Marijuana.com

WeedMan100

I realy need some advice here. All coments will be appreciated.

About 6 months ago, I started to develope a panic disorder which I feel was related to weed. My doctor said that it wasn't actualy the drug which caused it, but rather "triggered" it in my head. I've never been a big smoker or anything, yet I developed some serious panic attacks and anxiety. My doctor has put me on 100mg of Zoloft and/or XaneX IF i need it. I've only been on the full dose for around a month and i'm glad to say that everthing has cleared up nicely.

Now my question is: Is it wise to start smoking again ??? Is there ANY chance that the weed could either "cancel out" the Zoloft or induce the panic attacks again ? I do realise that smoking or drinking with XaneX can be very dangerous. Yet I don't know about Zoloft. Also, does anyone else suffer from this (i'm sure there has to be). If so, your knowlage on the subject would be very helpful.

Thanks.

 

Super Woman

My docter always tells me that mind altering chemicals can reduce the effects of medication, but from personal experience it doesn't affect it at all. I think with a combination and weed and medication (I'm on risperdal for depression) I've been a lot less anxious and depressed. I used to take zofoft and when I did I was smoking but I think that medication just didn't work for me because I didn't feel any diferent from when I wasn't taking any. Xanex, really? I've heard a lot of druggies talk about that. Well, if you think that pot contributed to your panic disorder I don't know. That seems like nothing good would come out of it. But that's only if you know for sure that weed was part of the cause. If not, then I would but be very careful. Be around someone who could help when you smoke in case anything goes wrong. And also if you know that it's a bad combination to smoke and drink with Xanex then you probably shouldn't unless you haven't been taking it (becuase you didn't need it). Well, hope that helps. Later..

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Nash

hey man, ive had the same problems. started having bad panic attacks, especially when i smoked pot. i just kept smoking anyway, and went to my doctor and he prescribed some effexor (ssri/nsri(?), and since zoloft is an ssri also i think you'd be fine, because i started the effexor and kept smoking, and my panic attacks went away completely
-nash (stoned)

shadyskater420

your probably fine but everyone reacts different to every thing. i'm on zoloft 100mg for depression and it works fine for me. so just hit the pipe and be happy

Mamabudz

Zoloft is an serotonin reuptake inhibitor, increasing your level of serotonin and thereby lifting mood. It and another ssri Paxil have been approved for the trtreatment of anxiety disorder.

If you are feeling better, than the combo is working for you.

If the marijuana triggered a biochemical cuase for the anxiety attacks in the first place there is a chance they will return. If this is the case, return to your doctor and ask to be prescribed an anti anxiety medication such as Buspirone which treats a different biochemical circuit in the brain.

Also some side effects of Zoloft not included in the patient package insert are: elevated cholestrol levels (which can be checked by a simple cholestrol level check) and lower thyroid levels slowing your metabolism (which may or may not show up on a thyroid scan).

Good luck and let us know how you are feeling.

 

yardDarts

i was on zoloft when i stated smoking and i never had any problems. if anything, it helped.

Budd8089

Kinda freaky, I was just doing some reading on various antidepressants, and I was wondering - is it the weed that caused my panic/depression attacks, or was it just my state of mind at the time? Why would I get little panic attacks or dips of depression after I've been sober for a few weeks?

Now I come here and see three other smokers with the same problem. That's scary...so what's the deal here? Seeing as my mom is the person I get my meds and input from, I'd say it would be interesting if I were to tell her about the bud.

Check out my post here: http://cheaptalk.marijuana.com/420/s...?threadid=4913

Since then, my mood has gone up, down, way way down, and I'll get little strokes of panic. I'm aware that I'm having wee panic attack, but it doesn't matter...I feel like everything is just caving in on me and I'm going insane.

Which scares the sh** out of me!
I'm on Neurontin right now, stopped Wellbutrin because of the effects. The Neurontin WAS helping, then it seemed to stop working. Maybe I need to up the dosage - either way, I don't know. And I'm scared to puff up again because of what happened last time.

If anybody has some input, I'd be much obliged.

Mamabudz

Anecdotal evidence (evidence that is by word of mouth but not proven scientifically) shows that marijuana can make people feel paranoid.

Whether an undiagnosed anxiety or panic condition is effected by marijuana use -- it may delay the onset of the illness or trigger it or may not effect it condition, only the self awareness of the person -- has not been discerned.

If you are having a negative reaction when smoking marijuana, take a break from smoking and see if the problem goes away. If you find you *have to* smoke that indicates a need beyond the recreational and you should strongly consider speaking to a counselor or psychiatrist as there may be a reason for your smoking of which you are unaware that would require a doctor's assistance to diagnose and treat.

Lep: It's time you had a complete physical to rule out any physical problems. If cost is a problem, PM me and I can tell you how to take care of that problem.

I am very concerned that your momn is dispensing this medication to you without knowing you smoke. That is why I am assuming that you have not been seen by a physician yet.

You really have to see a medical doctor who is educated in prescribing anti depressants, anti anxiety drugs and such. That type of doctor is called a psychiatrist. And actually psychiatrists -- with the possible exception of those working for drug treatment programs -- are pretty cool about pot. A doctor can evaluate exactly what you are dealing with as an illness and what problems are occuring as the side effects from incorrectly taken prescription medication.

Because you switched from one anti depressant to another one, probably from what I've read without weaning off one and ramping up to the next you are going through the ups--downs--ups--panic attacks of your brain chemistry re-adjusting. Added to that is the normal anxiety of *What the F*CK Is Going On In Me?* which is no small item to deal with.

That's where a psychologist comes in. These are the folks who you talk to, counselors, clinical social workers. Usually you'll find that these folks are concerned that you are hiding your feelings with marijuana and that what you are experiencing are your fears "full-blown" without the numbing effect of weed. And they could be right too.

Now is the right time, and we'll help you any way we can. You aren't alone, you aren't going crazy...but you do need to be seen by a psychiatrist right away.

Budd8089

Welllll, first off, I haven't smoked since I started the meds. Just doesn't seem like a good idea unless I get actual word from a doc on whether it's safe or not. So, that shouldn't generally have an impact on what meds are working. And the flip-out I had while I was high certainly wasn't "numbing". It kinda amplified things, to say the least.

As for psychiatrists, maybe...but spend the bucks and go through the trouble when I have a mother who's getting input from others in the medical field? I told her what was up and she came back with answers. If it gets worse then I suppose I won't have a choice, but being pinned as someone who needs to see a shrink is kinda depressing as is

I'll give it a few days...

Such a pain in the ass.

Thanks Mama.

Mamabudz

Lep: on behalf of all those brave enough to face the serious and often fatal illness of depression and have the courage to see a Psychaitrist let me say ~ Boy are You Making a Huge Mistake Gambling With Your Life, Your Mental & your Physical Health!!!

You aren't being honest with your mom...
You have already admitted to smoking weed while taking meds...
And you are still suffering from ever greater depression...

Of course you retain the free will to screw up so no one can force you to therapy, but we will really miss you when you are dead and gone. Depression is a fatal illness, and the leading cause of preventable death.

Seek help man, it's time. We care about you.