bipolar- medication and cannabis

[apricot]

Hi everyone, I have a quick question

I was diagnosed bipolar type 2/general depression a few years ago. Over the past 6 months or so I've used cannabis a few times and I'm starting to see a positive effect on my general mood.. even after the high is gone.

The main thing is that I feel more clear-headed. I'm starting to wonder if I am over-medicated and the change in perspective helps me realize it.. does that make any sense?

I've talked about this a little bit with my psychiatrist, but he seems to be a little dubious of medical marijuana so I don't always feel comfortable bringing it up (other than that he's great though).

Anyways, I am hoping you guys might have some advice or relevant anecdotes.


Heres the medication I'm on, in case that makes a difference:

Lithium
Lamictal
Welbutrin
Zoloft



thanks!

apricot Reviewed by apricot on 07-19-2010. bipolar- medication and cannabis Hi everyone, I have a quick question I was diagnosed bipolar type 2/general depression a few years ago. Over the past 6 months or so I've used cannabis a few times and I'm starting to see a positive effect on my general mood.. even after the high is gone. The main thing is that I feel more clear-headed. I'm starting to wonder if I am over-medicated and the change in perspective helps me realize it.. does that make any sense? I've talked about this a little bit with my psychiatrist, Rating: 5

[Storm Crow]

The Use of Cannabis as a Mood Stabilizer in Bipolar Disorder: Anecdotal Evidence and the Need for Clinical Research (full -1998)
http://www.ukcia.org/research/TheUse...rDisorder.html

Recipe For Trouble (anecdotal/ news - 2002 )
Recipe For Trouble - 48 Hours - CBS News

Cannabinoids in bipolar affective disorder: a review and discussion of their therapeutic potential. (full - 2005)
http://www.ukcia.org/research/Cannab...veDisorder.pdf

Cannabis in bipolar (abst - 2005)
Bipolar Disorder Daily News Blog: Cannabis in bipolar

Cannabis Spray for Bipolar (news - 2005)
Cannabis Spray for Bipolar

Marijuana Could Provide Mental Health Treatments (news - 2005)
Marijuana Could Provide Mental Health Treatments

Chemicals in Cannabis may help mentally ill (news - 2005)
Chemicals in Cannabis may help mentally ill

The effect of extreme marijuana use on the long-term course of bipolar I illness: a single case study. (abst - 2007)
Clinical Studies and Case Reports

Opposite relationships between cannabis use and neurocognitive functioning in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. (abst - 2009)
Unbound MEDLINE | Opposite relationships between cannabis use and neurocognitive functioning in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Journal article


My new MMJ list is 420 pages like that on all sorts of ailments. It will be out the end of this month.

[rudy2010]

Thanks for the technical info Storm.

I have a friend who has been diagnosed as bipolar since his teens. His parents had him castrated when he was a teen and had him put in institutions where he was given electro shock treatment. He has been on Lithium, Lithomid and the known list of bipolar treatment drugs. He has maintained his sanity with the support of friends who will kick his ass when needed and self medicating with Marijuana. The smoke has always helped him get through rough times. He has to take a large amount of lithium that is barely non toxic and he goes out of balance about every 9 to 12 months. At that time he has to go to the hospital, withdraw from the lithium, then slowly get back to the slightly less than toxic level that works for him. He can get by sometimes for several months just using pot and is trying to quit the lithium and go strictly with pot both smoking and eating. I finally talked him into getting a license so he can go to the clubs when I am not able to help.

Apricot, the effects you are seeing from using pot for your bipolar disorder are probably real and not imagined. My friend was investigated at our work because out of 120,000 employees he was the only one with bipolar disorder who had worked there for more than 10 years. All the other employees with this disorder left or ended up dead or in jail or usually met some other unpleasent end. They decided to do a test on his blood since they had all this fancy equipment available. They found that he was smoking pot and put him on probation and randomly tested him for the next two years even though he explained that the pot was why he had been able to continue working steadily. IBM will never admit that pot helped but there research could not have led to any other conclusion.

I did not read the technical info Storm pointed to but I hope it shows that pot helps. My experience shows that it clearly does.:smokin:

[VAPEMAN]

I HAVE HEARD ONLY GOOD THINGS ABOUT SMOKING CANNABIS WHEN HAVING BIPOLAR. I HAVE A BROTHER WITH THE CONDITION AND HE SMOKES AS WELL. HE WAS INTRODUCED TO A VAPORIZER THAT IS MEDICAL GRADE AND HIS LIFE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICLY. CHECK OUT THE SITE VaporfectionStore.com - Vaporfection Stealth Vaporizers, Finest in the Industry.

[zebu111]

While some reports indicate that cannabis can lessen the severity of mania and depression symptoms, others indicate cannabis can trigger mania and has been noted to have "a detrimental and potentially causative role in the development of psychosis."[19] However, a recent study noted neurocognitive functioning improved in bipolar patients who used cannabis.[20] The study added that further research was needed.

Treatment of bipolar disorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[cannabis=freedom]

I'm bipolar myself, but I haven't been diagnosed or really ever told anybody except my girlfriend (I'm an actor). How would I go about getting a medical card?

[ganjuttiboy]

fantastic info by Storm Crow

[rudy2010]

Freedom,
What state do you live in. In Ca you can get a license from numerous locations. Not sure what the process is in other states.

[JK2mys]

I know someone with bipolar disorder and they function much better when they are smoking. The few times that he has quit smoking, his moodswings were all over the place and he made life hell for everyone around him. Personally, I think it helps alot but it can depend on the person.

[cannabis=freedom]

Freedom,
What state do you live in. In Ca you can get a license from numerous locations. Not sure what the process is in other states.

I'm Canadian.