Marijuana and Pills

[jaybop210]

I have severe anxiety and major depression disorder and a sleep disorder.  I am on klonipin, effexor, remeron, seroquel  for these 2 problems.  I have been on these meds for about 10 yrs.
I recently started to smoke marijuana to calm myself much more.....I need the extra right now, or so it feels like I do.

Some really scary incidents in last 4 weeks......fallling asleep with my face on my keyboard, hallucinations (or dreams..i say dreams because the experience startles me awake, I think.  

Does anyone know for certain that one of my medications interacts poorly with marijuana?

[nursegirl6572]

The short answer to your question is a resounding YES!

Now the long answer...

Marijuana will actually accomplish the exact opposite that you're shooting for.  It will make your anxiety and depression symptoms MUCH worse.  If your disorders are not being properly managed, then the right course of action is to discuss that with your doctor and therapist (if you have one..if you don't, you need one).  The answer is never self medicating.  That will lead you down a dark path.  MANY people with anxiety disorders and depression end up as addicts due to self medicating away the symptoms of their disorders.  

Call your doctor, discuss your regimen since it isn't working well, and get back on the right track.  You'd be smart to steer clear of MJ and alcohol completely.  Both will cause long term exacerbations of your mood disorders.

Good luck.

[BluCrystal]

To be blunt, you have no business smoking pot.  Your meds will not work properly if you smoke pot, drink alcohol, or do any other street drugs.  You are walking a very fine line here, and could become severely sick from this.  Please take only the meds, as prescribed.  If you are not happy with that, see your doctor and tell him so, maybe he can do something med-wise to make you feel more comfortable. - Blu

[Bubulous]

With me the Seroquel interacted badly with marijuana.  I have never been on any of the other meds but Seroquel is an anti-psychotic and I would not recommend smoking marijuana with it no matter the therapeutic effect it gives you.
If your anxiety meds aren't working anymore I would talk to your doctor and see if something else can be adjusted but I am thinking that the meds aren't the issue.  You are on some of the best anxiety meds you can be on and I am not saying that you don't have severe anxiety but I have met a lot of people on Remeron, Klonopin, and Seroquel (usually not at the same time) and although all of them are great for anxiety, some of it is cognitive.  What has been going on in your life recently that has changed which made you want to start smoking marijuana?  If you just had a minor elevation in anxiety than talk to your therapist (if you have one) and ask them what you can do along with the meds to pull you out of it.
I am sure you know about some of the cognitive behavioral therapy techniques like grounding, visualization, and guided meditaion... along with yoga.  I also assume that you have tried some of them before.  I would try them again and if you have never tried them I can help you to better understand the benefits of it on anxiety.