Depressed and ill reaction to marijuana

[sm304]

Two nights ago, my sister, fiancé, and myself (all adult professionals) smoked marijuana using a glass bowl/pipe. We all smoked the same marijuana, that came from the same "straight" or safe source. It was my second time trying pot, and only my first time feeling high from it. My fiancé used pot about once or twice a week for several months when he was 20, but has not used it at all in the twenty years since (he is 40). The other night, he had an extremely weird (and upsetting) reaction – different than anything he had ever experienced before from pot usage. At first, he felt the “normal” high that my sister and I were also feeling. Before long, however, he started feeling extremely depressed. He laid down on the couch and acted extremely groggy. His face became abnormally pale, and he started sweating profusely. He could barely talk to us as we questioned him about what was wrong, but he did say that he was “so sad” and "didn’t know why." He also said he felt nauseous. When I would gently shake him to get his attention as I tried to talk to him about what was wrong, he would look at me very sudden and startled. High for the first time myself, I became really upset and paranoid about what was wrong with him. I helped him to bed (although he had quite a difficult time even walking) and forced him to take little sips of water; before long, he fell asleep. My sister and I both felt completely normal the next morning, but he was extremely tired all day (falling asleep at the dinner table during a family picnic!). When we talked about his experience the previous night, he said that while he had felt so depressed, he also was extremely paranoid about “staying alive” and was scared he was going to die! Today (two days later) he STILL feels really tired and "foggy," and is even nauseous and sweating more than normal. Some other background information about his health that could help: he has a lot of allergies (grass, dust, pet dander, pollen, etc.) for which he gets allergy shots and takes over-the-counter medication. Also, he has suffered from depression, but does not currently see a therapist or take medication. He briefly took Prozac about 8 years ago, but stopped shortly after starting the medication because he did not want to feel “dependent” on prescription pills for depression. More recently, he has tried to manage his depression with exercise, healthy diet, and St. John’s Wort herbal supplement. Otherwise, he is in great health. 6'5", 195 lbs. Why do you think he had such a strange reaction to the pot, and why is he still not feeling himself? How long will it take for him to feel normal again? Should we be worried that this was something serious, or an indication that something is wrong with his health? Thank you.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

He has had a "bad trip" and obviously shouldn't do it again. What happened is he opened up a compartment in his mind that is the source of his depression that he has managed over these decades, but not really addressed or resolved. These are ancient childhood memories and worries. He has had a glimpse at them. If he wants to resolve them, this is a good time to see a therapist for a short term highly focused intervention. He could do a lot in a short period of time with the right person.

[chris7777]

not trying to overrun your post here, but i am having an ill reaction to marijuana(suspected) as well... maybe some relation
I smoked not too much with some friends, and quickly felt too high to be able to handle myself. I went to bed and had terrible spins, and was afraid that i was going to die.  I woke up the next morning, everything seemed fine.  I quickly noticed later on in the day something wasn't right.  I felt spaced out, and disconnected, over the next week or so my eyes became consistently dry, and insomnia started setting in.  I have really wierd dreams when i go to sleep now.  The condition almost went away for a couple of days, then came right back.  I've also noticed some vision problems, feels as if either my left eye is bulging, or some central vision loss occurred.  It is now approximately 3 months later, i've had an MRI of the brain done, 2 blood screens, and a trip to the opthalmologist.  Nausea occurs in there as well, i find it hard to focus on any one object at a time with my eyes.  only abnormal things that turned up were some minor high blood pressure readings, and high ocular pressure in the left eye, which i guess wasn't severe enough to treat.  wondering if maybe any of these symtpoms are present in your friend/husband. Good luck

[sm304]

What you are experiencing sounds much more severe than what my fiance felt. As a matter of fact, he says he feels back to himself again now (4 days after smoking the pot). All I know of what he felt those first few days is decribed in my original post ("fogginess," sleepiness, slight nauseua). I can't really offer you any insight because I've only tried pot twice myself, and don't know that much about it. Sorry and good luck...

[tooyyoungforthis]

I had a very similar reaction to marijuana like you both describe. I used to smoke marijuana every day since I was 15 and never had a negative feeling/reaction with it. However when I was 19 I had a traumatic life-threatening experience. Pretty much ever since then when I smoke marijuana I get VERY paranoid, do not want to socialize with ANYONE, and have a VERY overwhelming feeling of despair and FEAR. Any little problem/stress I had before becomes overwhelming and and gives me something I like to call "THE FEAR". Hard to describe but just a gut-awful feeling of terror I can feel... so its not just emotional. Anyhow I think because of my traumatic experience I have developed social anxiety disorder or something (I dont like to talk with people I don't know at ALL, and always feel someone is out to get me or talking about me even when I dont smoke). Anyhow I know when I smoke it is this same fear/anxiety but AMPLIFIED intensily. Most likely these feelings in you or your significant other are some sort of anxiety that you may not know you have until it is amplified or triggeres by marijuana?? not sure, but in my case I believe thats what it is. Not sure because I have never been to a phsyciatrist or doctor, but am VERY close as its beginning to be unbearable. just my thoughts.

[Miena]

The only bad reaction I ever had was when combined with alcohol, and it sounds the same as what your fiance's "bad trips" were.

But like the doc said, I certainly would not try it again under those cicumstances. It could have been laced, as you never REALLY know. Molds and other unknown factors could also produce allergic reactions in some people.

Hope it helps!
Miena

[Sirmodgod]

Let's not forget Mary jane is ILLEGAL and it easy to detect. Stick to only legally prescribed meds. If you get busted you wont have the liberty of being able to take many of the effective prescribed meds. It's risk to benifit ratio is just not there. Be smart or you'll be sorry. With any medical condition jail is a house of horrors. No one in there gives a sh*t if you have problems. In fact they exploit them and take great personal satisfaction in seeing you suffer or come apart. You think you are having a rough time now x your problems by at least 10 and that's the beginning of having them and being in jail.

[Quiem]

I had something somewhat like yours. I was fine for the first 2 minutes until i walked downstairs. Then all of a sudden my heart was racing unusually fast. I couldnt see very well becasue my eyes werent focusing like they should. I had to hold my finger in front of my face just to see straight. Then my body sort of  got tingly in a way. Like you feel when you wake up after passing out if anyone knows what that feels like. I felt like i was spinning very fast uncontrollably. I wasnt high, it was my first time. I knew i was having a bad reaction but i dont know why. To describe it as best as i can, if any of you have ever seen the movies where someone is walking down a hall then you hear them breathe heavily and the sides of the screen(the persons vision range) becomes fuzzy and shaky. Thats how it felt, but i could breathe fine. I ended up having to call 911. I want to try it again, but i dont know if i should. I dont know if im allergic to it, but i really want to try it again. If i am allergic to it, what will happen if i try it again? Some help please....

[Quiem]

I had something somewhat like yours. I was fine for the first 2 minutes until i walked downstairs. Then all of a sudden my heart was racing unusually fast. I couldnt see very well becasue my eyes werent focusing like they should. I had to hold my finger in front of my face just to see straight. Then my body sort of  got tingly in a way. Like you feel when you wake up after passing out if anyone knows what that feels like. I felt like i was spinning very fast uncontrollably. I wasnt high, it was my first time. I knew i was having a bad reaction but i dont know why. To describe it as best as i can, if any of you have ever seen the movies where someone is walking down a hall then you hear them breathe heavily and the sides of the screen(the persons vision range) becomes fuzzy and shaky. Thats how it felt, but i could breathe fine. I ended up having to call 911. I want to try it again, but i dont know if i should. I dont know if im allergic to it, but i really want to try it again. If i am allergic to it, what will happen if i try it again? Some help please....

[waykels]

My husband had a very bad reaction last night that had me quite concerned for him.  He smoked one pipeful himself (about 3 inhalations) some time after dinner.  We then sat on the couch a bit, and he felt somewhat bad in his stomach, but we made love then.  After that he got up, and got the spins, and had to lay on the floor.  He thought he might vomit, and crawled in stages down the hall to the bathroom, stopping twice along the way because he was so dizzy.  Once in the bathroom, he lay on the floor for 2 hours, just feeling awful.  He was extremely gasey, nauseous, and dizzy.  Completely unable to stand up.  So, I got him some pillows, he asked that I put a hat on his head to "ground" him.  I covered him with a blanket, and checked on him often.  Finally he had fallen asleep.  Then he was able to get up and go to bed but still felt bad.  He woke up and went to work today.  Said he was very tired, but better.  He has had 2 other bad experiences on pot.  He feels his heart beating too fast.  I guess that is a common bad reaction.  But this one makes him think he shouldn't smoke again maybe.  He takes medication for gout and has hay fever allergies.  He's 49.  Anyone heard of such a bad reaction to pot?  Thanks.

[efrank]

Here's something:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b30iwhEw9ho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azkLQpyiGHA&mode=related&search=