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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by noelle on December 11, 2002, at 13:35:51
I was hoping someone out there can help me, my husband has been smoking pot every night for quite awhile. He's quite before but he has gotten really crabby and depressed. He's been on Wellbutrin which seems to take care of the cravings but he gets very irritable. He's tried effexor which doesn't take care of the cravings and he gets very blah. His personality is slightly flat anyway. I think he smokes pot because of anxiety, and to get things done surprising at night. Does anyone have any ideas, I feel like doctors just guess and I don't want him to get turned off to medication because it really does help. I was also thinking Neurontin
Please any suggestions would be great
Thanks
Posted by catmint on December 11, 2002, at 14:22:59
In reply to Pot smokers medication help, posted by noelle on December 11, 2002, at 13:35:51
I was just wondering why he wants to quit? If it is helping his anxiety, and he is only doing it at night, and he is functioning in other aspects of his life, why not?
Marijuana has it's benefits. To some, it is far better than an SSRI.
Posted by IsoM on December 11, 2002, at 14:58:44
In reply to Pot smokers medication help, posted by noelle on December 11, 2002, at 13:35:51
Marijuana can help some & if not overused or too much taken at one time (like any drug) can be helpful like catmint mentioned. Is it the legality you're worried about or something else?
I live in Canada & if the decriminalisation of marijuana goes through, I'd like to try a small amount for pain & migraine relief. Michael posted about it with an excellent link if you'd like to read more:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021203/msgs/131096.htmlIf you have other concerns instead about your husband using it, please post back & express them in more detail.
Posted by oracle on December 11, 2002, at 14:59:07
In reply to Re: Pot smokers medication help » noelle, posted by catmint on December 11, 2002, at 14:22:59
I would agree with catmint. I was taken by this statement:
"I think he smokes pot because of anxiety, and to get things done surprising at night"
Posted by Mr Cushing on December 11, 2002, at 15:22:18
In reply to Pot smokers medication help, posted by noelle on December 11, 2002, at 13:35:51
Hi Noel, I'm Bi-Polar so anxiety is one of my main problems. I'm currently treating it with a few other drugs, one of which happens to be a Mood Stabilizer, like Neurotonin. I've also been smoking "pot" for about as long as I can remember. I'm 24 now, I think I started when I was 11? If used moderately, like not smoking every day all day, trying to maintain a constant high, then I find it really helps to settle me down. Even with the medications I'm on, nothing is more relaxing for me than smoking a spliff every now and then.I used to be smoking ounces (28 grams) within a week, now I'm down to maybe 2 grams a week? It's never posed a problem with anything that I've taken, and it could always calm me right down.
If your husband isn't overdoing it, and doesn't get all "giddy" or "anxious" from it, or goes the other way and gets absolutely PO'd when he's not smoking constantly, then I wouldn't worry about it. If he is overdoing it, then ask him to cut down a bit. If his anxiety is still through the roof with a decrease in the amount of weed he smokes, then yeah, maybe then you should try an anti-depressant or mood stabilizer.
Posted by daizy on December 11, 2002, at 16:09:13
In reply to Re: Pot smokers medication help » noelle, posted by IsoM on December 11, 2002, at 14:58:44
Has anyone had any experience of/with E? was doing it on weekends with friends for approx 2 years, then last december had a bad pannic attack in a club, thought I was going to die, didnt know where I was or what I was doing ect... havnt done it again, but since then have not felt right, depressed and suffer pannic attacks, keep having flashbacks of that night. Have since quit work and dont go out anywhere. doctors done tests and nothing physical is wrong, been put on effexor but its making me feel suicidal, and like im on speed, ie jaw clenching and i have awful nightmares. been to the hospital and doctors so may times that im getting majorly paranoid. I cant see a way out of this mess im in, i feel like im going mad. can anyone help? much appreciated.
Posted by Mr Cushing on December 11, 2002, at 16:20:41
In reply to Going Mad?, posted by daizy on December 11, 2002, at 16:09:13
Well... this isn't exactly good news, but drugs like E can trigger of psychotic episodes in people who have a family of any sort of mental illness. I've seen 2 people so far go through that.Now, you can try various anti-psychotics (I don't know jack about them to tell you anything) and see if that helps.
Have you told your Doctors that you've been feeling this way since using a lot of E?
Posted by daizy on December 11, 2002, at 16:49:18
In reply to Re: Going Mad? » daizy, posted by Mr Cushing on December 11, 2002, at 16:20:41
> I havnt told my doctor or anyone exactly how I feel because i am scared what people might think, im getting worse by the day and i feel like im going to loose it any minute, I dont feel like im on this planet anymore. What exactly is a phsycotic episode? and if i had it would i know? i have been to see a phsyc but it was about 6 month ago, i didnt explain what happened to me that night on E because freaks me out and i have flashbacks, i havnt told anyone and none of my mates have ever mentioned it again think because i freaked them out so much. i cant stop thinking about death. I know I need help but here the waiting lists are huge. does anyone have anymore advise? thanx
> Well... this isn't exactly good news, but drugs like E can trigger of psychotic episodes in people who have a family of any sort of mental illness. I've seen 2 people so far go through that.
>
> Now, you can try various anti-psychotics (I don't know jack about them to tell you anything) and see if that helps.
>
> Have you told your Doctors that you've been feeling this way since using a lot of E?
Posted by noelle on December 11, 2002, at 16:51:28
In reply to Re: Going Mad? » daizy, posted by Mr Cushing on December 11, 2002, at 16:20:41
I want to get pregnant, I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to try and make him change this since it seems to help him, but I want to get pregnant and I heard it causes chromosomal deformaties in sperm, and it lowers testosterone. Do you think I'm being over cautious
Posted by BrittPark on December 11, 2002, at 16:52:49
In reply to Going Mad?, posted by daizy on December 11, 2002, at 16:09:13
There is always a way out and I don't mean suicide. If you ever seriously consider killing yourself, go to the ER of the nearest hospital immediately.
It sounds like effexor isn't doing it for you though you didn't say how long you'd been taking it. If only for a short while wait it out. Some ADs make you feel worse before you feel better.
There are lots of other things you can do. Cognitive behavioral therapy is helpful for some people. Benzos might be a good choice for you since you seem to be suffering from severe anxiety. APs also might be worth considering. They are anxiolytic as well as anti-psychotic and might fit your situation since your symptoms could have been caused by the E and E is a potent Dopaminergic.
So, make sure you get yourself a good psychiatrist and tough it out. It seems dreary, I know, but you will find relief. Just give it time.
Feel Better,
Britt
Posted by oracle on December 11, 2002, at 18:26:16
In reply to Re: pot smokers advice- I want him to quite becaus, posted by noelle on December 11, 2002, at 16:51:28
> I want to get pregnant, I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to try and make him change this since it seems to help him, but I want to get pregnant and I heard it causes chromosomal deformaties in sperm, and it lowers testosterone. Do you think I'm being over cautious
chromosonal deformaties, no.
it does lower testosterone in some (so do AD's)
but this does not keep people from getting PG.
Posted by oracle on December 11, 2002, at 18:33:17
In reply to Re: pot smokers advice- I want him to quite becaus, posted by noelle on December 11, 2002, at 16:51:28
Posted by Michael D on December 11, 2002, at 19:09:40
In reply to Pot smokers medication help, posted by noelle on December 11, 2002, at 13:35:51
> my husband has been smoking pot every night
> for quite awhile.Taking Marijuana at night creates a dependancy. People who do smoke every night often have sleeping problems when they try to stop. Your husband may want to try taking it smoking it earlier in the day.
Michael D
Posted by Mr Cushing on December 11, 2002, at 21:04:38
In reply to Re: pot smokers advice- I want him to quite becaus, posted by noelle on December 11, 2002, at 16:51:28
Yes, I think you are being over-cautious. I'm not sure how it is in other parts/areas of the world, but most of my friends parents have smoked weed. My Dad smoked weed till I was like 5 or 6 because I remember him doing so. I have friends now with healthy babies that still smoke weed.I really don't think it has anything to do with the Father's use, but if the Mother were to use while pregnant, that's a whole different story.
Posted by catmint on December 12, 2002, at 0:36:12
In reply to Re: pot smokers advice- I want him to quite becaus, posted by oracle on December 11, 2002, at 18:33:17
> http://www.acmed.org/english/faq/04-fertility_male.htm
I don't buy into any of this. I read all of it and there is no solid proof, only a possibility of...
I would be more worried about your exposure to toxins in the environment, your genetic history, and what *you* take into your body. If marijuana caused chromosomal abnormalities in sperm, well, there would be thousands of children born with abnormalities every year. Plus, people would have put two and two together by now.
Marijuana is safe and benign in moderate doses. Those who disagree are probably proponents of the D.A.R.E. program. The D.A.R.E. progam won't pay for research on marijuana unless researchers report only negative findings. Researchers have been known to lie about the dangers of marijuana in order to maintain funding.
Please check out this book:
"Marijuna Myths, Marijuna Facts, A review of the Scientific Evidence" written by Lynn Zimmer PhD and John Morgan M.D.
Lynn Zimmer has a PhD and John P. Morgan is a medical doctor.Until your husband finds a psych med that successfully treats his anxiety, it is ok that he is self-medicating at night. You didn't respond about whether or not his use is affecting other aspects of his life.
Posted by catmint on December 12, 2002, at 0:44:29
In reply to Re: pot smokers advice- I want him to quite becaus, posted by catmint on December 12, 2002, at 0:36:12
>>I don't buy into any of this. I read all of it and there is no solid proof, only a possibility of...
Just wanted to delete the above statement. I was referring to something else. Thanks!
Posted by wharfrat on December 12, 2002, at 8:43:51
In reply to Re: pot smokers advice- I want him to quite becaus, posted by noelle on December 11, 2002, at 16:51:28
> I want to get pregnant, I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to try and make him change this since it seems to help him, but I want to get pregnant and I heard it causes chromosomal deformaties in sperm, and it lowers testosterone. Do you think I'm being over cautious
Chromosomal deformaties is government propaganda thats been around since the 60's, maybe earlier.
I've smoked pot for 26 years,(now days it takes me about 6 months to smoke 1/2 oz.) been married for 17 and have 2 boys ages 9 & 14. Birth control and eventually vasectomy are the only 2 things that have kept my wife from being pregnant constantly.
Both boys have all their body parts, do well in school and are mentally stable (well except for the 14 year old, but that's just because he's 14 and smarter than anyone on earth). I say let your husband smoke his pot if it helps with anxiety. From my experience with antidepressants (SSRI's in particular) the sexual side effects (unable to have an orgasm) is the ultimate birth control. So try and keep him away from those.
Just my 2 cents
Wharf
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