pot made my heart race and sent me to the ER

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Originally Posted by Dave Byrd

Not sure why the long post about Vicodin effects since that's available all over to anyone who can use Google.

I'm here to tell you that cannabis causes sinus tach (racing regular heartbeat) in plenty of folks. We see the "weedbie jeebies" in the ER routinely when we're on call. So can Vicodin especially when people take too much of it or use it recreationally in large doses. Or when they combine it with ethanol or other substances that can do the same thing, like cannabis.

If it happens again to you with a small amount of cannabis, OneQuick, try two things if your heart begins to race. Hold your breath briefly and strain like you're about to cough hard or push out a hard BM. (No need to cough or poop. Just make the straining movement with your abdomen.) Then release the strain and breathe in and out slowly and deeply. Inhale for a 7 to 10 second count through your nose. Exhale for a 7 to 10 second count through your mouth. Repeat that in-out breathing 20 times. It may be hard at first, but concentrate on that slow breathing. Then strain again and repeat the breathing cycle.

Keep doing that till your tachycardia slows down. It will slow down, and even if it doesn't the tach won't kill you. You'll help yourself get more air as it's happening.

That'll save you a $1,750 ER bill next time. Feel free to recommend this to your friends. It's our standard protocol for weedbie jeebie treatment in Plano, Texas, and I haven't yet seen an instance where it hasn't worked unless there are way too many other chemicals involved.

This treatment may come in handy later, too, if you run across a woman--maybe your wife--having a baby the regular way instead of by Cesarean. Only they'll call it Lamaze breathing/pushing in Labor/Delivery. They'll charge you way more than $1,750 to assist with that, so both you and the mama might want to take those breaths together.

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the vagus nerve release acetylcholine, thus being responsible for the decrease in heart rate/blood pressure? I think I remember some of the mechanisms in a class I took a while ago...

We had a patient one time who had recurring vasovagal syncope because he was bearing down too hard (he was constipated) and the physicians couldn't understand why he kept passing out during or after he went to the bathroom... I remembered the lecture about vasovagal syncope when I was in high school A&P, and sheepishly suggested it to the doctor, who had one of those epiphonical expressions on his face, and then gave me a big grin :)

You are correct, ma'am. I'm telling you, dear, you need to stick with medicine. You've got it going on. Yeah, and it's the vagal activation from the Valsalva maneuver, the strain, that can often help slow a harmless spell of tachycardia. Carotid sinus massage will sometimes do the same thing. Trouble is you really need someone who knows where it is to do that for a patient.

Let me guess. The doc who had the epiphany wasn't a cardiologist, was he? Had that patient been taking an anticholinergic drug that had caused the constipation, by any chance?

I got a somewhat old FreeStyle glucometer today from one of my pharm reps. She said it was probably four years old and had been used for demonstrations. I don't have any test strips for it but can easily get those. The bigger problem is its batteries. It has these two tiny 4A batteries that are hard as heck to find replacements for. However it may be our best option until I get to know the new batch of reps who're coming into the office a little better. They always send a new set of reps in January or shift the old ones someplace else. Are you in a hurry for this one? Would it be OK if I held out a little longer to see if we there might be a newer one? You didn't sound as if you're tipping over into hyperglycemic territory the last time I read your testing results here.

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Originally Posted by WeedyBoyWonder

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahah, best quote of a quote ever :D. inless they were being serious :stoned:

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He thought he was being serious. I tried to help by flicking the lights on and off.

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Originally Posted by Dave Byrd

You are correct, ma'am. I'm telling you, dear, you need to stick with medicine. You've got it going on. Yeah, and it's the vagal activation from the Valsalva maneuver, the strain, that can often help slow a harmless spell of tachycardia. Carotid sinus massage will sometimes do the same thing. Trouble is you really need someone who knows where it is to do that for a patient.

Let me guess. The doc who had the epiphany wasn't a cardiologist, was he? Had that patient been taking an anticholinergic drug that had caused the constipation, by any chance?

I got a somewhat old FreeStyle glucometer today from one of my pharm reps. She said it was probably four years old and had been used for demonstrations. I don't have any test strips for it but can easily get those. The bigger problem is its batteries. It has these two tiny 4A batteries that are hard as heck to find replacements for. However it may be our best option until I get to know the new batch of reps who're coming into the office a little better. They always send a new set of reps in January or shift the old ones someplace else. Are you in a hurry for this one? Would it be OK if I held out a little longer to see if we there might be a newer one? You didn't sound as if you're tipping over into hyperglycemic territory the last time I read your testing results here.

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I'm still thinking about a career in medicine, I'm not sure. I'd like to do something with neurology, but I don't know. That's fine if you want to hold out a bit longer, it's wonderful that you're doing this for me anyway, take your time :)

He was a Hospitalist, I think just internal medicine kind of stuff, general practice... He looked kind of embarassed too, because all of then nurses at the bedside kind of chuckled and held back laughter, but he's fresh out of residency, so that kind of made sense. He's pretty nice, though :)

theres one way that you have to look at anxiety; its all in your head.. some people just let there anxiety take control of themselves and leave them hopeless without trying to deal with at the source.. i used to get anxiety when i was going through some tough times and it would just make me feel depressed and not want to do anything but make me worry and trip out... i had a homie that took zanex for his anxiety and he got hooked real quick so i definately didnt want to go down that path.. i had a talk with a licensed physcian about my anxiety and he told me straight up its a lot to do with your mental state and how your coping with your problems.. even when i smoked during these times it seemed to just make the anxiety and panicy feeling even worse and this was something that ive never experienced in my young life... anyways ive just learned that i needed to control my emotions the best i could take deep breaths to regulate my breathing when im feeling that anxiety coming upon me, even just a casual talk with a complete stranger would help ease it off and keep my mind occupied on something different.. everybody is different, but trying to cope with it and not let it get the best of me has helped the anxiety ease off.. i still get that feeling every once in a while, but definately not to the severity as before, staying active and healthy is a good way to keep your mind on the brighter side of things and just make yourself feel better about yourself... now a days i just keep it real when i smoke; keeps me stress free and i keep my head up lookin towards the better things yet to come.. i know how it is when shits going rough and your head is fucking with you, just have to man up and make a change...

stay up:rastasmoke:

I have the same problem. I just can't enjoy getting high like i used to be able to. It's weird. There's nothing physically wrong with me, went to the doctor when it first started happening. had my lung capacity checked, got lung xrays, all inconclusive. So i figure it's gotta be subconscience. I mean, i am 20 and i still live with my parents (only till august though...god i can't wait to move out)

I think i'm just anxious to start my life. and that's what is causing my strong heart beat and all that crap. But since this happened, i noticed i didn't need to smoke as much as i did

I grew to have a dependence on smoking, if i had some, as soon as i woke up in the morning i'de smoke it. if i didn't have any, i'de scrape my bowl. sometimes the thought of not smoking before bed made me anxious. but when this shit first happened, i took a two month break. it was tough sleeping 2 months without weed, but i did it and i'm good now, just don't smoke as much and that's alright.

You cannot OD from marijuana. Might be common knowledge to most of us, but just wanted to point that out, in case anyone didn't know.

Humm..I started a whole post on this heart or anxiety issue..Ive talked to numerouse doctors, some pro marijuana and some against it and they all said that chronic use has affects on the brain, heart and nervouse system. Ive learned that even if you use it for a medicine you have to take breaks from day to day,I mean a couple dry days is good as long as you have other meds. This is especially true if you are smoking high grade with higher amounts of THC. Marijuana can be abused just like anything else, moderation is the key, I know some will hate to hear this but a waker and bake everyday for years IS going to affect you eventually in a negative way! Ive smoked non stop for years and one day, like a train, my heart rate went up, my blood pressure was over 160, i was sweating from my palms, my forehead and my feet..i mean dripping sweat! I was trembling all over and couldnt stop, I stayed like this for about 12 hours before i went to the ER. I felt like i was gonna die, it took the medical staff a couple hour and lots of injections to calm be down and it wasnt in my head! My doctor said if i had waited any longer I would have had a sezuire! I have no other medical problems and wasnt on any perscription drugs, it was the over use of marijuana(chronic use). Like i said earlier, too much of anything is bad! I still smoke but i have to take daily breaks so my system isnt over loaded...Peace and be Safe...Respect our Herb!!

true true.. ive been clean of smoking for these past two weeks and honestly im feeling really goood with a clear head and my lungs are clearin out as well.. jus gettin myself together these days:cool:

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Originally Posted by WeedyBoyWonder

ahahahahahahah, oh man, i dunno if you're serious here either, but lmao. THIS MAN IS DIEING! QUICK, THE LIGHTS!

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Serious yet agian. Next time I smoke someone out for the first time I'm gonna video it. The light trick may have not been the best way to help but in the end everyone got a good laugh, even him. :jointsmile:

BTW Weedboy: Sweet ass avatar :thumbsup: