weed and depression

[BizzleLuvin]

ive been diagnosed as having mild depression and severe anxiety for about 10 years. yesterday I went to a new psychiatrist. i decided to be totally honest with her and I told her that I smoke on regular basis. she says to me something along the lines of 'you need to stop smoking because the marijuna counterracts the antidepressants and antianxiety medication you're on'. this came as a surprise to me because i have NEVER heard this before. I am aware that mental illness and severe marijuana use are sometimes linked, but I have never heard that smoking affects the performance of psychoactive medications.frankly, i dont believe it. in fact, i find that marijuana is one of the few things that actually take away my anxiety and depression. for example, (while on my meds) I smoked a bowl with my best friend Madeline and we were taking a walk together. all of the sudden i realized that I felt GREAT! as in really truely satisfied with the day, i was absolutely enjoying myself and I couldnt help but smile. it was as if for once i had no worries, that i could actually live in that moment without becoming overwhelmed with what was to come. i felt amazing for the rest of the weekend. With antidepressents, I very very slowly see a reduction in my anxiety, but overall I see no rise in my mood. i still feel melancholy and washed out, but without feeling anxious or worrysome. anyway, i dont know what to believe. im inclined to stop my meds all together and self medicate with miss maryjane but whenever i go off my meds, i immediatly go into a bout of severe depression. id like to keep smoking and keep on my meds for the best of both worlds but from what my shrink has told me...i can't. so whats the deal????

[Skink]

The furthest away from a doctor the better off I am...

I don't think any legal practitioner is going to condone MJ... although I don't know fuk about the adverse effects of mixing the two,I suggest you stick with what feels best for you... Any day without man made chemicals is a better day IMHO...

[lemonboy]

Cannaboids have no effect on the changes made by SSRI or MAOI medication. The ups and downs created by smoked cannabis, however, will have an effect on how your body and mind perceive these changes. I'm disturbed by the way your doctor would choose to deliver this information because there is a huge difference. I'm also not sure that frequent cannabis use is the solution to chronic depression nor am I at all convinced it is the cause.

[mrdevious]

That's pretty much nonsense that it'll interfere with your meds, so long as you're not smoking excessively (more than once a day, though daily is still a bit heavy). you basically just need to give your brain time to not be in a constant stoned state.

However, I don't know if you're anxiety is genetically predisponed or the result of circumstances. if it is genetic, you should definately avoid heavy use (and perhapse even moderate use) as it can worsen the symptoms when you're not high. However, this is largely due to your brain being dependant on the high just to stay calm, I wouldn't be surprised if other anti-depressants cause the same problem (I know they do at least in the short term).

[bedake]

I had an ex gf once who had severe anxiety and was bipolar... she didnt like smoking weed im not really sure why, she was against smoking in general but she tried it a couple of times and only said that it made her feel weird... she never took her meds tho

[mrdevious]

Weed has been a FAR more effective medication for anxiety than any of the meds the doctors have given me. and now I'm almost anxiety free, and yet miraculously prescription drug free....... hmmmm, that can't be right, the T.V. has told me otherwise so many times!

[lemonboy]

I wish I did always have access to strains that made anxiety disappear. They certainly do exist but there are others that will do the opposite. I'm having to deal with the commercial market usually so that is too big of a risk to me. That's where my comments originate.

[beachguy in thongs]

New Study: Marijuana Users Less Depressed - November 17, 2005
Largest-Ever Study of Marijuana, Depression Finds Fewer Depressive Symptoms, Better Mood

ALBANY, NEW YORKâ??In the largest-ever study of marijuana and depression, to be published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, daily or weekly marijuana users had fewer symptoms of depression than non-users. Marijuana users were also more likely to report positive moods and fewer somatic complaints such as sleeplessness. Noteworthy differences were also found between those using marijuana for medical purposes and non-medical or "recreational" users.

The new research appears to contradict statements by some government officials suggesting that marijuana is a cause of depression. For example, in a May 3, 2005, press release from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, ONDCP Director John Walters said, "Marijuana use, particularly during the teen years, can lead to depression, thoughts of suicide and schizophrenia."

"Not only does marijuana not cause depression, it looks like it may actually alleviate it," said Mitch Earleywine, co-author of the new study and associate professor of psychology at the University at Albany, State University of New York.

Earleywine and co-investigator Thomas F. Denson of the University of Southern California used an Internet questionnaire that allowed them to survey a very large sample of marijuana users and non-users, totaling over 4,400 participants. Use of the Internet also made it possible to include highly depressed or marijuana-involved participants who might be unable or unwilling to participate in in-person or telephone surveys.

Participants were asked to report their use of marijuana and were divided into three categories: daily users, those who used marijuana within the last month but no more than once per week (weekly users) and those who had never used marijuana in their lifetime (non-users). Depression and related issues were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, a standard tool for researching depression and associated symptoms.

Both daily and weekly marijuana users had significantly lower levels of depression and higher levels of positive mood than non-users. Weekly users also had lower levels of somatic complaints such as sleeplessness. Effects were generally large, with marijuana users approximately 30% less depressed than non-users.

The study is the first to specifically look at depression in medical marijuana users as compared to non-medical users. The most common complaints listed by medical users surveyed were nausea, vomiting, cancer, attention deficit and poor appetite. Medical users generally were more depressed and had more somatic complaints than non-medical users, but still reported fewer such symptoms than non-users.

"Those who use marijuana to battle the symptoms of illness may be depressed because of their illness, not because of marijuana," Earleywine said. "Studies that do not identify medical use might falsely implicate marijuana, rather than sickness, as the cause of depressed feelings."

The new study adds to a growing body of knowledge suggesting that marijuana's active components, called cannabinoids, may be beneficial in certain psychological disorders. In a review published this May in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, researchers form the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in Great Britain noted, "Patient reports and observations, backed by known pharmacology, suggest that the cannabis derivatives delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) may have mood stabilizing properties," including anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects.

"Drug Czar John Walters has tried to frighten Americans about marijuana, using exaggerated and incomplete data cherry-picked to support his ideology," said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "Science should be used to inform policy, not manipulated to scare the public."

With more than 18,000 members and 120,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP works to minimize the harm associated with marijuanaâ??both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that are intended to prohibit such use. MPP believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is imprisonment. For more information, please visit http://www.MarijuanaPolicy.org.

REFERENCE: Denson, Thomas F. and Earleywine, Mitchell, "Decreased Depression in Marijuana Users," Addictive Behaviors, in press, available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03064603.
http://www.mpp.org/releases/nr20051117.html

[ImStonedNILikeIt]

I'm on anti depressants too!Woohoo, I forgot to take my meds today, but I took them tonight...

Weed makes me feel content. All my goals come to bite me in the ass...Then when my high is over, I realize how big of a idiot I am because I never succeed in my goals.....

I have a severe aniexty disorder...I'm on effoxor....Its not working, going to the doctor tomorrow to fix it...

maybe.....i'll just smoke a bowl.

[mrdevious]

I'm on anti depressants too!Woohoo, I forgot to take my meds today, but I took them tonight...

Weed makes me feel content. All my goals come to bite me in the ass...Then when my high is over, I realize how big of a idiot I am because I never succeed in my goals.....

I have a severe aniexty disorder...I'm on effoxor....Its not working, going to the doctor tomorrow to fix it...

maybe.....i'll just smoke a bowl.

Well be preparred for him to up your 75mg to 90, or maybe even 150. and if you're already at 150..... well they'll have to put you down I'm afraid ;)

seriously though, I'd recommend meditation. and if you really dont' want to try it, excercise. I know a lot of people can't stick to a routine, but I found I could when I quit clinging to a system and just went into the woods and ran. when I got tired I walked, when I was sick of walking I'd run. if I was too tired for either, I'll sit by the creek, then run some more later. just be casual about it, and definately learn to appreciate and be in nature. just my advice anyway.

[Ganjasaurusrex]

Bizzle,

This is a common problem that the mainstream pharmaceutical industry has led us to believe is a "chemical imbalance". Especially with young childeren.


The chemical imbalance has everything to do with dietary deficiencies than a defieciency in a synthetic drug such as prozac or exfexor among several as they lead us to believe.

The modern high glycemic, high refined carbohydrate diet is typically to blame for the dietary deficiencies that cause common deppression.

This problem is easliy cured with the following:

Omega 3 fatty acid
Ascorbic acid,(vitamin c) 4x day to keep plasma levels constant.
full spectrum amino acids, (protein powder)
Vitamin b-6 and vitamin b-12


Smoking mj causes release of dopamine and seratonin. When you cease to smoke, the chemical changes are felt and then it turns into depression, anxiety, mood swings, paranoia etc.

These are common symptoms when ceasing to smoke. They can be greatly diminished or eliminated with the above supplementation also.

Ascorbic acid is highly effective by itself as it is the only known molecule to convert two amino acids in the brain to seratonin.

You should give this a try. Its safe, cheap and very effective and you will have other health benefits as a result.

I never have a problem with common depression or any type of withdrawl symptom as a result of smoking mj and I only supplement with ascorbic acid, amino acids, and omega 3. Works very well.

Take care

[Jeff Spicoli]

yeah, just ignore the doctors, they aren't looking out for the best of your health or anything

[BabyFacedAbortion]

I'm on three different meds at the moment, at high doses; I've got severe depression and a severe mood disorder/mania (basically bipolar but because I'm under 18 they don't want to diagnose me just yet). I've never had any REAL problems with my meds.

The only reason you should be worried is because they don't test the effects of pot and your med. If you feel okay, then don't worry about it.

[potsmokingnome]

I'm diagnosed as manic depressant, I've been on lithium for proably 6 or so years, and I have to be on lithium indefinately. I don't get many manic episodes much anymore, last one I had was proably 2 years ago. Lithium helps balance my moods, but then again lithium is a naturual element, not a drug really, The last almost 4 years I have been smoking pot and it doesn't affect my medication. But then again anti-depressants are a differnt storry all together. By nature MJ is classified as a depressant, but I think thas is too much of a generic classification based on some guys therioes who proably never even smoked weed at all. When i smoked it in Highschool, a few times it made my depression worse, one of the reasons why I stoped the useage of weed for a bit. But I think it depends on the person, but don't go off ,of your meds, that can be dangerous, certain medications you have to ween yourself off of them. Just be careful in your choices, I trully say if your happy the way things are working continue on that path.

[BizzleLuvin]

lets see, im a moderate smoker. ranging from once a month to four days a week but on average i smoke twice a week. thanks for the article beachguy. i think im going to investigate tis further. my anxiety and depression are mostly genetic

[BizzleLuvin]

Omega 3 fatty acid
Ascorbic acid,(vitamin c) 4x day to keep plasma levels constant.
full spectrum amino acids, (protein powder)
Vitamin b-6 and vitamin b-12
thanks ganja. i try to follow an organic vegetarian lifestyle and i think that this may have something to do with this 'chemical inbalance'. i tend to lack essential nutrients as you mentioned because my diet doesnt include many proteins and i eat a lot of carbs and grains

[bedake]

Hmm i wonder if that can be related to my bro, he has been a strict vegetarian for like 3 years, and is in college so like the only food he eats is ramen noodles, and bean burritos from taco bell, recently he has mentioned that he needs adderal and has been depressed, i wonder if vegetarian related vitamin deficiencies may be directly related or the provoker of these problems?

Wow I just wrote a paper in english class about how im not being true to myself because im still eating meat yet am an animal lover and in ways think its wrong, this kinda deters me from converting to veganism.... hmmmm

[mrdevious]

I noticed a lot of people here think that a "depressant" by default means it makes you "depressed". Remeber the ground can be depressed, so can chemical levels.... well I'm too high, I can't remember where I'm going with this now. but the point is, depression isn't just an emotion, it can be a "depressant" as in slowing body chemicals, inhibiting memory, any means by which a part of the body is reduced in its actions.

[ImStonedNILikeIt]

Well be preparred for him to up your 75mg to 90, or maybe even 150. and if you're already at 150..... well they'll have to put you down I'm afraid

seriously though, I'd recommend meditation. and if you really dont' want to try it, excercise. I know a lot of people can't stick to a routine, but I found I could when I quit clinging to a system and just went into the woods and ran. when I got tired I walked, when I was sick of walking I'd run. if I was too tired for either, I'll sit by the creek, then run some more later. just be casual about it, and definately learn to appreciate and be in nature. just my advice anyway.


Fuck the doctor. He is going to have to switch my meds. This shit is like being addicted to coke, everytime I miss a day by accident I feel like shit. I don't wanna feel like shit.

The other day my friend came over,and I asked him if he had a joint I could by cause I was dry.He asaid no he quit smoking,and started doing klonopin which is an anixty medication, I always thought it took a couple of weeks for them too work, it's like a valim Anywho, He insited that I'd take a couple, since I'm a peaceful sharing pothead I took one, gave the other to my roommate, It calmed my nerves down but thats about all it did, Does anyone else take these?

[Swizzy89304]

Im 18, and have been smoking Herb since I was about 15. It started off quite heavily (got stoned about 3-5 times a week) but it gradually tapered off and now I only get stoned about twice a month, if that. I have been diagnosed as bipolar/manic depressant, and also suspicions that I have psyclothemia (sp?) which is basically rapid cycling manic depression. I was on mood stabilisers - Sodium Valproate - from January 2004 and an antidepressant called Lofepramine from October 2004. I recently quit both (December 2005), which was NOT advised by my shrink and doctor, but since then I have felt a helluva lot better and havent had any adverse effects.
Im just saying that Herb is the best medication out of the lot of them, but please dont overdo it.

[friendowl]

fuck medicine.
smoke weed and learn to deal with ups and downs.
life sucks so just do what makes you happy.
growing up for me was hard.sometimes i would
think it be easier to die but that shits weak.
stay away from the haters and keep the bullshit to the side