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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 56. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by med_empowered on March 17, 2006, at 2:04:15
and..it works. I smoked pot before and funcioned surprisingly well with minimal medication (daily AD, some ambein as-needed), but I dont think I really made the connection..until now. Even when I get anxious **while** smoking it (this anxiety is reduced by being around people), I find that my day-to-day anxiety is reduced **significantly**. So is my depression. Thoughts>?
Posted by nolvas on March 17, 2006, at 5:39:51
In reply to so, im smoking pot now..., posted by med_empowered on March 17, 2006, at 2:04:15
I have severe anxiety and pot helped until I did without it then I felt more anxious. Research is starting to indicate that pot messes up dopamine system in the brain and it can trigger mental illness in people susceptible to mental illnesses. I would be careful with it, there's unknown factors involved which could be detrimental to your health in the long run.
http://www.drugwatch.org/research/marijuanamentalillness.htm
The problem with pot is you have no way of knowing if it will affect your health badly in the future.
Posted by nolvas on March 17, 2006, at 5:44:43
In reply to so, im smoking pot now..., posted by med_empowered on March 17, 2006, at 2:04:15
This is a good link, it remains impartial and discusses the complex issue of cannabis and mental illness.
http://www.ukcia.org/culture/effects/mh.htm#links
Posted by Tom Twilight on March 17, 2006, at 15:20:35
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by nolvas on March 17, 2006, at 5:44:43
Cannabis is almost as bad as GHB in terms of getting a balanced view.
With GHB its more or less impossible!
We're always told that Cannabis is linked to mental illness, I suppose there must be some truth in this.
I do wonder though how many Cannabis users are self medicating for anxiety, or depression, which is later picked up on, and Cannabis named as the course!
I personally find Cannabis less depressing and Dumbing than any of the Benzo's I've tried (Diazepam, Clonazepam)
Perhapse its time to Spliff up, if I could only find a source...........
Posted by med_empowered on March 17, 2006, at 15:29:20
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by Tom Twilight on March 17, 2006, at 15:20:35
so, here's the thing: I've been on EVERYTHING--benzos, antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, mood-stabilizers, etc. And I realized that when I smoked pot a lot yes, I had problems, but they weren't quite so overwhelming. And my "need" for medication wasn't so great--at one point, I took just zoloft, then later just Trileptal w/ Klonopin. So now I find that pot really does help. A WHOLE LOT. I still feel kinda down, but that's b/c I need to work on my life--my overall anxiety/mood-swings level has gone down considerably, which is a definite plus.
Posted by linkadge on March 17, 2006, at 19:03:46
In reply to so, im smoking pot now..., posted by med_empowered on March 17, 2006, at 15:29:20
I say go for it! I'm in the same boat, I've been on everything! Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, stimulants, the works. But I eventually came off it all because it wasn't doing me any good. The side effects were terrable.
The antidepressants helped a little, but they always caused so many additional problems, GI, insomnia, anxiety etc.
I have smoked a few times in the past, and I can say that it helped my anxiety, insomnia, lack of appetite, anhedonia, depression, aches and pains all in one. I am not guilty for doing it and would/will do it again.
I take some of the claims about it inducing mental illness with a grain of salt. Sure it increases dopamine that doesn't mean it causes schizophrenia. Correlation does not imply causation.
Another new discovery is that marjaunna, unlike other drugs of abuse, actually kickstarts hippocampal proliferation/neurogenesis, like other antidepressant compounds. The cannabis induced neurogenesis also correlated with improvements in depressive behaviors in mice.
Cannabis also immediatly attenuates overactive HPA axis function, something that SSRI's don't always reliably do.I was much sharper on marajuanna then say I was on a SSRI + antipsychotic combination, I felt better, I wasn't all kinked up like a prezil, and it did the same for my mood sleep, and appetite. So what gives. If a doctor asked me, I'd tell him, give me something that works, then I'll stop.
Perhaps if I can get a clean source, and perhaps a vaporizer, then I will resume.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on March 17, 2006, at 19:05:49
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by linkadge on March 17, 2006, at 19:03:46
Pot made me mildly and transiently paranoid, over within the first hour of consumption.
TCA's actually made me very paranoid.Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on March 17, 2006, at 19:06:55
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by linkadge on March 17, 2006, at 19:05:49
You can email me [xxx] if you want to talk about it.
Linkadge
Posted by nolvas on March 17, 2006, at 19:35:40
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by nolvas on March 17, 2006, at 5:44:43
Quote from the link I gave earlier >
"There is also recent research that suggests that CBD (a chemical in cannabis) has antipsychotic benefits, although THC (the main active ingredient) is generally accepted is harmful to people with schizophrenia. Studies are underway to see if medicines can be made from cannabis, but these are early days."
http://www.cannabis-med.org/studies/ww_en_db_study_show.php?s_id=171
Posted by Jakeman on March 17, 2006, at 21:16:04
In reply to so, im smoking pot now..., posted by med_empowered on March 17, 2006, at 2:04:15
I don't really like pot, but it does help my insomnia. When will the drug war be over (in the US).
warm regards, Jake
Posted by linkadge on March 17, 2006, at 21:59:14
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by nolvas on March 17, 2006, at 19:35:40
One theory is that those with schisophrenia smoke marajuanna to try and reduce deficits in prefrontal dopamiergic fuction. They may beneift from prefrontal dopamine enhancement, but limbic dopamine enhancement may cause a problem.
Linkadge
Posted by med_empowered on March 17, 2006, at 22:54:49
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by linkadge on March 17, 2006, at 21:59:14
I like it b/c I feel like it leaves my personality intact--something I cant say for antipsychotics, higher-dose stimulants, or even antidepressants. Also, it helps w/ sleep and it doesn't exactly slow my thoughts down (which does happen with mood-stabilizers and antipsychotics), but it does kind of reduce the intensity of obsessive, ruminating thoughts and seems to overall lift/balance my mood. In the past, when I had friends who said they smoked pot for mood swings or whatever, I'd always say "well, maybe you should try X"--not so much to play shrink as to get them off something illegal, with potential problems, and onto something legal and not problematic. But now..I've been on SO MANY THINGS, I just feel like hey, this works, its tolerable--I don't see any reason NOT to pursue it.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on March 18, 2006, at 5:31:24
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by Tom Twilight on March 17, 2006, at 15:20:35
> Perhapse its time to Spliff up, if I could only find a source...........
Stokes Croft??? I used to walk through there on my way to work and there was always alot of 'transactions' going on!! LOL
I hope you're doing okay.
King regards
M
Posted by linkadge on March 18, 2006, at 15:43:59
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now... » Tom Twilight, posted by Meri-Tuuli on March 18, 2006, at 5:31:24
I bet I could find a doctor here in Canada who would tell me (under the table) to go for it.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on March 18, 2006, at 15:47:03
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now... » Meri-Tuuli, posted by linkadge on March 18, 2006, at 15:43:59
They are working on anadamide uptake inhibitors, as a class of drug for anxiety, insomnia, and depression, which work by increasing the level of certain endocannabanoids.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on March 18, 2006, at 15:51:23
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by linkadge on March 18, 2006, at 15:47:03
Sorry for the multiple posts, but I thought I'd mention something else.
Another factor in my own experience is that doctors simply have no time for me. I see my psychiatrist a maximum of 3 minautes every 6 weeks. This just gives me the message that I really need to take care of myself. I might be more inclined to stick with medication if doctors these days gave any indication that they cared.
Linkadge
Posted by nolvas on March 18, 2006, at 17:03:07
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by linkadge on March 18, 2006, at 15:51:23
Sadly that's how things seem to be these days. In 1992 I had better treatment from doctors than I do today. Less resources now it seems and less time for the patients.
Posted by linkadge on March 19, 2006, at 9:42:23
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by nolvas on March 18, 2006, at 17:03:07
I just can't compile 6 weeks worth of problems into 3 minautes.
I remember going to the doctor after 6 weeks and saying that the medication was preventing me from getting any quality sleep. His response, "try it in the morning, and we'll see you in 6 weeks"
Linkadge
Posted by honeybee on March 20, 2006, at 14:43:38
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now... » nolvas, posted by linkadge on March 19, 2006, at 9:42:23
Ding! Next in line.
Last time at my pcp, I realized that they're scheduling her appointments 15 minutes apart. The minute we walk in the door, they should just put us on a conveyor...
Posted by linkadge on March 20, 2006, at 20:48:14
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by honeybee on March 20, 2006, at 14:43:38
I really don't know what to do about it. (I guess theres nothing I can do).
I want to keep my foot in the door, but at the same time, I just want to tell the doctor that I think the whole process is just plain a waste of my time. Nothing productive happens since he can never get an accurate picture in such little time.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on March 20, 2006, at 20:51:33
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now... » honeybee, posted by linkadge on March 20, 2006, at 20:48:14
Thats the thing, I am alotted 15 minautes, but I never get more than 5. He is probaby billing OHIP (canadian insurance) for the full 15.
Linkadge
Posted by honeybee on March 21, 2006, at 8:55:55
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by linkadge on March 20, 2006, at 20:51:33
Of course he is. It wouldn't be a proper Western conveyor-belt system otherwise.
One strategy is to go in armed with a list of questions, arranged most important to least important. Typically, this helps me not at all, but at least by arranging my mind, I get a few more of the pertinant issues addressed.
Are you on meds, though, Linkadge? For some reason I thought you were not...
Posted by linkadge on March 21, 2006, at 21:27:56
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now..., posted by honeybee on March 21, 2006, at 8:55:55
I have been prescribed clomipramine, and I ocasionally take it. I would like to take it, but I can't concentrate it spaces me out way too much. I am still in school. The doctor is insensitive to this issue.
I used to have some hope before going to such appointments, but it is hard to do so since I have been to uneventfull apointments for over a year.
I am trying to keep my foot in the door in case of a crisis, but I would definately need a longer apointment for anything positive to happen.
With regards to conventional treatment I hate to say but I have just given up on it.
Linkadge
Posted by Declan on March 22, 2006, at 17:42:59
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now... » honeybee, posted by linkadge on March 20, 2006, at 20:48:14
Hey Link, somewhere around where you live there must be an altruistic doctor who doesn't have a secretarary (to cut down costs) and works from home (for the same reason) and sees you for half an hour. In some bohemian part of town, or out in the country, one who was a hippy in 1968?
Declan
Posted by linkadge on March 23, 2006, at 18:36:03
In reply to Re: so, im smoking pot now... » linkadge, posted by Declan on March 22, 2006, at 17:42:59
Now thats my kind of doctor :) !
Though, I don't know if Shopper's Drug Mart will accept his cursive.
Linkadge
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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