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Bipolar Disorder & use of Cannabis
I believe I saw a post on this earlier but couldn't find it. What is the impact of using cannabis when diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder? What is the interaction with the common meds: Lithium, SSRI's. Canada has an ever relaxing policy with respect to cannabis and it may be decriminilized/legalized in the near future. Have their been studies done? (Given the illegality, all I have heard is anecdotal information). Your opinions please.
Bottom line Dont use it . the risks far outweigh what little benefit you can get from pot.
Healthy, diet, exercise, meds and therapy will do wonders for you It gives a better hight that pot when you are taking good care of yourself.
Love Venora.
Healthy, diet, exercise, meds and therapy will do wonders for you It gives a better hight that pot when you are taking good care of yourself.
Love Venora.
THC has actually risen in the last 20 years, hyrdoponic marijuana is now pretty much norm, grown under controlled conditions using enhanced growing systems, fertilisers and grow lights - the average THC content of a joint is far higher than it ever was before and this means there are major major risks for anyone with a senisitivity to it.
I did not abstain from smoking in my early teens, early twenties. When I was diagnosed with BP, I quit using (agreed with doc to abstain and give meds a try). I did not pick it up for self-medicating for 20+ years. I have a . The potency of smoke has changed drastically over the years, almost as if it is laced with something else.
My use in earlier years, I believe, has caused memory impairment that I struggle with daily.
My two cents ~ I wouldn't take the chance. A friend of mine who is BP smokes daily and appears "functional". So, of course, I tried smoking it a few months ago to see if this would help me and I became completely paranoid, agitated, frightened and crawling out of my skin.
My use in earlier years, I believe, has caused memory impairment that I struggle with daily.
My two cents ~ I wouldn't take the chance. A friend of mine who is BP smokes daily and appears "functional". So, of course, I tried smoking it a few months ago to see if this would help me and I became completely paranoid, agitated, frightened and crawling out of my skin.
It's better to get onto Trazadone, or possible a mild benzo then:
1) Become addicted
2) May result in permanent cognitive damage
3)I will stop working after a while, and then you will, not might will smoke more
4) It will make your BP significantly worse.
5) You risk psychosis as Monkey said.
It sounds like you are undermedicated or not medicated. The drug I am on, in concert with my mood stabilizer really helps me sleep. Also teaching yourself better sleeping habits will also help. Keeping a regular schedule is very important. Limit your caffeine intake to 1 cup of coffee or 2 cups of regular tea.(no later then 4pm) Your brain becomes overstimulated, and you need more to get through, nasty cycle.especially if you are BP, it will make your moods swing dramatically. I used to drink 4 cups a day, worked night shifts, slept maybe 4 hours, and my moods were all over the map. I was a mess.
Many BP folks have a dual diagnosis, drug addiction AND BP, which makes a person much harder to treat with regular meds. Is it worth it? No. The drug I am on, made me groggy for about a week, but then I got used to it, I call it my magic pill. I sleep 8 solid, blissful hours each night., and jump out of bed in the morning.
1) Become addicted
2) May result in permanent cognitive damage
3)I will stop working after a while, and then you will, not might will smoke more
4) It will make your BP significantly worse.
5) You risk psychosis as Monkey said.
It sounds like you are undermedicated or not medicated. The drug I am on, in concert with my mood stabilizer really helps me sleep. Also teaching yourself better sleeping habits will also help. Keeping a regular schedule is very important. Limit your caffeine intake to 1 cup of coffee or 2 cups of regular tea.(no later then 4pm) Your brain becomes overstimulated, and you need more to get through, nasty cycle.especially if you are BP, it will make your moods swing dramatically. I used to drink 4 cups a day, worked night shifts, slept maybe 4 hours, and my moods were all over the map. I was a mess.
Many BP folks have a dual diagnosis, drug addiction AND BP, which makes a person much harder to treat with regular meds. Is it worth it? No. The drug I am on, made me groggy for about a week, but then I got used to it, I call it my magic pill. I sleep 8 solid, blissful hours each night., and jump out of bed in the morning.
I know I posted this question in a very generic format. Here's the skinny. I have horrible times sleeping and find that most of the sleep meds that I have tried drag me down the next day despite numerous caffine infusions.
I was a complete abstainer from weed in my teens, 20's, 30's. I saw it as quite adverse to the dance/athletic/vocal training that I had done. When I had travelled to Antigua, a friend offered and being that the kids were safe back in Canada.....
It had two effects on me, one was sexual arousal and the other was the ability to sleep. Either was a blessing in my book (my partner was not complaining either...sun,sex,sleep).
Suffice to say, the consumption ended at the end of the vacation but I've been toying with the idea as both sleep and arousal are more of an issue again.
The Canadian government has been all over the map legislatively on this issue both on compassionate care and simple possession.
Being in the music industry, access is not an issue but I am concerned about adjunct issues with prescription meds etc.
I was a complete abstainer from weed in my teens, 20's, 30's. I saw it as quite adverse to the dance/athletic/vocal training that I had done. When I had travelled to Antigua, a friend offered and being that the kids were safe back in Canada.....
It had two effects on me, one was sexual arousal and the other was the ability to sleep. Either was a blessing in my book (my partner was not complaining either...sun,sex,sleep).
Suffice to say, the consumption ended at the end of the vacation but I've been toying with the idea as both sleep and arousal are more of an issue again.
The Canadian government has been all over the map legislatively on this issue both on compassionate care and simple possession.
Being in the music industry, access is not an issue but I am concerned about adjunct issues with prescription meds etc.
I need to correct you regarding Canadian laws, it's now illegal again. You could come under prosecution for being in posession of Cannabis. But like most Law Inforcement, if you have one "ciggarette", they aren't going to bust you, but they will take it from you if you do it in public and you could still get fined on top of that. There is a provision for those suffering from disorders such as glaucoma and MS (The compassion club), it is not sanctioned for BP nor should it be, you need a specialist's approval that other meds have or could not be beneficial. . With all the depressant chemcals in this plant, only once in a blue moon would really be okay.
It is as addicitive as any immediate mood altering drug, folks don't realize that. I used to smoke, aged 12-21, and in hindsight it made my mood swings worse after the effect wore off. My ex, whom I think is BP, self medicates with "the herb", she is as cranky as hell when she smokes it. She doesn't realize it all all. She cleaned up for about 6 weeks, and was great to be around, but I knew she caved in because she was in a foul mood with the motivation of a gnat. When she was off said herb, she was perky and happy.
You already have meds working in your brain, adding another one, especially one that isn't regulated just isn't safe. What I mean by that, is you have no idea who grew it, what chemicals were sprayed on, then you're going to inhale it? eek.
getting off my soapbox now.
It is as addicitive as any immediate mood altering drug, folks don't realize that. I used to smoke, aged 12-21, and in hindsight it made my mood swings worse after the effect wore off. My ex, whom I think is BP, self medicates with "the herb", she is as cranky as hell when she smokes it. She doesn't realize it all all. She cleaned up for about 6 weeks, and was great to be around, but I knew she caved in because she was in a foul mood with the motivation of a gnat. When she was off said herb, she was perky and happy.
You already have meds working in your brain, adding another one, especially one that isn't regulated just isn't safe. What I mean by that, is you have no idea who grew it, what chemicals were sprayed on, then you're going to inhale it? eek.
getting off my soapbox now.
I support all those points and I know for sure it can worsen schizophrenia (from studies, coming from a family with recovered substance abusers on one side, never tried anything) and can hasten its onset. And for a specific person I know with bipolar, they said they tried it once (years ago) and it made them psychotic the whole day and people had to talk them down. As for how it effects people without a psychiatric disability I'll stay out of that debate. I certainly don't support the idea of people taking it but rather than have people arrested I think rehabilitation should be offered as an option.
For the people I've seen without a psychiatric disability who smoke it (don't personally know any people but living in N.Y.C. you will see people who use it) remember it has the same long term effects as cigarette smoke. And its an unknown quantity. You don't know what you are getting. It could be laced. I saw someone go into a psychotic state in a laundromat and attack people probably because it was laced with pcp. And over time (since the 1960's) the THC content has gone up so it is even more psychoactive and harmful. And some people use it to self medicate and they don't know why. And the idea that its not addictive is not true. I knew someone who chained smoked marijuana and was obviously addicted. The legalization idea is to prevent more people from harming themselves but not to promote it (the Netherlands is gradually closing down their "coffee shops" that sell it because it attracted drug addicts from around the world) and I'd prefer it be medicalized. In other words to simplify what I posted: not a good idea at any time.
For the people I've seen without a psychiatric disability who smoke it (don't personally know any people but living in N.Y.C. you will see people who use it) remember it has the same long term effects as cigarette smoke. And its an unknown quantity. You don't know what you are getting. It could be laced. I saw someone go into a psychotic state in a laundromat and attack people probably because it was laced with pcp. And over time (since the 1960's) the THC content has gone up so it is even more psychoactive and harmful. And some people use it to self medicate and they don't know why. And the idea that its not addictive is not true. I knew someone who chained smoked marijuana and was obviously addicted. The legalization idea is to prevent more people from harming themselves but not to promote it (the Netherlands is gradually closing down their "coffee shops" that sell it because it attracted drug addicts from around the world) and I'd prefer it be medicalized. In other words to simplify what I posted: not a good idea at any time.
The reality is any psycho active drug is a bad idea for mental illness sufferers.
The evidence that Cannabis is far from harmless builds more every year despite the best efforts of the pro marijuana lobby - its been pushed as safe and its not - the incidence of psychosis and other issues in long term users has been shown clearly.
No psycho active drug is safe for us. Its that simple and this is a non prescription non monitored drug without quality control. Its no different to using meth or cocaine in my eyes and you do so at your own risk.
I fully support medical usage but I strongly disagree with legalisation or decriminalisation of the drug as it just further adds to the image of 'safe' marijuana and the medical evidence that it is not is being ignored by those with an agenda to push.
The evidence that Cannabis is far from harmless builds more every year despite the best efforts of the pro marijuana lobby - its been pushed as safe and its not - the incidence of psychosis and other issues in long term users has been shown clearly.
No psycho active drug is safe for us. Its that simple and this is a non prescription non monitored drug without quality control. Its no different to using meth or cocaine in my eyes and you do so at your own risk.
I fully support medical usage but I strongly disagree with legalisation or decriminalisation of the drug as it just further adds to the image of 'safe' marijuana and the medical evidence that it is not is being ignored by those with an agenda to push.
Here is the link to the post relating to marijuana (aka cannabis). There is a more recent post but that was more to do with second hand smoke.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/404032
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/404032
Here is an extract from a website regarding mental health and cannabis:
The web link is: http://www.knowcannabis.org.uk/cannabis2.htm
Mental health
Have you ever felt tense or agitated after smoking pot? Have you ever had uncontrolled thoughts or become confused after a joint?
Some people experience unpleasant effects when they use cannabis, such as anxiety, panic attacks or paranoia. Usually these symptoms stop once the cannabis has worn off.
If you have had a mental health problem before or if you have a history of mental health problems in your family, cannabis can trigger serious mental health problems (such as schizophrenia). There is also concern that people who use cannabis a lot when they are young may be vulnerable to mental health problems later in life.
If you already have a mental health problem, cannabis will probably make your symptoms worse. Talk to your GP about any psychological and mental health issues.
If cannabis is affecting your mental health, stop using it.
The web link is: http://www.knowcannabis.org.uk/cannabis2.htm
Mental health
Have you ever felt tense or agitated after smoking pot? Have you ever had uncontrolled thoughts or become confused after a joint?
Some people experience unpleasant effects when they use cannabis, such as anxiety, panic attacks or paranoia. Usually these symptoms stop once the cannabis has worn off.
If you have had a mental health problem before or if you have a history of mental health problems in your family, cannabis can trigger serious mental health problems (such as schizophrenia). There is also concern that people who use cannabis a lot when they are young may be vulnerable to mental health problems later in life.
If you already have a mental health problem, cannabis will probably make your symptoms worse. Talk to your GP about any psychological and mental health issues.
If cannabis is affecting your mental health, stop using it.
I think, if I remember correctly, that the relaxing of cannabis is something that still causes huge responses from both sides.
I shall do a little research to find the post you are referring to.
All the research I have ever read concerning this drug warns about its effect on mental health and not in a good way. Paranoia is the one that springs immediately to mind.
I shall do a little research to find the post you are referring to.
All the research I have ever read concerning this drug warns about its effect on mental health and not in a good way. Paranoia is the one that springs immediately to mind.
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