Bipolar & Cannibus

She/he has a point here. This person came to this forum to write about a very personal experience and what worked for them. The point she/he was trying to make was how mj has helped her/him significantly, which I can definitely relate to.
This person 'clearly' stated that smoking mj isn't for everyone with this illness. And it obviously isn't BUT not everyone has this illness to the same degree. I have treated myself with mj for about 25 out of the 30 years I have been diagnosed. Do I recommend this to other people? Hell no!!! Neither did this person.
I totally understand how Mogie must feel about having lost a close friend the way she did and 'of course' she is going to be more sensitive to this topic than most people. That would be such a devastating loss.

I think the reaosn Mogie 'might' be so concerned is that MANY people with bipolar illness speak of religion and hearing God. (not meaning to speak for you Mogie)Although this has never happened to me, I can totally understand the significant relationship.

Sorry euthanotos BUT you do represent the stereo-typical bipolar disorder patient and I can understand why these people were concerned with your opinions. You even mentioned it yourself that you would have been better off perhaps not bringing GOD into this converstion.

I believe in GOD completely but do not practice any religion and I do find that mj helps me greatly but now I also take epival (for bipolar and seizures) and effexor for social anxiety disorder.

I also have my husband who does a great job at monitoring my mental state of mind.

I love my weed but he is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

quote=euthanatos93420;101337]ALL RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RELIGIOUS CONVERSATION ON THIS THREAD CEASES NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOT ONE MORE WORD!!! For those interested I shall Respond to 7xstall comments in the spirituallity forum and edit a link into this post after I have done so. THERE AND ONLY THERE we may continue this religious discusion. This has gone from debating mental illness and medical marijuana to religion. I would appreciated it if my thread were'nt taken on this tangent any further.

Thank you.

P.S. All those wishing to comment on Bipolar & cannibus (the original topic) may do so freely. Discussion of how spirituality fits into this is a NATURAL topic. Feel free to include it in your post. DO NOT HOWEVER continue this ENDLESS religious debate on my thread, thank you.[/quote]

I to am bipolar/manic depressive (30now) I was misdiagnosed as ADHD for the past 22years.... SO needless to say now Im doing better.. Marijuana definately helps me deal witht he day to day trials and tribulations in life.. The thing is though from everything I've read if someone is using marijuana SOLELY as their medicine of choice for bipolar you'd pretty much have to smoke enough that you were stoned stupid 24hrs..and then you pretty much wouldn;'t be able to function for work etc...(this is just what I read) Myself with 300mg of Lamictal a day and close to an 1/8th a day I feel a bit better=)

Ditto! Exactly like me.

euthanatos93420 said:

When dealing with Bipolar and many other mental illnesses medication is a shot-in-the-dark trial and error process. I've been on dozens of different medications with very little success. Lithium being the most effective, and yet still doing very little for my episodes while being perscribed at borderline toxic levels. Nothing has done for me what marijuana has. I have been effectively self-medicating for the past three and half years with very few episodes. All of which occured during periods of time without marijuana.
marijuana might not have been the right medicine for your friend. I am in no way trying to say the cannibus is a cure-all for everyone with bipolar. In fact, in some, it may exacerbate the problem instead of solving it. However, I find it to be very effective for treating myself.

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OMG mbud!!! Way to go. This is awesome and just what I need to take to my doctor. I will definitely print this out for him to read.
Thats very interesting. I'm applying for my medical marijuanan licence.

mbud said:

Here is part of on article on the issue. ​

Cannabinoids in bipolar affective
disorder: a review and discussion
of their therapeutic potential​

C. H. Ashton

Department of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle​

upon Tyne, UK.​

P. B. Moore ​

Department of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon​

Tyne, UK.​

P. Gallagher ​

Department of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle​

upon Tyne, UK.​

A. H. Young ​

Department of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle​

upon Tyne, UK.​

Bipolar affective disorder is often poorly controlled by prescribed drugs.​

Cannabis use is common in patients with this disorder and anecdotal​

reports suggest that some patients take it to alleviate symptoms of both​

mania and depression. We undertook a literature review of cannabis use​

by patients with bipolar disorder and of the neuropharmacological​

properties of cannabinoids suggesting possible therapeutic effects in​

this condition. No systematic studies of cannabinoids in bipolar disorder​

were found to exist, although some patients claim that cannabis​

relieves symptoms of mania and/or depression. The cannabinoids​

Δ​

9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) may exert​

sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, antipsychotic and​

anticonvulsant effects. Pure synthetic cannabinoids, such as dronabinol​

and nabilone and specific plant extracts containing THC, CBD, or a​

mixture of the two in known concentrations, are available and can be​

delivered sublingually. Controlled trials of these cannabinoids as​

adjunctive medication in bipolar disorder are now indicated.​

Keywords​

bipolar disorder, cannabidiol, cannabinoids, cannabis, CBD, depression,​

dronabinol, mania, nabilone, tetrahydrocannabinol, THC​

Introduction​

The treatment of bipolar affective disorder (BAD) remains problematic​

despite several guidelines or consensus statements (Sachs​

et al.​

, 2000; Geddes and Goodwin, 2001; Goodwin, 2003; Lloyd​

et al.​

, 2003). The mean time to relapse after the first episode is 5​

years (Geddes ​

et al., 2003) and periods of remission shorten as the​

illness progresses, regardless of treatment. Most patients with BAD​

are prescribed a combination of drugs, all of which have their disadvantages.​

Lithium, although efficacious, has limited effectiveness​

because of low acceptance and occurrences of mania on withdrawal.​

Many anticonvulsants can produce unacceptable sideeffects​

(Porter ​

et al., 1999; Ashton and Young, 2003). Sodium​

valproate, the most commonly prescribed mood stabilizer, carries​

risks in women of childbearing age (Committee on Safety of​

Medicines, 2003; Goodwin and Sachs, 2004). Lamotrogine,​

although effective in biplar depression, requires careful dosage​

control to prevent skin complications, which may prove to be​

serious. Conventional antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy​

can induce mood elevation, which may progress to rapid mood​

cycling. Antipsychotic drugs have many undesirable effects and the​

atypical antipsychotics quetiapine, olanzapine and risperidone​

have all been reported to induce mania in some cases (Mishra ​

et​

al.​

, 2004). Psychosocial measures have been shown to complement​

medication, but they remain at an early stage of development and​

their widespread use is limited by available resources.​

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There's been much debate about medical marijuana and bipolar disorder. I have bipolar 1 disorder like you. Every study and testimonial I've read, I'd say have a 95% effectiveness w/ or in place of medication. I'm very open minded and spiritual as well. The fact is for me, my mood was more regulated while smoking than not. I haven't smoked for a year now. Last year I cut down, was having a fun manic episode (I get really happy, not angry. I thank god for that aspect) that led me to realize I needed something. I stopped smoking and got on Abilify. This "wonderful" medication gave me constant restlessness and the first time in my life, I wanted to commit suicide. I hospitalized myself and went on different meds. I was in a serious depressive mood for about. . 7 months and depressed altogether for 10 months. I go by fine for 2 months and have another manic episode, along with some side effects from medication (tolerable this time, but still unwanted). I vouch for medical marijuana as treatment as bipolar disorder. I'm an advocate for the reform of the laws on marijuana. Check out www.norml.org if you didn't already. Have fun man, stick in there

Bamm Bamm said:

I to am bipolar/manic depressive (30now) I was misdiagnosed as ADHD for the past 22years.... SO needless to say now Im doing better.. Marijuana definately helps me deal witht he day to day trials and tribulations in life.. The thing is though from everything I've read if someone is using marijuana SOLELY as their medicine of choice for bipolar you'd pretty much have to smoke enough that you were stoned stupid 24hrs..and then you pretty much wouldn;'t be able to function for work etc...(this is just what I read) Myself with 300mg of Lamictal a day and close to an 1/8th a day I feel a bit better=)

Click to expand...

I have bipolar 1 disorder. For the past year I was on conventional medications only. I've been on medications before, but this span is when I pretty much went straight edge. I figured there's a lot I want to do, and at 23 being where I was, something needed to change. I have horror stories from last year, lol. I started smoking again after doing my research and stopped taking my meds. The last one I was on, Geodon, was giving me chest pains where my heart is. I read after this one started that a rare side effect is hear failure, go FDA. I'm doin wonderful now. the past 4 months I've just been smoking, no drinking or other partying whatsoever. I smoke about a gram a day to my head. Yea you have to kinda have to keep a steady, even keel of a high throughout the day, but you don't have to be ripped either. Maybe I just have a low tolerance with anything outside my body, lol. I've known people on meds I was taking, worked great for them. . . made me suicidal. . to each their own I guess. I smoke to be chill. I guess you can say I have a different relationship with pot b/c of my bipolar. I have the whole loving to get high, and chill with some friends relationship with dear ole' mary jane. But there's points where I start getting nervous, anxiety kicks in, can't sleep, scattered, all over the place. . smoking chills me out. It's really funny how we as a society collectively don't even know that much about pot. Cannabis is a godsend. . just google "endocannabinoid system." You just might be surprised to find out how great it actually is for the body

redcivpsu13 said:

I have bipolar 1 disorder. For the past year I was on conventional medications only. I've been on medications before, but this span is when I pretty much went straight edge. I figured there's a lot I want to do, and at 23 being where I was, something needed to change. I have horror stories from last year, lol. I started smoking again after doing my research and stopped taking my meds. The last one I was on, Geodon, was giving me chest pains where my heart is. I read after this one started that a rare side effect is hear failure, go FDA. I'm doin wonderful now. the past 4 months I've just been smoking, no drinking or other partying whatsoever. I smoke about a gram a day to my head. Yea you have to kinda have to keep a steady, even keel of a high throughout the day, but you don't have to be ripped either. Maybe I just have a low tolerance with anything outside my body, lol. I've known people on meds I was taking, worked great for them. . . made me suicidal. . to each their own I guess. I smoke to be chill. I guess you can say I have a different relationship with pot b/c of my bipolar. I have the whole loving to get high, and chill with some friends relationship with dear ole' mary jane. But there's points where I start getting nervous, anxiety kicks in, can't sleep, scattered, all over the place. . smoking chills me out. It's really funny how we as a society collectively don't even know that much about pot. Cannabis is a godsend. . just google "endocannabinoid system." You just might be surprised to find out how great it actually is for the body

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It is a godsend http://www.equalrights4all.org/religious/bible.htm.

mogie said:

This is a serious disorder. Take your meds. Don't screw around and self medicate. Marijuana is not intended to cure everything. Get back on your meds. I have already lost one friend who was bi-polar. He thought that if he prayed enough God would cure him. He have up all his possesions and became a care giver because that is what God wanted him to do. He heard a voice alright but it wasn't God. A few months later he blew his brains out in a motel room. Go back to your doctor and get back on your meds. This is serious.

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Bipolar is serious. I've been diagnosed with it for 17 years now. I stopped taking my lithium and anti-depressants about 13 years ago. I've been self-medicating with marijuana ever since.

Through support groups I have met at least a half dozen other bipolar sufferers who get great relief of their symptoms from marijuana.

So many people self-medicate with marijuana for a reason. It works. That said, I still visit my doctor and am honest about my use.

Doctors and meds are important. But they are not everything. In the end each person is the best judge of what works for them.

For me it was good to weigh the side effects and benefits of regular meds against alternative meds like marijuana.

Treating my symptoms with lithium made my mood swings go away, but also made me a bit like a zombie. The lithium gave me hand tremors to the point I stopped drawing and chronic stomach problems.

Treating my symptoms with marijuana also relieves my mood swings, but does not make me like a zombie. The side effects are tachycardia (elevated heart rate right after you smoke), and throat irritation.

Not a hard choice when I looked at it that way. Of course you can't get arrested for using lithium.

i am bi-polar too,i also agree that God made this plant for us to use or He would not of made it . i need my pot for bpolar,and also live in the midwest.i also take my meds., but as bpolar people that is not enough,and pills have way more sied affects then pot. i also belive in God am a christian,that belives God made this plant for us. just because it,s a law, does not mean, to us were doing anything wrong. i also had 8 surguries?, and am in alot of pain at times, and smoking, does relive that. will continue smoking.

I am bipolar. Worse off than pretty much most of you, Iam a rapid cycler, or ultridian as they call it. Very rare case with schitzophrenia. I change emotional states almost every second, and have been this way for over 20 years. The first time I smoked pot, I felt what it was like to be like everyone else, I heard only one voice in my head, I felt only one emotion. I have been locked up many times, lost years of my life because of these diseases. if it were not for pot, I would not be here today, with my wife and child, living like everyone else. And I am bhuddist, so God has nothing to do with me at ALL.