the night, take the trazodone to help you fall back asleep. That's what I do.
Posted by vbs on May 19, 2019, at 19:34:15
In reply to Re: Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by Babbler20 on May 5, 2014, at 11:55:17
In my experience with cannabis, which I partake in sometimes in small amounts (i.e. 2 or 3 puffs every two or three days a week) has very little effect on my intelligence in the long term. However, I am attention deficit for three hours after medicating with cannabis.
I wish that I could find a solution to my terminal insomnia. One can pray and hope.
vbs
Posted by Lamdage22 on July 9, 2019, at 7:07:42
In reply to Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by vbs on April 29, 2014, at 3:44:31
I guess you already tried Trazodone and Remeron? Low dose Seroquel?
Posted by Lamdage22 on July 9, 2019, at 7:10:57
In reply to Re: Marijuana for insomnia?, posted by Lamdage22 on July 9, 2019, at 7:07:42
Prothipendyl?
This is the end of the thread.
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