Marijuana Makes It Worse: Severe Mental IllnessesAllan N. Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. Updated: Nov 1st 2008 On October 11, 2000 Dr. Dombeck responded to an E. Mail question from someone who stated he has a Bipolar Disorder and is taking a number of medications to control the symptoms of the disorder. The "Ask Dr. Dombeck" question and response can be found at this URL"
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.phptype=advice&id=182&at=2&cn=4&ad_2=1&submit=I+Agree Since that initial posting a number of people have responded during the past few months stating that they are angry and outraged about Dr. Dombeck's rejection of marijuana for those who are Bipolar. I believe it is incumbent upon me to respond to the concerns expressed. Neither Dr. Dombeck, nor myself, wish to add to anyone's distress. Each of you who has responded to this posting is reporting your individual experience with both the disorder and marijuana. In fact, there is some evidence that marijuana eases some of the anxiety and agitation that comes with Bipolar Disorder. In contrast to that, there is a lot of evidence that chronic marijuana usage causes relapse, re-hospitalization and longer term recovery. In fact, this is why those with a severe mental illness and who use drugs are considered to have a "Dual Diagnosis." However, let's put aside "findings, research and surveys and look at my experiences working in psychiatric hospitals and agencies with patients who suffer severe mental illnesses including Bipolar Disorder. Also, let's do this in the spirit of understanding and learning rather than quarreling. I have directly witnessed the tragedy of patients going off of their medications for Bipolar Disorder, using marijuana and ending up re-hospitalized in worse shape than any time prior to the relapse. In fact, it has been my experience that many of these unfortunate patients experienced multiple relapses and were caught in an endless cycle of hospitalizations marked by periods of instability in between. It is important to keep in mind that there are many intensities of this disorder. There are those people who experience rapid cycling while others rarely become manic. However, when they become symptomatic, they experience Major Depression. Also, there are those who experience Auditory and Visual Hallucinations while others do not. It is possible to have hallucinations at either end of the spectrum: major depression or mania. Then too, there are cases where the illness is so severe that is considered in the realm of schizophrenia and is called Schizoaffective Disorder. It has been my experience with the patients I knew who suffered from severe bipolar disorder and with those who fell into the Schizoaffective domain, that they were not helped by marijuana and were made much worse through its use. Leaving aside anxiety, those who experience severe depression and who use marijuana end up feeling much more depressed, at least that is what I have witnessed. There is a lot of denial around the problems of not only marijuana but other drugs of abuse and severe mental illness. In order to break through some of this denial I was, at times, able to get patients to agree to stop their marijuana use for a few weeks just so they could determine whether there was or was not an improvement in mood. These individual were surprised but were willing to admit that they felt real improvement in mood and functioning. Lastly, there is no question that medications have side effects. That is why, depending on the medication, blood and urine tests must be done on a regular basis in order to be certain patients are not toxic from their doses. When taking some of these medications there is a constant struggle to balance variables such as weight changes, diet, coffee and tea consumption, and even water intake, with the dosage of the medication. There is also the matter of handling stress and levels of pressure in ways that will not promote relapse. The bottom line on this is that if the medications are working by allowing you to function in your personal relationships, at work and in the family then the side effects are a worthwhile trade off. It seems logical to me that even though medications side effects are miserable, hospitalizations are more miserable. I do not wish to appear like a "party pooper" by taking the fun or relief away. But, when you have witnessed the amount of tragedy through multiple hospitalizations, family anguish, suicide attempts and general suffering, this discussion becomes one that is more than whether marijuana is good or bad. It becomes a matter of life and death for many people. Your comments are welcome. Allan N. Schwartz, PhD It works for some - CW - Feb 7th 2010
I have been diagnosed with Ultra Rapid Cycling Bi Polar Disorder, ADD, and Borderline Personality Disorder. I have had these since I was a child with parents who refused to acknowledge I had a problem. I first started drinking alcohol at age 11 to control it as I was against "drugs" not realizing at the time alcohol was a drug.
When I was 18 I started smoking marijuana and for the first time I felt normal. I smoked til I was 21 and met a girl who made me quit. We got married and I spent the majority of the next 12 years in various mental hospitals while they tried to find a drug combination that would control all my diseases. After my last hospitalization and many scars later, I decided I would try again so I started smoking marijuana. For the past 8 years I have not had one suicide attempt or hospitalization since I started again.
I know there are cases of people who it doesn't work on, but like every doctor I have ever seen has told me: "We just need to find the right drug combination." Maybe marijuana is not for everybody, but if you condemn a drug that could possibly help thousands if not more because of a few cases, you might as well remove EVERY drug on the market because there will always be those few cases. It should be seen as a possible alternative, and should be monitored closely just like any other medication. There are vaporizers on the market that also reduce the risks of inhaling the marijuana further reducing risk of harmful side effects. justifications - Meghan - Jan 22nd 2010
Any marijuana user is bound to justify the cause and affect. I used to smoke on a regular basis, which now I rarely ever use. I find it mindfully dulling. I completely understand people and their pros for smoking marijuana for it can be a relaxing and enjoyable drug.
BUT.... Coming from a family who are all users, I have seen many changes in behaviors. My sister is a frequent user and barely spends a moment without being "stoned." As much as I would love to say marijuana has not affected her, it has.
I am not writing in regards to my sister, I was actually responding in regards to my mother who I feel has gone off the charts after many years of marijuana use. When she stops smoking, she seems to be most affected. Her moods are up and down. More than they ever were as a young child. I used to feel that her smoking marijuana was beneficial during times of trouble, but feel much differently as I realize her times of trouble rarely seem to vanish. I realize she is now dependent on smoking marijuana to make her day better, when in fact I doubtfully feel it is making any day successful. She has gone to two different schools over my adult years, both in which she went to class high. She felt that being high was increasing her brain power. (Which I too felt it used to make me more creative)
My mother barely remembers anything from any of her education and is now has a very absent mind. Whether her mood swings and memory loss or due to marijuana is not really something that can either be looked upon from the normal eye, but it can not be seen from a clinical side either. I just am suspect that her irriatble, depressive, and hateful moods come from toxins affecting her chemical imbalance in her brain.
I just feel that long term use of anything is bound to affect any individual and if you are to stop using a drug and you experience a sudden bipolar outburst, I doubt it is because you the weed was actually helping, it more or less because your body is now dependent on smoking it, and your brain and hormonal/chemical balance is no longer capable of manageing itself. Your irritable because you need THC, alcohol, cocaine...etc.
Just a concerned person. I feel my mother has borderline personality disorder, and I feel it has gotten much worse over the years of her marijuana usage.
this has been very helpful - Amy - Jan 21st 2010
I live with a man who claims marjiuana helps his bipolar. He is paranoid all the time. He smokes it from the time he gets up until he goes to bed. When he runs out he buys whippets (nitrous oxide) instead. He also abuses his prescription medications. He went in for treatment for only a week. He is becoming more, and more difficult to live with. I am only a roommate, should I get out?
Bipolar and Marijuana - - Jan 21st 2010
I am bipolar and smoke marijuana and it helps with my moods to be balanced tremendously! Marijuana should not be considered a street drug! It is a natural herb grown from the earth! I believe it to be safter then alcohol and know alot of people who agree. JUST LEGALIZE MARIJUANA ALREADY! Bipolar and my experience with drug use - Joyce - Jan 21st 2010
A few years ago I went through a period of time where I suddenly went off my meds. Of course after a few weeks I crashed. I found myself in a position where i was around someone smoking marijuana. I started doing it as well as other drugs. And, yes, I ended up right in the hospital. There were three times I stopped meds in a 10 year period and found myself in the hospital. When I look back, substituting meds for marijuana was not a good idea. You think you may feel good for awhile but in the long run I was worse off. Since my last hospitalization I have not missed a dose, and life for myself and my family is all the better for it. Not taking my meds and making the choice to do drugs was devestating to my family. In my opinion and personal experience I would rather deal with the side effects (i.e. weight gain which as a woman is the worst) than the effects of drugs. I am bipolar type I, with schiztoaffective disorder. I encourage everyone to stick to their regimen. Its all for the best and best for our loved ones.` bipolar in myself - Diane - Jan 18th 2010
I have read articles saying marijuana is good and marijuana is bad for bipolar. I am 41, have bipolar, take medication.
The meds help to a point. I never tried marijuana until 3 years ago, long after I was diagnosed.
Honestly, I can't handle stress. I end up with anxiety attacks if the stress is too high.
I can go weeks or months at a time without marijuana, and definitely notice a difference for the worse when I don't use marijuana.
When I do smoke marijuana I have no problems with stress, and am much more functional in a normal state.
I will admit that for me smoking marijuana while I'm depressed doesn't help that, but it does keep away the stress which leads to depression.
Until more studies are done, marijuana for bipolar will be an agree to disagree situation, so instead of judging, how about helping, as I'm sure, like me, none of the stress relief techniques work for any of us, so let's find some other way of managing stress and I will give up marijuana.
Until then, I choose to keep smoking it, with my psychiatrist's consent. if I could go back in time - - Jan 17th 2010
I started smoking pot heavily (10-20 joints per day) for about 5 months.. loved it at first. was convinced that it was god's gift to earth.. and at the same time, sat in my apartment, lost all my friends, lost my job and became schizophrenic. i quit smoking about 4 months ago. i have horrible depression. if i knew that my family would be totally okay with me being dead then i'd kill myself. i hate talking to people. i hate leaving the house. i find absolutely no joy in any part of life. i also have really bad anxiety. if i could go back in time i would have never even tried it.
Marijuana and Mental Illness - - Jan 15th 2010
I understand that you have seen many cases that makes you lean towards marijuana being the cause of hospitalizations and whatnot, but have you ever involved yourself in an controlled study to see if using marijuana as a constant medication [like Prozac and the like that are used to treat these mental illnesses] could benefit a patient? Perhaps these patients that have to be hospitalized repeatedly do not have a constant source of marijuana and after running out do need hospitalzation.. how is this different from a patient who runs out of their prescribed medication [such as Prozac or the like] needing to be hospitalized?
For myself, when I smoke marijuana on a daily basis I find I am able to have a normal day with out the constant BPD [Borderline Personality Disorder] symptoms. I've been on pretty much every kind of medication out there in an attempt to treat my BPD, all of which cause such terrible side effects that after a handful of months I refuse to take them. One particular medication caused me to gain 75 pounds in two months and made my blood pressure so high I had to take blood pressure medication along with it [I have never had a blood pressure problem before or since]. The only thing I have found that has helped relieve my BPD without some kind of ridiculous side effect is marijuana. I don't smoke for the high, I smoke to be normal.. so that I am not constantly irrational and angry and hurtful. I smoke so that the ones I love the most can stop walking on eggshells around me and can enjoy my presence. I smoke for some normalcy that doesn't involve stomach aches, weight gain, high blood pressure, vomitting, diahrea, etc etc etc.
I do believe there are people out there to claim they need marijuana who really don't. Just as there are people who claim they need certain medications [like Xanax for example] when they really don't. These people are seeking a high, not a way to manage their lives. There are people, such as myself, who are looking for the best way to manage their life without a million side effects.
I am a firm believer in researching the treatment of mental illness with marijuana. If you can give a suffereing patient a certain amount of marijuana each month virsus 5 different pills [4 of which are counteracting the side effects of the one that's actualy treating the mental illness].. why wouldn't you? If it's actually working, there is no reason to not consider it. I think it's time science, medicine and politics stop putting a taboo on marijuana and give it the credit it deserves. It is helpful, in the right circumstance and it should be considered [under proper supervision of a doctor] to treat certain mental illness.
My bipolar girlfriend - Richard - Jan 12th 2010
I've seen that in controlled moderate ammounts of marijuana is helpful, my girlfriend has severe bipolar. I understand many would say no to medicinal marijuana, considering the abuse of it. I've seen it work for my girlfriend, but once again I will repeat in moderate ammounts. Moderate ammounts means just enough to relax not to get the psychotic effects, from what I have seen one toke, puff, etc. People get the notion of smoking a whole joint,blunt,bong hits, when it comes to smoking marijuana. That would be excessive use and in other words called drug abuse. THC levels varies in different marijuana plants, and unlike pill medication doses are accurate to milligrams. For medicinal purposes it is a difficult subject to touch by the professionals that prescribe medication. Another thing to point out is the nutritional value found in marijuana, such as amino acids. Some of which level out chemical brain unbalances, which can help with sleep, deppression, and anxiety. Agreed - - Jan 5th 2010
agreed
Can't we find out when marijuana makes it better vs. worse? - Scott Friedman - Jan 5th 2010
It seems that people have very different reactions to marijuana. Understanding the reasons for these differences is essential in advising people whether or not to use the drug. Less obviously but probably more importantly, this information would let people know before they have a psychological condition if marijuana smoking poses a severe risk to their well-being. I think a simple collection of data of people's marijuana smoking history combined with a personality MMPI diagnostic test would yield this information. Ironically, legalizing the drug would most likely expedite the science community's willingness to study this issue, and would also encourage the participants of such a study to feel secure in answering honestly. off pot for 3 years then diagnosed with Bipolar - - Jan 4th 2010
I am a 43 yr old male and have probably been bipolar for most of my life but have only been diagnosed for about 5 yrs.
I had smoked pot regularly from about 15- 37 and had functioned well with moderate use. at that time I decided for money and "health" reasons to eliminate pot use totally !
very bad idea!!!
After not using pot for about 6 months the mood swings were more and more frequent as time went byand my social anxiety became severe to the point of staying in my bedroom for the better part of a year and suffering through what was the worst depression i had yet to experience.the whole time not using pot pot
when my wife forced me to seek help i did and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and social anxiety!!
at this time i was prescribed prescription meds and started that 2 year long journey of trying one med after another. lithium,depakote,seroquel and the list went on and on. some made me a zombie (seroquel) others did nothing or wired me to new levels of mania and depakote made me gain 65 pounds in just under 6 months.
not cool because it made my self esteem plummet!!
after years of med trials and dosage adjustments I finally was put on lymictal and found partial relief !
partial because I still was rapid cycling but the swings were not as severe. and the depressed side of the swings were more prolonged.
At this point I started smoking pot again in conjunction with my prescribed meds and now can function well!
the social anxiety was almost fully eliminated
i say almost because i find most people annoying or obnoxious and probably always will .
but the point is the use of pot with my meds has allowed me to be as normal as i can be!!
with none of the "side effects" except a little a-motivation which i can over come with self will!
in conclusion:
1: I was functioning in life when i smoked pot .
2 I was totally unaware of bipolar symptoms until i quit using pot and stayed "clean"for 2 yrs .and then suffered and was diagnosed with bp disorder
3:pot in addition to my "regular " meds has allowed me to be myself again!
I am not saying that it is for every one but it has worked for me but yet in my state i am a criminal for using the one thing that keeps me well in addition to my regular meds.
meds + pot worked for me.
this is what i learned from being clean for an extended period of time (about 2 yrs)
my symptoms worsened the longer i was not using pot.
my symptoms got better with meds.
my symptoms are negligent with meds and pot
be cautious with any meds and know how they effect you personally.
and stop judging others for what they do to keep themselves sane!
Just a personal observation - bjmc - Jan 3rd 2010
I suffer from Bi-Polar disorder. In November of 2009,
I purchased, for business purposes, a Breathalyzer and was tallying up a .22 reading after having, what I considered, a few drinks. I wasn't driving but this alarmed me. Having come from the "sixties generation" and a pot smoker at that time I went back to smoking pot in December of 2009. My drinking resulted in three or four ounces of alcohol so I thought, perhaps, this was working. It's been over a month now and here's my personal opinion. First of all, on occasion, I have had many more than three drinks. It's not often but that has happened. Now, I am severely depressed and anxious.
I have concluded that both drugs, alcohol and pot need to be totally eliminated. Being bi-polar has been a nightmare for me. I have survived but would never bring children into the world with the fear of having created an unbearable life. I will work on this but I must be added to the list of those who are worse off having started smoking than before. As with my past living experiences, will survive this. thanks A Mixed Bag - Jorden - Jan 1st 2010
Hi Dr. Schwartz...I just found this article and figured I'd comment. I have been coping with Bipolar Affective Mood Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Fibromyalgia, Degenerative Disk Disease, and Scoliosis for twenty years now. Needless to say I am facing pain and misery from every angle of attack on a daily basis. I've tried pretty much every available medication and combination of medications available in the hopes of finding a cocktail that might help alleviate my symptoms. So far nothing has worked, though I will admit that Cymbalta seems to be a good anti-depressant if one doesn't expect miracles and is trying to cope with severe physical pain.
I agree with everything that you've said about weed interfering with the efficacy of psychiatric meds and staying well: it can make things worse. I also agree with a lot of the comments that have been posted; that for some individuals using pot can help as well. For my part, I used to use weed heavily everyday for about 15 years (about 10 joints a day, which I do think was quite excessive, but I was trying to completely escape from my strife, not function through it), and things didn't get worse OR better for me psycholigically speaking - they remained stable at a notch above being suicidal (which in my opinion was better than being dead). My psychiatrists have said to me that smoking weed was the reason that my meds didn't work as well as they could have, and maybe that was the case, but taking into account that the meds didn't work BEFORE I started using (and I had given them plenty of time to work; at least 5 years), I don't know if I agree that this was entirely true. I started using when I discovered that weed did a lot to alleviate a broad spectrum of my symptoms specifically BECAUSE the standard meds weren't working.
One benefit of using weed that I did notice was that it worked wonders for the physical pain I was in (as standard over the counter pain meds did nothing for me), plus it actually RELIEVED my anxiety (not the usual result, I know), plus it slowed down the rapid cycling of thoughts and mood swings. The elevated mood didn't hurt either. Some of the negative effects were that I became lethargic and had little motivation, etc. and if I had any memory impairment, I only forgot the things I wanted to. All in all, I was still depressed, yet I managed to stay out of the hospital for those 15 years.
Eventually (for reasons I won't get into here), I had to change my living arragements and could no longer afford my habit. I started to get worse and worse from a psychological and physiological standpoint. I know that weed stays in your system stored in body fats and tissues for at least 6 months or longer, so I was expecting some withdrawal symtpoms (which didn't happen) as well as some time for my meds to become "effective" again (which also didn't happen).
After 10 months of being pot free things got really bad and were getting worse, and nothing my doctors and I tried to break the depression I was going through (including 16 sessions of ECT) was working. Plus on top of the emotional and psychological Hell I was going through I was in physical agony all the time. I was seriously contemplating suicide. My back was up against the wall, having exhausted every option for treatment available (as you know ECT is a treatment of last resort, so things were not good). Then I did the unthinkable from a medical stand-point: I smoked a joint.
I had tried things the doctors' way for about a year at that point and all it got me was getting worse (including the ECT: usually it either does nothing, or breaks the depression, or sometimes helps one feel better - in my case I ended up in a worse state than before I went into the hospital for ECT, which is almost unheard of). The immediate effects of the joint were extremely reduced physical pain and a general sense of well-being. Unfortunately I don't know what the long-term benefits of smoking pot in smaller doses than I smoked during those 15 years of being perma-stoned would be (if any), as I can't afford it much, but I suspect that if I were able to smoke 2-3 joints a day (mainly for pain management) along with taking the meds on on, it might turn out to be the right mix of meds for me. Keep in mind that if I were not in the physical pain I am in all the time I wouldn't use weed at all (other than the meds prescribed to me and the occassional joint, I don't use any drugs, including alcohol and caffeine).
I had made the educated decision in the past that at least in my case using weed had benefits that far outweighed it's drawbacks. Not hurting physically made it a lot easier to deal with my mental illnesses. I wish one could get special dispensation to use medical marijuana for psychiatric illnesses that share comorbidity with extreme physical pain. I'd rather smoke weed for pain management than become addicted to opiates, regardless of the psychological side effects.
If there were to be a study to actually EXPERIMENT and SEE what weed does and does not do psychologically speaking, with people already diagnosed with mental illnesses, I'd volunteer. Most of the data available doesn't come from such clinical trials, it comes from annecdotal or coincidental evidence (ie: someone who became mentally ill may have used weed, and their psychotic break may have coincided with using, so we SUSPECT that pot may trigger mental illness or make it worse, but there is no hard proof that that was the main contibuting factor in them becoming unwell). Conversely, all we have is annecdotal or coincidental evidence supporting weed as a non-contributor in mental illness or that it helps in treating it.
It seems to me, like every drug, weed effects different people differently, and it should at least be an option for treating mental illness, like it is for pain management (in some countries, at least). If weed were used like any other med, under prescribed doses, with monitoring, etc. we could suss out on an individual basis whether or not it might help or make things worse for the patient in question and act accordingly. Taking any psychological med can make you worse, so in that regard weed is no different. We risk trying meds that MIGHT help a person feel better knowing full well that they can trigger a worsening of the illness being treated, so why not include weed as a med that MIGHT help a person feel better given the risks are about the same? If there were a chance that weed might actually do the trick for a person who is suffering from mental illness, wouldn't a compassionate person be willing to at least give it a try? If it doesn't work, or if things get worse, then the patient can always be taken off the weed before things get dangerous for them, and more conventional treatments could be put back in place.
Like the title of my comment says, it's a mixed bag when it comes to weed. In my case I smoked heavily for 15 years, was depressed, yet never needed to go into the hospital, then I stopped entirely for a year and I almost ended up killiing myself (take from that what you will). I don't think weed should be ruled out entirely until we learn more about it and whether or not it has any efficacy for treating mental illness conclusively (which we don't know yet, mainly due to social hypocracy and anachronistic laws). Unfortunately, a study like the one I suggested earlier would never happen in a country like the U.S.A. due to the current war on family, friends, and people called "The War On Drugs". Maybe someday some doctors will have the courage to undertake such a clinical trial, but it probably won't happen any time soon. Basics - Allan N. Schwartz, PhD - Dec 19th 2009
Hi JT and other commenters,
This is a complex issue because of the fact that there are different types of Bipolar and with varying severities.
For example, there is something called Schizoaffective Disorder or Schizophrenia with Bipolar Disorder. There is also Bipolar 1 and Bipolar II disorders. The point is that Bipolar disorder 1 and Schizoaffective disorder carry with them symptoms of hallucinations, either auditory or visual or both.
We know that marijuana can be hallucinatory, meaning that it can be a catalsyt for halllucinations. This is one of the reason it can be so harmful for those folks. In addition, there are many people who experience paranoid thinking when they use pot. For someone with Bipolar 1 or Schizoaffective disorder, it is not good to instigate the underlying paranoid symptoms.
Lastly, there are those people for whom marijuana does not cause their mental illness but hastens its arrival.
All told, these are the reasons why I advise caution. By the way, many more states are now using medical marijuana.
Personally and professionally, I do not believe it should be illegal.
Dr. Schwartz Basics - JT - Dec 19th 2009
I believe the most important thing to consider in all drug matters, legal or illegal, is that they affect everyone differently. Just as one medicine may provoke an allergic reaction or in some way make a problem worse, it could seem like a miracle treatment to someone else. I have Bipolar 1 with rapid cycling as well as severe anxiety and have taken many medications over an eight year period and I always seem to do better when not on the standard medications because they always seem to cause me to be lethargic and disinterested with the world while feeling empty inside. Marijuana always seems to give me that boost to want to go accomplish things and I rarely feel the depression or mania, just the cool, calm middle. This matter cannot be an absolute either way, it all depends on the person. It has a payoff - - Dec 14th 2009
The trap of medicinal pot with some of us with concurrent disorders is that pot not only helps to manage symptoms of mental illness. It has a payoff. And because of that it's addictive.
I myself am bi-polar. Pot has always given me short term relief. Sometimes the relief is miraculous. But weed in insidious. It's so easy escape through it. I'm not sure how many years I've lost to isolation and lethargy. It got so I was managing my mental illness perfectly fine but I couldn't tell you any major events of the year. Heck, the past 9 years are a blur. I'd managed to lose myself and my ambition. Mostly because pot had a payoff in addition to managing my mental illness. It made me stoned. Its not a miracle... - - Dec 7th 2009
Ran into theis thread and thought I would share my personal experiances.
I have type 2 bipolar and it has become severe due to several factors (Non drug related, I was not using anything for 8+ years prior to the onset of severe mood swings and destabilisation) I began to take depakote and felt "normal" for the first time... this medication really messes up my stomach, makes it difficult to sleep (tired but cant sleep) I have had insomnia my whole life so this may be intensified somehow by the meds. I have been smoking marajuana heavily for about three months and although it does not "fix" anything, it does help with my sleep and stomach. I have noticed myself become somewhat lethargic and more laid back. I noticed that I feel great on the depakote alone, but the side effects are just narley. You doctors ought to take some of this crap for a week or two so you understand.
In the end I would say that the marajuana while having some negative side effects LIKE ANY OTHER DRUG is helping me in my particular situation. I do not think marajuana would work well if I was not taking valproic acid. I dont consider marajuana to be a miracle cure, but it is helping with the side effects of my meds with little side effects of its own (Unless you consider getting baked a side effect) doesnt sound like marijuana is the problem... - Alex Scheuerman - Oct 24th 2009
I posted on the previous article and i may have posted on this one...apoligies if i double post...
Your article is good, it is a personal experience so i can not try to call you out on lies or anything because i was not there and in the end you do have a great deal of knowledge, so please do not take this as disrespectful.
You do mention, however, that you have witnessed people use marijuana in combonation with meds and it causes a sevre negitive reaction. I do not disgree, plenty of meds require you not to use drugs if MAIOs (sp) and can interfer with the effects of the drug but if you have a negitive reaction, is it really marijuana's fault.
Majority of the studies have found little to no connection to marijuana effecting the brain in long term effects yet numerous of studies have shown the negitive effects of meds in the brain and liver. So why is marijuana blamed so much? These meds are proved to alter the chemicals in the brain, so should the blame go to the meds if there is some mental disorder formed from the combo? This blame is shifted to the third party...marijuana. The docoter should be the only one held responsible in that type of case. Yes it may be the person who uses marijuana yet its the docoters responsiblity to insure the safty of the patient. If the doctor didn't even approach the issue of marijuana with a patient then how is it known that marijuana is going to mix with the meds?
Yes i agree marijuana isnt for everyone but i bielve that everyone has the right to medicine and marijuana is a medicine, not a drug. Look at California, they seem to have a system down and people are not dying in record numbers.
Note for all marijuana bashers: Do you consume alcahol? I ask this because i never heard of marijuana withdrawls killing anyone, yet im sure you can find plenty of deaths related to drinking....so if you drink yet bash marijuana, look in the mirror. my openion - - Oct 23rd 2009
i'm bipolar and 16 nerly 17, i use marajuana because ot does help me most of the time but not allwas lately i'll get home from school and want to put a gun to my head but i'll smoke some adn feel relaxed. a few days ago in the same mood i smoked some adn it made it worse...i think it differs with the person...i don't know. how marijuana affected my BP - John - Oct 22nd 2009
This was a lot longer than i thought, i'm not gonna proof read it! :)
I was diagnosed with BP at 29. I tried pot a handful of times between the ages of 16 and 21. Stated smoking more reqularly once I started working and could afford it. I doen't take me long to develop a mental addiction to it. I'd go through period of heavy soking for months, with a day or two break in between, and during the heavy periods i'd probably go through a quarter a week (7 grams), followed by not having any for several months. But once I was drawn back to it, i was hooked again quite easily. I never really started paying attention to my moods back in my early or even mid 20's, but i would suffer from anxiety, depression, barely controllable rages, and all sorts of other shit. I got diagnosed with ADHD also before I was diagnosed with BP a bit later.
The thing with me and pot is, I can function very well while on pot. I can think, reason, and do everything else I can do while straight, just a bit slower. Being naturally hyperactive, it was a good balance. This isn't me deluding myself, friends have noticed the same, and with clear eyes I can pass as normal to anyone who doesn't know me very well. I can work just as efficiently.
It was only after my diagnosis, and shrink saying he thought pot was worse than heroin for some people that I started to wonder how it was affecting me. Since then, i have gone enough periods of smoking/not smoking to work out exactly what it does to me. When i'm have the first cone, I get all happy and boucy, that's either my natural hyperactive kicking through the medication i'm on, or it's triggering a manic state, next one starts to relax me, the third even more so, followed by serveral more throughout the night to keep me relaxed, and i also craze it when the buzz starts to ware off. I will sleep late and get up early to go to work. I can either have a cruisy day at work, or i might be slighly irrational at times with moods flaring up, but nothing major.
When I come home, I will sometimes loose it over the smallest things, unless i've already downed a few cones, then i'm relaxed and don't really care. When we run out, I will lose it over the smallest thing which normally wouldn't bother me, followed by difficulting sleeping for quite a few nights. After a few days to a week my moods a lot more stable, i'm more relaxed at work, i don't really get as shitty as much at home, and i'm in a better mood overall. It took me a few stop/start attempts to truely see this, but now I know that for a fact! So i will try not to touch the stuff again, even though i'm pretty sure i said that a couple of years ago when i had a break for a few months :)
My housemate and friends still smoke, but i'm ok with him smoking in his room, and outside if they'r over, and I really don't crave it as much since I fully know the effect it's going to have on me.
You can easily test it out for yourself. If you smoke and yours moods are going up already, they probably will get worse when you stop, mine would. But that never lasted for more than a week, and after a week, I would be in a much better mood overall than when I was smoking pot. But at the same time, if you're going through one of those really bad periods, do whatever you can do to keep yourself going first! but if it's an on-going thing, the pot could be what's making it so, and stopping could be what pushes you over the edge. In those cases, getting medical assistance first is probably a good idea.
Remember all our brains are wired differently, what works for some, doesn't work for other, zoloft didn't agree with me in a BIG way, yet is a wonder drug for others. Some people might be able to smoke without ever having any issues, maybe not.
In response the the guy who posted before me. Just remeber if you're starting any forms of presciption meds, give them a month or two to really start to work before you can accurately say if they're working or not (unless it leaves you sitting on your bed is an absolute fricken rage not trusting yourself to leave the house because at the slightest provocation it won't be pretty!)
I'm on a mood stabilizer 2 x 1000mg of sodium valproate for my bp and stimulants for ADHD. It keeps me stable enough to to and minimise whatever can trigger my mood swings. Marijuana - Matt Booth - Oct 16th 2009
Before i was on meds for my bipolar disorder i was smoking weed cause i was having severe depression and rage episodes. I thought it was the marijuana, so i stop it for three weeks. You want to know what happen? It my bipolar disorder got so much worse i was almost to the verge of suicide. Say what you want dr. marijuana has saved my life and the lives of my family members. Seroquel is dangerous! - Josh - Oct 15th 2009
When i was on seroquel, i would wake up to find myself unable to breath.I felt as if i was about to die.Then, when i told the doctor about what happened, he had no explanation.So from my own personal experience, i would never take seroquel. no laughing matter - Chris Moore - Sep 24th 2009
Smoking pot revealed a side of me that I had never seen. First let me say I am not diagnosed with bipolar or any other mental illness, but psychoactive drugs (for me) revealed a terrible darkness.
Until 18 I was functioning, happy, and thoughtful, and had never done any drugs other than recreational alcohol (That's a bad idea too, I just couldn't see it). I started smoking pot then, and for a a while I think I enjoyed it (I knew that I was supposed to enjoy it anyway)
Soon though, I felt depressed. Horribly depressed. I continued smoking through the depression, even upped the amount. I didn't think it was the cause of my depression, in fact, I thought it was the only thing helping! In retrospect I now see that it only compounded my psychological and emotional frailty. It wasn't until it got horrible though, that I realized it was the cause and not the solution. In fact, if it hadn't have gotten as bad as it did, I might not have ever even realized it.
I believe a genetic predisposition for mental instability, combined with psychoactive drugs is a terribly bad idea. If you have a family history of mental illness psychoactive drugs can pull the loose thread and unravel everything you understand. So to conclude, I don't believe Marijuana caused this, I don't think marijuana in itself is an inherently bad thing, I simply think it's very potent. It, along with tons of other drugs, are strong enough to mess with your brain chemistry, revealing or compounding frailties that you already have.
To all those that smoke pot, or use other drugs and it truly makes you happy, fantastic. If you're not sure, I'd recommend reflecting long on how you feel about the drug, as well as going of the drug (perhaps with medical supervision) so that you're able to view yourself and the drugs more objectively. And to those who are considering Marijuana or other drugs to medicate, be wary. Our minds are hardy, but these risks are no laughing matter.
Aha moment - Mara - Sep 23rd 2009
I have recently started to use Marijuana for my insomnia and anxiety. my depression has become worse than usual. I stopped using Lexapro because of weight gain issues and I thought that was the reason, but after reading this article I am realizing that it started getting worse and worse and I was smoking pot everynight before bed to help me sleep. thank you for this article. I am not going use marijuana anymore and see if that will help me get out of this. Denial is not a river in Egypt - Roy - Sep 20th 2009
My girlfriend has Schizoaffective Disorder. She also drinks alcohol and smokes pot. We have been together for over 4 years. From what I’ve seen both the alcohol and the pot are bad, but the alcohol is much worse. After she consumes even just a few drinks she is 10 times more likely to get angry for very little or no apparent reason. When she drinks, I simply don’t hang out with her. I can deal with her smoking pot because she is less likely to get angry when she gets high. However the pot makes her turn inwards and increases paranoid thinking. It takes time for her to recover from the event of get getting drunk or high. During this time her thinking seems more chaotic and her life appears more disorganized.
If I talk to her about alcohol or pot, she quickly accuses me of lecturing. She also says that having a few drinks or smoking pot doesn’t have any effect on her mental illness. She says she wants to have fun in life and that’s why she doesn’t want to quit.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against drugs, but if you are hearing voices and having manic episodes, you really got no business smoking pot or having a few drinks. It seems to me that the very thing that she believes makes her happy actually causes her much more misery.
Cured? - Allan N. Schwartz, PhD - Sep 18th 2009
Dear Jo,
First, it is not my job to "preach to the world" but to report on the facts as we know them now. The facts are that marijuana worstens symptoms of Bipolar Disorder and Psychotic illnesses. In addition, for medication to succeed with Bipolar symptoms, psychotherapy is necessary, especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, where a patient learns to recognize the cues that can set off an outbreak of symptoms and avoid those cues.
Second, even if I believed in the health benefits of marijuana, which I do not, it is still illegal except in California, and would never recommend to people that they do something that is illegal.
Lastly and most unfortunately, as far as I know and as far as I am aware, there is not yet a "cure" for Bipolar disorder. It can be controlled with medicine and CBT but not cured.
Dr. Schwartz I think I'm cured of it - Jo - Sep 18th 2009
Hi, I have been bipolar for 15 years. 15 years of absolute hell, 15 years of constantly switching medications because I was emotionless, or the symptoms were so severe I couldn't take. None of them worked, I've taken nearly every antiphsychotic out on the market with the exclusion of Lithium, which, might I add, I wouldn't touch with a 10 ft poll from what I've read about it.
Then, last year, my dad rolled me a joint. Do you know what happened after my dad rolled me a joint? I was happy. Even after the high I was happy. I'm completely off my medication now and I was able to fight off an entire bipolar episode, and we're talking one of the negative-rip-off-your-neighbor's-head kind of episodes. Ever since then I can handle stuff with a cheery attitude. There is no bipolar to get me down, I think I'm cured of it.
Yes, it may not work for some people. Just like Abilify, or Xyprexia, or Riboflaven (is that it?), or Lithium may not work. Instead of preaching to the world how horrible this fairly safe herb is, how about persuading patients to talk to their therapists/doctors about what their taking and what works and doesn't work for them, and on that subject, persuading the therapists/doctors to actually listen to the pateint and build on what's good and take away what's bad for them?
Pharmaceutical Propaganda - - Sep 16th 2009
What a crock! Interesting that this "informational" blog is decorated with Seroquel ads. There's a drug that has resulted in tragedy. As a retired juvenile court attorney, I have seen this drug rampantly used for "nonphysical restraint" of children in the juvenile justice system. It is now "prison currency" used by children in much the same way adult prisoners have used cigarettes. This is a tragedy, far more so than marijuana use. The big "tragedy" with marijuana is the absurd number of people in prison as a result of it's criminalization. That and the profit margin for psychotropics apparently justify the spouting of this kind of drivel.
Dr. Dombeck's Note: We do accept advertisements from pharma companies, and that helps to offset the costs of producing this website. However, we are not a mouthpiece for pharma, and neither do we particularly emphasize medications as the best or sole treatment worth knowing about for all mental issues. We are psychologists and social workers, and accordingly, whenever it is appropriate, we emphasize psychotherapy and psychosocial treatments. It is our personal experience as clinicians that points us to post this article about marijuana. We have seen too many patients lose their footing secondary to their marijuana use. We do not particularly see the use of marijuana as an especially bad thing for all people. Our comments are aimed at people who are struggling with mood and psychotic symptoms. In our experience, when you are dealing with significant mental issues, marijuana generally does make it worse. Many people have disagreed with us, and that's fine, but this is our experienced opinion. alternative treatment - - Sep 11th 2009
my brother is in the same boat as dan. we are now looking into some alternative treatments, www.naet.com. most definetely makes bipolar worse - Dan - Aug 9th 2009
Weed tricks you into thinking you are helping yourself. One thing I haven't seen through this whole article is the topic of tolerance. Weed helped my bipolar initially, but after becoming more tolerant to it the symptoms were still there, but masked. I'm at a crossroads as I almost died from allergic reaction to some psych drugs and I now know the weed isn't helping anything. I am continuing to look for a solution and at this point its pointing to weight lifting or some form of high impact exercise. Marijuana is not a godsend, think again. - - Jul 15th 2009
Just a few words of advice:
I knew someone who used marijuana and claimed he used it specifically to help him concentrate and stay alert. I am a strong believer that he was in fact self-medicating an undetected mental illness, perhaps bipolar disorder. But I observed that he often lost track of the things he thought he had under control while under the influence of the drug. He would write things down one minute, and when sober, totally forget that he had written what he had, a few hours earlier, written. His behavior gradually changed for the worse and pushed loved one's away. He became angry, resentful, showed low self-esteem, extreme dependence on how the drug made him feel, he neglected his appearance, struggled to keep his job his #1 priority, and almost lost the respect from others he once had. He often thought the drug was his hero, his helper, his cruch. But it was nothing more than a hidden destroyer. Marijuana is a destroyer cloaked as an aid.
I would not encourage you to rely on any sort of chemical substance for relief or a mask for symptoms of some sort. I would strongly encourage you to seek other avenues first. Drugs should always be the last and extreme resort, especially recreational drugs. While some people claim marijuana helps them, it may not be helpful to you. In fact, it may not even be helpful to them, but how would they truly know if it helps while constantly being under the influence? You can't rely 100% on what others tell you.
All drugs alter behavior, thinking, and neurotransmitters and other significant brain functions. MAKE IT YOUR LAST RESORT.
Dr.T asd - - Jul 15th 2009
Am bi-polar, weed keeps me on track. no side effects. life of perspective - on the outside - Jul 15th 2009
My mother and older brother both have used marijuana to manage their illness for my entire life (30 yrs). As a completely stable and sober observer I feel it is a band aid on an amputated limb.
Ironically, my husband also has bipolar disorder. We met very young and my husband also used marijuana to manage his moods. He is now on lithium and the difference is night and day. If one seeks stability, marijuana does not deliver.
I also know that the one who is sick, may feel better by self medicating with marijuana or other substances, but the damaging effects of their behavior still takes place on loved ones. The world within their head is not consistent to the world outside it.
Marijuana is false peace that only leads to an increased Chaos. Its All Subjective - - Jun 28th 2009
I have been on several medications, all have failed. I initially on a misdiagnosis took Lexipro, which did nothing. Then I took lamictal which made me feel like I was brain dead. After that I just started smoking pot. During which I handled anxiety much better. My sleeping and eating patterns normalized and I stayed productive. I held a job longer than ever before and everyone around me noticed that I seemed happier and less abrasive. However, then circumstances forced me to quit, and after two months of not routinely smoking once a day I lost it. I went into a mania that I tried to treat with a variety of medications. I saw 3 different psychiatrists (two of them concurrently) and was put on Depakote, lithium, seraquel, ativan, and xanax. The depakote made me regurgitate everything I ate. The seraquel made me jittery like a diet pill, so I stuck mostly with the lithium. In my first month of taking it I became emotionally volitile and incredibly suicidal. My doctor increased my dosage to 1200 mgs a day ( I weigh 120 pounds). I slept 2 hours a day and sometimes not at all. I lost 12 pounds and expressed no intressed in food. It either worsened my mania or didn't affect it at all. After the 6 months I decided enough was enough. I started smoking again and all my eating and sleeping patterns returned to normal. I now don't take any medication and smoke in moderation. I feel great. Personally, considering we still don't understand what physically causes this disease, I think its foolish to say what does and doesn't work. Of course we can all agree on medical studies that yield results like the ones that show antipsychotics are productive and established medicines like lithium. But I wish the medical community would also consider individuality more as well as researching new possibilities. I have just found what works for me. I read about how it seems to flatline people emotionally from a books on brain and behavior, and that seems to make sense for a bipolar. Different for Different People - - Jun 17th 2009
I have been reading several articles about this because I was concerned about the way that smoking pot made me feel. I was diagnosed as Bi-Polar when I was 17. I have since tried many medicines and I have finally found one that seems to work well for me. It has its downsides though, I can't drink alcohol (it actually makes me ill) and when I smoke pot I have disturbing episodes of paranoia and sometimes I hallucinate.
This is just me though. I really think it just depends on the person. Not everyone responds to any kind of medical treatment in the same way, therefore it is impossible to say that marijuana works for everyone who has bi-polar disorder or vise-versa. This is a silly debate, and I can't believe it has gone on for so long! It is only logical that it works for some and doesn't work for others.
I agree that marijuana should be able to be used for medical purposes, because if it works for some people than it is worth it. Bipolar, marijuana and being judgmental - Allan N. Schwartz, PhD - Jun 12th 2009
I want to address two issues, the one brought up in the June first posting and the one yesterday about research.
First, I find it extremely sad that anyone would read a title and get so angry that they would not read the article. No one here is attempting to cause harm and our goal is to help by providing the best possible information we have about Bipolar illness and the use of marijuana or other drugs combined with medication. I will repeat what was said in this article and elsewhere: I have seen enormous amounts of suffering due to people with this disorder decompensating as a result of marijuana use. It is up to each of you to do as you wish, we can only advise. But, remember the old saying: "Never judge a book by its cover." Never refuse to read something because it might contain information you do not agree with. There can be additional information you do agree with.
To the question about research: Yes, I think research on marijuana and Bipolar illness would be a good idea, especially because of those of you who report it helps. I do not know if this is happening or not but I agree that it should. In the mean time, I have to stick to what we know now, if you have Bipolar disorder and take medication for it, do not smoke pot and do not drink or use other substances.
This is submitted in the most positive and respectful spirit possible.
Dr. Schwartz more research - - Jun 11th 2009
do you think it is possible to be on medication in low doses and still use marijuana in a limited way could help i have been on meds and they do help in some ways but so does smoking i am not one to smoke myself stupid but i do use it as needed as far as stress and sleeping goes i also limit the amount i smoke. fo example i might smoke a half of a joint to ease myself to sleep rather than taking sleeping pills or the same amount if someinthing bad happened. but back to what i want to know could it work for certain people to take meds and smoke. i don't recomend any other drug or alcohol but marijuana needs to be research with other medications to see if it could be used in combination... re: Eric G's comment - Marci - Jun 2nd 2009
Hi E, I totally understand your situation, i am in it myself. I have recently ended my 4 year relationship with my psychiatrist and am dealing with the pro's and con's of my decision. I have also tried medication, but for now am not on anything. Have you tried any therapy or seeked any help at all? Perhaps we can discuss this further, it may help. Also lost, M marijuna for bi polor - - Jun 1st 2009
Hello to all my friends who have this evil wicked god for saken diease! I did not read the article and just read the topic phrase, the article would of just pissed me off.I have bi-polor and just broke another piece of furniture and now that my episode is over i have the guilt of what i just put my wife through. The argument was over notthing but i went in to a rage and well we all know how that goes. So on to this topic, Marijuna absolutly helps me with my bi-polor. I have not smoked in 21 days and i can tell that it is getting worse. If you refuse the medicine from doctors such as i have then pot may help you. I'm not a pot head and i do not abuse the drug i use it for medication purposes only. When chossing to go this route there is certain marijuna that will help, not all marijuna has the same "high". The one that helps me the most is called Blueberry or a kush strain also White Rhino or White Widow will help. This is high end strain, often regular cheap marijuna that you pay $10 for that has seeds will make me more depressed. This is because the Thc content is low and is often stored and dried in trash bags which have chemicals in them that is absorbed into the Marijuna. If anyone questions me about this, i promise you that commercial grown pot is dried and trasported in black trash bags, that is why it smells the way it does, looks the way it does and tastes the way that it does. Also commercial grown pot often becomes moldy when it is being dried and is scraped off by the dealers. It is mast produce and that is why it is so cheap. Basically when i fill the depression or rage come on I tell my wife I need to be alone it's not a good time. Since she lives with me she is the one who gets attacked and she understands what I mean. This use to be hard but it's better then the fighting. I automatically shut my mouth and let no thoughts escape because for me, when i start talking that is when I lose controll. I will go straight upstairs turn on the xbox 360 to halo and smoke onehit start the game and smoke untill i'am "high" I will wait untill I'am calm and peacful and then return downstairs and thank her for being understanding. Alawys remember the one's who love us have to put up with the blunt end of this illness we owe it to them to thank them for there patients and putting up with our illness. I know that high end strains like blueberry is more expenisive $30.00 comparred to $10.00 for a gram and half but it is worth it. Now if you can't find it then grow it your self. You can order seeds online to have them shipped and you can make a grow cabinet or order one. If you dont sell it or drive with it more then likey you won't get caught with it. In one harvest that takes 6 weeks you can have enough to last you a year. Also if you research medical strains there is a nice guide online that will tell you the uses for different pot strains. I tend to lean towards strains that help fight depression. I hope my way of dealing with bi-polor helps the ones that can't stand the doctors drugs. Marijuana and Medication - Allan N. Schwartz, PhD - May 17th 2009
Judging from your response, you are extremely angry about the way in which the medical community has handled your depression and suicidality. No one can blame you. However, I MUST point out that you MISREAD my comment below. I suggested that you or the writer go for an evaluation. I also suggested that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy might be suggested. Only as a last item did I mention medication and only as something that "might" or "culd be" suggested by the evaluater and, if so, Along With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. That is hardly an endorsement of medication but merely a statement of possibility. To re emphasize what Dr. Dombeck has pointed out, we are not medical doctors nor do we or I have any particular belief in or allegiance to medications. If you read just a few of the endless number of articles I have written, you will see that is the truth. All the research shows that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy works just as well as medications. However, there are times when medications become necessary even then if a person gets really stuck into a deep depression. There are some people who feel worse with medication, there are some who feel no different and there are those who feel 100% better with medications. Everyone is different. As for Marijuana: I have no problem with people using Marijuana if they are not suffering from: Major Depression or Scizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder. All the research shows that marijuana makes those conditions worse. However, this is a free country and you are, of course, free to do as you wish. It is also my opinion that Marijuana be legalized so that people can use it without feeling like they are sneaking about. I hope I have clarified Dr. Schwartz Dr Schwartz...Why? - Medpot User AND Doubter - May 16th 2009
I'm tired of this BS. It reads like propaganda. I recently started therapy as a means of seeking treatment for a spectrum of disorders suffered since childhood. I've also made a few comments using nicknames below. Why is your solution (and the solution by my therapist) BEGIN with the suggestion to take medication? I've taken the meds before. I have a history of suicide, neurological illness and mood disorder within my family and am aware of the risks and dangers as indicated by the medical community (of which you subscribe in beliefs) concerning pot. Of course, you advise one of the readers below to begin medication, BUT you fail to mention that the medical path you follow and suggest has a high probablility to cause suicidal thoughts, self-esteem crushing weight gain, addiction and lethargy. You might charge that my evidence is anecdotal, but again, you're the one concerned with car payments, payroll and 'public policy'...I'm the one concerned with getting healthier. Dr. Schwartz, I wanted to kill myself after taking prescribed medications, and still have suicidal thoughts during withdrawl. How can you justify advising meds without these warnings? I do not trust, nor believe that your advice is valid. Like it or not, you are in the employ of the pharmaceutical industry. Your career and finances depend on how much medication is prescribed. Your education, practice and methods have been funded by generations of government and political philosophy that are tied to nationalism and international politics that seek to push American corporate control over all else. You work for a system that includes jails, banks and a "WAR ON DRUGS" that has failed. You just can't bring yourself, nor can your colleagues, to admit that your policies and belief systems have failed many. Pot does not make me want to kill myself. I've wanted to kill myself after taking suggested medications. Why would i trust you since your advice has led to suicidal thoughts, beliefs and serious depression? Why would I trust you when your advice has led to 100s of thousands of pill-related deaths when there is no identifiable link between marijuana and overdose? Can you provide an answer? Can you look in the mirror and suggest, even for a moment, that you might be wrong? I believe it to be incredibly unhealthy and risky to casually suggest that a reader begin medication without revealing who funds the research that you have relied upon to come to your conclusions. Editor's Note: For the record, Dr. Schwartz is not a "medical" profesional of any sort (e.g., physician, nurse, physician assistant, etc.). He was originally trained as a social worker and then did doctoral studies in psychotherapy. He is definitively not in the employ of the pharmas. If he were to purely pursue his own economic interests, he would be pushing psychotherapy as that is what will stand to put money in his pocket most directly.
We (Dr. Dombeck, also not a medical professional but rather a psychologist, and Dr. Schwartz) recommend medication for serious conditions because they are an important part of research-based treatment for these conditions. We also recommend psychotherapy and other non-medical treatments when they are appropriate. Our medication recommendations are really us urging people to seek assessment with a competent local physician. Only a physician has the training necessary to safely assess, prescribe and monitor such medications, which you quite rightly point out are dangerous substances, often with significant side effects
There is no question that many of the pharmas use their wealth and their marketing machines to influence the debate about the utility of their products. They are not above hiding data that makes their products look bad. In spite of these problems, modern psychiatric medications considered as a group have real utility; they are not perfect things but in general they help people more than they hurt.
You are not at all alone in having a negative opinion of pharma and psychiatric medications. And you are quite right to think it wise to pursue alternatives to psychiatric medications where they are available and useful. We can't stop you from using pot as your 'medicine' and if it really does end up helping you, that is a good thing. We suggest that it is not a good idea to self-medicate because in our experience we have both seen more people coping with vulerabilities to mood and psychotic disorders get worse when they become regular marijuana users than we have seen get better. There probably are people who can use the substance recreationally or medicinally with good effect, but we have not personally seen this occur with regard to psychiatric uses, so we caution people about that sort of use, just as you are cautioning people about your own experience. help is available - Allan N. Schwartz, PhD - May 15th 2009
Dear Eric G., From your description I think it is safe to say that you might have depression. In fact, you provided enough of a description for me to urge you strongly to see a psychologist or psychiatrist for purposes of diagnosis and treatment. Treatment could include anti depressant medication(maybe) and/or cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Life is not to suffer and help is available. Dr. Schwartz I'm not sure about anything - Eric G - May 15th 2009
Guys, I am completely lost. I don't know which end is up. I have severe depression and I have no idea why. I used to be funny, out-going, and very likeable. But I've noticed that anymore, I can't express my emotion at all. The only communcation I have with people is observations that I make. I don't create any new topics of conversation. I want to but I just can't come up with anything. I also don't see the purpose of life...why are we here? I can't hold with conversations with people because I feel like my input doesn't mean anything. On the outside I smile and make eye contact but deep down I don't care about that much. I'm hoping that I can pull myself out of this. Anyone have similar experiences as mine? Thanks.... E I'm not sure about anything - Eric G - May 15th 2009
Guys, I am completely lost. I don't know which end is up. I have severe depression and I have no idea why. I used to be funny, out-going, and very likeable. But I've noticed that anymore, I can't express my emotion at all. The only communcation I have with people is observations that I make. I don't create any new topics of conversation. I want to but I just can't come up with anything. I also don't see the purpose of life...why are we here? I can't hold with conversations with people because I feel like my input doesn't mean anything. On the outside I smile and make eye contact but deep down I don't care about that much. I'm hoping that I can pull myself out of this. Anyone have similar experiences as mine? Thanks.... E My experience - Mac Daxon - May 3rd 2009
I'm a 32 year old bi polar diagnosed man. I was diagnosed at 17 when my parents had discover multiple overdose attempts on my part. As a kid I didn't do really much of any drinking or drugs of any kind. I went through several medications until we came upon one that seemed to work. I spent quite a bit of time in in-patient and out-patient facilites. Regardless, for me the diagnosis was more of a relief than anything. It felt good to know that this was something I could fight as long as I educated myself. Unfortunately I was still young at that time and really hadn't hit my rebellion yet. Around 20 I did and began self medicating myself with marijuana. By 24 I had a bad relapse, which mostly consisted of an inability to control my emotions. I had stopped smoking marijuana thinking I had made a mistake. I was unable to funtion at work and experience extreme aniexty anywhere but my home. I was kept home by my doctor for about a month or so and put on a new medication. I noticed that my depression was contained well by the meds but my highs were still out of control. So I deceided to follow the medication my doctor had perscribe because I knew that it was helping with my depression there was no doubt in my mind. I also began smoking marijuana again to control my highs. The result was very good for me for the last 8 years. I functioned well I built a very healthy self confidence and spent alot of time educating myself on my condition. I know when I am not myself and I know how to combat it. I recently had to have my medication adjusted because the depression was returning but the highs have remained controled. I'm not saying that marijuana is the answer for everyone but I know in my case it has helped me live a more functional life then I had without it. The same is true for the medication that I was prescribed by my doctor. It does bother me though that I risk criminal charges to keep my condition in check, but at the same time it's worth the risk knowing that my highs are every bit as destructive as my depression. Everyone's chemistry is different and I am one of a kind just like everyone else reading this. Self Medicating - Allan N. Schwartz, PhD - May 2nd 2009
Hi Tony,I can tell you from both personal experiences with friends and professional experience as a psychotherapist for many years that people are most definitely helped by therapy. The research supports this. In fact, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been found to be just as effective as anti depressant medication for those who are depressed. My "issue" with what you are doing is that you are self diagnosing and self medication and that is never a good idea. It seems to me that you could be dealing with a depression of some kind and without having a Bipolar Disorder. However, there is no way that I can know and this is just a wild guess.I urge you to get over your fear of doctors, go to a psychologist, have yourself diagnosed and move on from there in terms of treatment. That would be a lot better than self medicating.Dr. Schwartz marijuana without a doubt helps me - tony - May 2nd 2009
Ok now I have never been to the doctors to be diagnosed with bi polar, but because I have read up on it alot I learned on my own and so has my fiance and I have alot of the same exact sypmtoms of anxiety and depression, self worthlessness and other emotions that I cant think of right now cause it is so hard to express into words how I feel sometimes. And even in my head i know that I should not be feeling like this and I try to tell myself not to worry but I do anyhow. So then I turn to marijuana about 1-2 inhales a day (somedays even none because I only use it for medicine and not for leisure) and I feel complelety happy my mood is soo constant,happy, upbeat, and does not fluctuate up and down, up and down. I totally enjoy life instead of worrying about every little thing in my life and looking at the badside to everything instead of the goodside.The bi polar depresses me so much that I can not enjoy my life that I have set up so awesomely and worked so hard for. The only worry I have when I do use is how I am going to pass a drug test if I would have to get one through work. That is the only thing I worry about and I spend hours upon hours looking on the internet to look for some kind of option wether it be using something to pass a drug test so that I can smoke without being paronoid about being tested which I find more faith in,or going to the doctors to get help because I rarely, and I stress rarley do I see people that have any good results with going to the doctors therefor I am scared to do so. Not only does the marijuana help stabilze my mood and I enjoy the life I deserve instead of worrying about every little thing making my life not so enjoyable, but it also helps my eating disorder, I am 25 years old 5'6 and wiegh 130 lbs when in high school I wieghed about 150 or so before I noticed my eating habits were bad, but marijuana definitley helps me in that aspect by far. It gives me an appetite so that I can eat and get some energy and put some weight on . I have been patterning my moods for 3 years now and and really focusing on what works for me and there is no doubt that marijuana really does give me the freedom that I deserve to enjoy my life so hopefully someday they will find a way to prescribe it and monitor it very carefully to see how it does really work for medicine reasons for some that have bi polar. Marijuana also helps me think outside of the box and be so much more logical with my thoughts and helps my mind think clearly, instread of being confused and no concentration which really hurts my skills in pretty much whatever im doing unless im having a good day an don't need to medicate then I won't, but rarely happens. And sometimes I will not need to have an appetite,so I won't because i dont have need to, but more times needing it to eat than not. Well thats all I can really think of to say right now and this is the first time I have ever put into words how I feel and the effect of what marijuana does for me and I pray everyday that I could do it legally without the worry in the back of my mind of failing a drug test!!! It helps and hurts... - Bipolar Marijuana User - Apr 25th 2009
I'm in agony after receiving several stop/start bouts of medication in the winter after several hospitalizations. Dr. Schwartz, marijuana makes the pain and depression go away. I have journalized my cycles of mania since childhood and all of them seem connected by alcohol. I have been hospitalized and forced to take mood stabilizers and the recovery from their side-effects is - like another commenter here said - intolerable. Because of the pills, I have experienced a plethora of suicidal thoughts - but it doesn't help that I come from a family with a history of suicide and various forms of mental illness. If I could smoke some now, it would remove the depression and thoughts of suicide and 'calm my nerves'. By the same token, I am trying my utmost best to steer clear of the drug but know that if I just make the call, I will be free from the prison and misery of depression and bipolar. Admittedly, I had two good jobs last year and allowed drug and alcohol use to interfere causing the loss of the jobs. Yet I chalk that up more to the mania cycle than the freedom that pot allows. All the talk of the economy and my failure to get another job is driving me to use marijuana again. And if I tell anyone in the medical profession about the suicidal thoughts, I will be referred to a crisis clinic for three days with pharmaceutical drug treatment but no counselling. The anecdotal evidence against both big pharma AND marijuana use seems to be plenty so I am struggling because while I want to live naturally, the hurt and pain of mental illness is unbearable. Why would I want to take Seroquel or Zyprexa or Depakote or Lithium when those drugs cause hair loss, weight gain, suicidal ideation - issues I have battled WITHOUT the drugs. Weed works. It might be a temporary victory, but life with chunky SSRI pills is deadlier. Logical - dransphd@aol.com - Apr 24th 2009
<p>Hello logical,Perhaps your use of marijuana has helped you. I do not know how. In my years of work as a therapist, I found that every depressed patient I had who used marijuana improved their mood when they stopped that use, whether they were on anti depressants or not. Also, the fact that you have depression does NOT mean thet you have a Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar is completely different and there in lies the reason why it is particularly damaging for someone with that disorder to smoke maijuana. Dr. Schwartz</p> Logical assumption? - - Apr 24th 2009
When you stop taking a doctor-prescribed drug and your symptoms return, this is considered a relapse of your original conditiion. Never mind that many of these drugs cause severe withdrawl symptoms. They all have warning labels cautioning against stopping suddenly. I have tried a variety of treatments for severe depression. The side effects are intolerable, compared to the theraputic effect. If an individual finds relief of symptoms smoking marijuana, is it any wonder those same symptoms should return once it is discontinued? You can call it withdrawl, a relapse or a combination of both but a drug is a drug is a drug. Yes folks, they're ALL drugs. I would never tout marijauna as a cure-all but it happens to work very well for me. Pot Smoker and Bipolar - Pot Smoker - Quitting For Treatment - Apr 23rd 2009
I am willing to admit that bipolar and marijuana use may be problematic together. I have been a ten year regular marijuana user every day and am as we speak in the midst of a depressive mood swing because I have been without marijuana for a week, voluntarily. The urge to use marijuana is overwhelming and if I do, I know that I will be subjected to an alleviation of depressive symptoms however the marijuana use may contribute to some of the symptoms of cyclical mania.I'm a doctor doubter because I love the way the weed makes me feel and have been disgusted by the terrible side effects of big pharma.For those that say the two are unrelated, it may be a condition of denial concerning the addictive nature of marijuana. As a user every day for ten years, I can vouch that nonuse drives me to alcohol as self-medication when I can't get weed.I feel better writing things down here. Thank you for the opportunity to share here. I am struggling and need to recover. I know that marijuana may make me feel better in the short term, but it could likely be having effects during times I am unaware or times I cannot obtain the product. Who knows - - Apr 21st 2009
I'm just wondering from anybody out there who has either phase of Bi-Polar and have had to get medication, when they draw blood to monitor the medication, do they ever say anything about your THC levels? response to "huge downside" - - Apr 19th 2009
Cronic marijuana users become short tempered when out of smoke. You'll get over it if you give it time. Your biggest enemy is the belief that it is a treatment for your anxiety. It is not. Try reading a book when your "jonesin". In other words, take your mind off of it. Reading is the best exercise for any mind. You would not be on this site unless you really wanted helpful answers. Try it... there is a huge down side - Rey - Apr 12th 2009
I have never been diagnosed with Bi-polar disorder, but I know I have suffered from it for over 15 years. I am 30 years Old and have smoked marijuana to counter this disorder. It has help alot and I also use for my ulcers and excess stomach acid build up. I have been diagnosed with those. It is due to my anxiety, stress, etc. I am a worry freak, However there is a huge down side. When I do not have avaiable my conditon is 10 fold and anger burst are impossible to stop. It is destroying my relationship and I would like to quit. Anyone has a clue whats going on? Marijuana use to treat Bipolar Disease - Kay-Lynn - Apr 5th 2009
This topic has become interesting to me. I have read all of your comments and stories involving Bipolar and marijuana. I have no such disease myself. But I will share my experiences as well. I am in my early twenties, almost finished obtaining my degree in Psychology. I have experimented with many different drugs, including marijuana, LSD, mushrooms, prescription drugs, etc., in my teenage years. Luckily, I followed a rule of "using the drug, not letting it use me"...and could get away with it without any addiction issues. Focusing on marijuana, I had been an avid user from the ages of 16-18. It was fun and made me giggly, and I was not paranoid. I had used it briefly around the age of twenty, after a couple years having experimented heavily with LSD...this time around, the marijuana made me feel very paranoid. A few times after that, it did the same as well. Eventually, it just was not fun anymore, and it only made me very sleepy. I have not used any drugs for a few years now because the thrill of it all became old, and I have never had a reason to self medicate; as I stated, I have no illnesses and lead a very balanced life regardless. My point in saying this, is everyone has a different brain chemistry/make-up. What I was once never affected by as a teenager when smoking pot, I later became affected by...the paranoia. I am sure the use of other drugs in my life have changed the chemicals in my brain, any toxins I have ever encountered...people's environments also affect what stimulates the brain. As I have gotten older, my likes have changed, my dislikes, what tasted good, what tastes bad...everyone changes in different ways as the body ages. Now, my brother-in-law has had Bipolar Disease for many years now. I have seen him in manic episodes, depressive episodes, on meds, off meds...he has a history of drug use and from what I have seen over the years, any type of drug he uses, he uses to self-medicate, and it usually makes his Bipolar condition worse. Whether his anxiety is calmed or his depression dissipates, due to marijuana, uppers/downers, etc., he still exhibits behavior that is not normal behavior, because he appears to mask his disease, rather than help himself naturally. A very close friend of mine, who is 30 years of age, and was diagnosed Bipolar at the age of 18, has been using marijuana steadily and daily for ten years. He has never used any type of drug outside of this, not even to experiment with. He had never even picked up a glass of alcohol until he was in his midtwenties. He claims that he was on Lithium as well as Paxil xr after he was diagnosed. He said it was a horrendous experience. He began using marijuana to curb the issues he felt most, which was irritability and irritation, which could lead to quick anger spurts. We spend a lot of time together and I began to wonder if he was masking his issues from his disease, as his marijuana use seemed habitual and frequent. I asked him to please not use around me because I felt his use was a bit dramatic. He said he had no problem slowing down. I noticed when he was lessening the amount he smoked, his moods seemed to be irritable, not because of his Bipolar, but because his issue now, was trying to find marijuana when he needed it because he was not frequenting it often. I see it helps with his anxiety, in a sense, he is more relaxed and feels he has more control over himself, whereas the medicine he was on before made im feel horrible. Trust me, I have experimented often in the past and I could say I have my drug of choice...marijuana would not be the one I prefer...BUT....the many, many, many people I do know, of all AGES, who smoke marijuana, are very smart, well-rounded people. My issue is using a drug to begin with, to "kinda help out"...and having it turn in to a full daily routine, and not realizing the drug is now "doing you". Moderation is key, for the right reasons. I am worried this friend of mine has a slight addiction problem now, yet he knows no other way to help himself. Like I said, marijuana can work very well for many people in moderation. But it sucks that some people do not know how to control themselves with substances. It also sucks that it is these people who may give marijuana a bad rap, therefore keeping it illeagal, when others benefit from the drug very much so. All in all, I cannot say to everyone to stay away from drugs because that would make me a hyprocrite. But if drug abuse is an issue in a family, it is not a good idea to get in to drugs to only realize you have no way out...also, drugs should never be an excuse for behavior or to mask behavior....there are cleaner, more natural ways to help one's self...besides, smoking herb cannot be good for the lungs after awhile...but hey, whatever floats the boat eh? Marijuana triggered my ego destruction. - Sean - Mar 30th 2009
It is said that pot can either be sedative or euphoric. In my personal experience, it was when I was high that I felt "connections" with things. It made me disassociate and changed my perspective. It definitely had a major role in bringing about my mania and subsequent psychosis. There must be more research that continues to explore the relationship between pot and bipolar/schizophrenia. If anyone know of any trials, I would certainly be up for one. -Sean Pot sucks for me - BipolarPuppy - Mar 26th 2009
I've been diagnosed Bipolar for several years and on various medications which I take faithfully. I've heard the argument that if a person gets ill affects from pot that it must be laced with something bad. Bullcrap. I sometimes smoke it with peeps who smoke it regularly and it's good quality stuff and they love it. But it just makes me feel weird. It gives me anxiety and I've had episodes of dissociation from it. So take me as a case example then. As someone with a mental illness that pot makes worse. And the same people smoking off the same toke are fine and dandy. I feel strange thoughts, like I am possessed like a demon. Think all kinds of bad things like that. Who needs it. And I never used to get that from smoking it. So who knows if you have a predisposition to mental illness and it will make you worse. With peer pressure, people may continue to smoke it, who have underlying mental illness and still feel like that. Hell I still even do. Stick that in your bong and smoke it ;) i am willing to be studdied - craig - Mar 20th 2009
I am willing to be studied I have been diagnosed with bi polar disorder. I have been self medicating primarily with marijuana for 17 years. Last winter I stopped using marijuana and for the first time in my life, I was thrust into full-blown psychosis. Now I am taking lithium and I am happy with the results, however would like to reintroduce a small amount of marijuana into my treatment. Two months ago I smoked a small quantity of marijuana over a few days and found my mood to be much better. I feel that the combination of medical marijuana and lithium would best treat my disorder. It is unfathomable to me that I am not allowed to have medicinal marijuana for the purpose of treating my problem. This is Ridiculous AND Absurd - Krystal - Mar 13th 2009
Ok, first off before I even begin typing this book that I'm sure I will end up with, (lol) let me say that I am in NO way trying to offend anyone or hurt anyone's feelings. I am VERY active in following medical research and and learning what other people have to say about their conditions and Cannabis. I myself, have a mental disorder...Borderline Personality Disorder, which if you know anything about mental disorders then you may know that Borderline is in so many ways like Bi-Polar, that OFTEN people (including myself) have been improperly diagnosed. Before I go any further, let me just point out, that... no one is really thinking about the whole picture when they read articles like this. People look at Cannabis as a drug, because that is all they know. How much propaganda have YOU seen about how bad Cannabis is throughout the years?? I'm sure lots! When this topic is brought up, people tend to post/say/yell nasty things. They feel threatened. They want to be 'safe' and if the DEA said that Marijuana is harmful then by golly gee, IT IS! If you are sitting in your chair as you read this saying to yourself "She is SOOO stupid, GOD, shes so wrong! Im gonna just tell her what I think!!! ***type*type*type*** DON'T DO IT. This is a scientific/medical discussion that need not be turned into adolescent bickering as they often do. Thank you. :) I have sat back and researched, and read millions of blogs/forums/articles/etc.... as well as speaking with many M.D's, Psychiatrists, and Psychologists, following activism, news, aaaand having a first hand 'look' at many people with a wide array of disorders.... that smoke Cannabis. Let me just say this.... Everyone who posted nasty replies to Dr. Schwartz OR Dr. Dombeck's articles should be ashamed of yourselves. It is people like yourselves that DO IN FACT continue to make Cannabis look like a drug, because that's how you use it. Remember the saying?....'Too much of any one thing is bad' It is true. This is why doctor's ONLY focus on.."Marijuana is BAD!!" Because people abuse it, and then it does become their personal drug. MODERATION. Look folks, if you have some sort of mental disorder I do not suggest that you go smoke an equivalent of an eighth or more.. day in and day out for months or even years. That IS way too much. Remember... it depends on the individual as well. I absolutely loooove Cannabis. I have SEVERE neck pain from an auto collision, I have Borderline Personality Disorder, and Mood disorder (otherwise specified) <--that is the medical term for it. AS I type I am Cannabis free, not from choice, but all because the government wants me to test positive for Opiates in my system to make sure I'm not selling my Methadone. That brings up another thought of mine...Did you know that the DEA and FDA have supported THC for years? There is a thc pill, that they think is wonderful!!! It makes you sick because its concentrated THC, but nonetheless, they apparently KNOW it helps, or they wouldn't have supported the pill. So all of you who 'bash' Cannabis smokers/ingesters need to think about that. I'm clean right now, and feel no differently than I did when I smoked. My brain isn't 'less foggy' or anything like that. I am in pain, but I can deal with it I guess. I am a woman who does NOT like taking pills. Absolutely upsets me. I do not want some foreign substance in my body so I can get Cancer when I'm 50. I like natural/herbal remedies. Vinegar for ear infections, Honey and Chicken Broth for the flu, Chamomile Tea for relaxation/sleep, and Cannabis for pain and emotional dysregulation. I have never had a speeding ticket, DUI, or any other 'drug' related offense, but I am a horrible person because I use Cannabis? No, that is where I disagree and always will. Maybe I disagree with you and your personal beliefs on spanking children. You may think it is ok, and I may just very well turn right around and say something and call Child Services if I seen you spank your child in the grocery store, and for all I know, you could be the president of a Fortune 500. Very respectable person, never had any offenses, etc...Just because I see you spank your child in public does NOT give me the right to call the cops or walk up and say something rude to you, which you would in turn defend yourself. Beating children is a different story. That's a metaphor for Cannabis. You may not agree with me, but if I'm a respectable person, with morals and values, and keep to myself, why should you have any right to open your mouth, and bash me because I use Cannabis????? If I used Heroin, I wouldn't be surprised if someone said something to me and called the cops, even though I would still try to defend myself as you bashed me, lol. For those of you who cannot figure out what a Metaphor is, this will help..... Spanking Children = Cannabis Beating Children = Heroin Just a metaphor people, don't run with it. lol. My point to everyone is.... MOST people are right, in their own context, about Cannabis. Too much is definitely bad, but Cannabis itself CANNOT kill you. Research has found, that Cannabis actually will 'reverse' Alzheimer's Disease. How? It promotes new brain cell growth. Cannabis will lower blood pressure, take away chronic pain, stop twitching such as people do with Tourette's, it helps with so much. I don't understand why doctors are the way they are about Cannabis, especially when they are alllll about science. Why don't doctors ever look into Cannabis with a neutral stance???? Almost all doctors are the same....you're bad! you smoke 'pot', you will go to hell!, I won't give you cough syrup but I'm gonna give you horse pills to swallow with that Strep Throat because you tested positive once, four years ago, for THC, and you might make drugs out of the cough syrup! These are DOCTORS people. Taking care of YOU, who have been naive enough, not to research for themselves what Cannabis is/does, but they listen to every single thing they are taught. People are wrong, and people can make error, and the instructor you had, may have had a brother that was killed crossing a road one night, and he was 21 years old, they found traces of Marijuana and alcohol in his system...and it could NOT have POSSIBLY been the alcohol that had caused it, because look at all the people that drink and nothing happens! It is the same with Cannabis people...there are some who really mess up, and smoke way too much, have a bad reaction of some type, and once that's said...it's all because of Marijuana from here on out. Anytime Marijuana is involved, that's the culprit. Try again. Please people, start being smart when you listen to the news, or hear a story, or whatever. It isn't going to kill you. Ice Cream won't kill you, but it will sure as hell pack on the weight and make your body go through hell whilst your gaining that weight if you go and eat a half gallon a day. A doctor isn't going to tell anyone that they cant have ANY Ice Cream, unless there's a specific reason such as Diabetes, and that is my point. Doctors shouldn't be bashing patients because they use Cannabis. Instead, they should be informing their patients of the potential risks due to their mental illness, and what could POSSIBLY happen if they use too much of it at once like that. As I said in the beginning of my book, lol, too much of any one thing is bad. Anyways, I don't have enough time, nor do you I'm sure, lol, for me to continue typing all night. Just please remember not to be so defensive or to be OVERLY opinionated. Just moderation is all the world needs. Thanks, Krystal My findings - T.P.H - Mar 13th 2009
well i think the effects of pot on my bipolar have change me in many ways, i was never able to hold a job, i could never concintrait, my mind was always racing and when i closed my eyes i could vividly see what was racing threw my head making me very dizzy and be come sick. Since i started to use i have held down a job, am more productive with in my family and enjoy my time with them. v - - Mar 10th 2009
i think my problem might be worse from weed Editing - Allan N Schwartz - Mar 9th 2009
Just to answer the "this is bull" comment I want to point out that your observation was a good one. However, the problem you hit upon was one of editing and not a matter of "bull." I wish you had understood that and I could have thanked you. Perhaps I should thank you anyway. The error has been corrected. Do not be so quick to be judgmental. The sentence should have looked something like this: "there are some studies that show that marijuana may lower anxiety for some people with Bipolar disorder." That was the intended comment. Also, no, there was no attempt at sarcasm on my part but thanks to both of you. Dr. Schwartz Dear "this is bull" - - Mar 8th 2009
Apparently you don't know what sarcasm is. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what that meant. this is bull - - Mar 1st 2009
the article says some research shows that smoking marijuana actually eases the anxiety associated with smoking pot..wow that one statement is the single most absurd thing I have read recently. so using pot helps u cope with using pot..somone explain this to me.that's like saying eating spicy food is shown in some studies to actually releive the heartburn associated with eating spicy foods. wtf Marijunan worsens mental illness - kathleen - Feb 28th 2009
After 20 years of observing the gradual deterioration of my 46 yr.old brother who reguarly used marijuana since he was a teenager to self-medicate for feelings of mania/depression/anxiety (he was diagnosed with bipolar-schizotypal personality in his mid-30s; this was recently updated to schizoaffective disorder-bipolar, after a major psychotic episode last year; he has also been incarcerated and hospitalized several times in 20 years), I have to conclude that the marijuana has contributed to the worsening of his condition. He would strongly disagree, despite the evidence of his own history which supports my opinion, as well as the opinions of his doctors and treatment team members - people who deal with the victims of such disorders and their attraction to the use of illegal substances to treat symptoms. The sad thing is that he has a masters degree, an incomplete Ph.D and his P.E. engineer's licencse and is currently back at work - it is no coincidence that the longest he has held any professional job is 1-3 years). To keep family involved in helping him, he has been forced to do out-patient treatment (after rejecting an excellent dual-treatment in-patient program 7 months ago - checked himself out after 10 days, behaving like an addict who needed his drug - the first thing he did when he returned home). He is very difficult to reason with, and is not capable of making good decisions for himself. He doesn't believe in his current treatment and is only "going through the motions" - he continues to lie and manipulate us. I learn from each episode and am still trying to help him, hoping that he will get better - enough to see the value in accepting proper treatment vs. arguing "he knows better" what works for him (i.e. marijuana). He complains about the symptoms of legal meds, but has never given them a proper chance to be tweaked. He is socially isolated; his social-emotional behavior is very much like the teenagers with whom I work as a teacher. I am trying to be hopeful, but it is very hard. I do not recommend the "medical marijuana" alternative. I no longer believe in that approach as I once did. My brother's life is my anecdotal proof. The research that I have read this topic seems to confirm the scientific evidence to support this opinion. It does more harm than good - Tom - Feb 23rd 2009
I can tell you from first hand experience that smoking marijuana while bipolar does a lot more harm than good overall. I know I am bipolar but I have refused to see a doctor about it. No, its not denial but more of a not ready to deal with it head on standpoint. I am a heavy smoker and have been off and on for about 9 years now (quit for 3 of those years in the middle). It does help me bounce from a harsh depressive state into a hypomanic state when I start smoking again. Marijuana also does wonders for my anxiety and for a brief period when starting up a stage of usage makes it feel like the bipolar goes away. After a few weeks of regular usage the depression starts coming back and at times is even worse. And as stated numerous times in this thread when you run out and are now feeling dependent on it are the WORST times of my bipolar cycles. This always triggers a major episode in me to the point where the stress and overall helpless feelings are crippling. The only thing I could say is that if you do use marijuana to deal with bipolar you almost have to follow a plan of casual smoking. Once a week/every few days, etc. I have tried to do it that way many times but always find myself smoking daily if I have it. It definitely INTENSIFIES the withdrawal symptoms as well when you are depressed/bipolar. I would put it right there with alcohol withdrawal as I have had a drinking problem one time as well. Both substances seem to have had the same intensity of withdrawal symptoms (at least mentally) for me which is odd considering studies done in marijuana. I don't advise the use... - Billy - Feb 16th 2009
I'll be 53 this month and have managed bipolar disorder since I was, they suspect, 16. Marijuana does not help this disorder at all. I use to smoke pot almost every day for years and thought it helped but what I was doing was masking the effects of the illness making it difficult for the doctors trying to help me. It is stated that it does suppress anxiety a bit and maybe this is true but I know the overall effects only make matters worse. For instance when one can't obtain this drug and they have to go a few days without it I see the struggle. There are definite withdrawal symptoms and though not nearly as harsh as those associated with withdrawing from much harder drugs the symptoms are there. People do go through withdrawal. The depression increases falsifying how deep this state actually is. (Isn't pot a depressant like alcohol?) I say give yourself a chance. If your bipolar and you use marijuana start a journal now, be honest and in a year or so get help and quit smoking pot for a year. What is one year of your life to help yourself?During this "clean" year journal some more. Then look back through your old journal. You will see what I saw. I can handle life much more effectively without it, I am more in tune with my body and mind and can more clearly and effectively communicate with my doctor's about what it is I am feeling day to day and I have gained so much ground in being able to see what my triggers are and am cognizant of the different situations I should avoid and have the strength to do so. I no longer see myself as weak or the oddball of the crowd but an active member of life who has weaknesses and strengths like everyone around me. Try it, you'll like it, I guarantee it! Marijuana Makes It Better - Stephen - Feb 15th 2009
I was diagnosed bipolar over 2 years ago and when times have been rough marijuana has pulled me through it. I have very high anxiety and it is hard for me to deal with large crowds, but when I smoke I'm perfectly fine. In high school my grades actually improved after I started smoking pot. The medicines ive have been prescribed on numerous occasions have done absoulely nothing but make me a mindless drone. I will credit lithium with helping relieve depression at the end of the day but thats about it. Lately though Ive hit a rough patch as I started taking a new medicine that has led me to an incidence of hypomania and dropping for a quarter of college. I highly advoate smoking because it enables me to be myself and live life with less stress. Marijuana not innocent - Allan N Schwartz - Feb 2nd 2009
I am so sorry that your husband committed suicide. There have been a few cases where there seems to be a link between anti depressant and suicide. However, one explanation for this is that, with the anti depressant, people start to feel more energetic, energetic enough to carry out the suicide they already planned. Well, it is a tragedy no matter what. While I understand why you are blaming marijuana and medicatoin for the suicide please keep in mind that sometimes there is just no way to stop a person from suicide if they are really intent on doing it. Again, I am sorry for your loss. Dr. Schwartz marijuana....its not that innocent - - Feb 2nd 2009
my husband and I have been together for 23 years.. He was depressed prior two years when he did't get a job that everyone had said was his...he still had a good job at the end of the day, that he knew how to perform in, he had a lovley home, plenty of motorbikes, a wife, and two gorgeous kis. he went to the doctor who prescribed anti depressants. I do not believe that this doctor prescribed correct medicine. My husband then committed suicide.. I heate marijuana and I hate antidepressants. BiPolar and Pot usage - Patty R - Jan 31st 2009
My husband is bipolar and has fibromyalgia and IBS. He claims the pot helps with the pain of fibromyalgia and eases his depression. I do think it helps him, but when he needs to smoke and doesn't have any he will build up into an episode. The most recent one was just before Christmas. He has been unemployed since May which wasn't helping his mood. Just before Christmas he ran out of pot and decided that he would not take any of his prescriptions and that he also was not going to eat until he got a job. As the days went by he got worse and worse. Finally on the 5th day he announced that he was going out. This is when it got really ugly. I had to take his keys and wallet to keep him at home. This threw him into one of his most violent moods yet. I tried to talk him down but made the huge mistake of suggesting we get him some professional help. This made him get even angrier. The situation escalated to a full blown domestic disturbance with the police being called to the house. I don't know how he is doing as he ran off when he was released from the hospital as the police were "harrassing him." I am very worried about him as I have no idea where his head is these days. I would guess that if he has been smoking he is probably doing ok for now, but when he runs out again the pattern will repeat. This has happened many times and the worst episodes are when he is out of pot and has been out for several days. Has anyone else observed this with bipolar pot smokers? If so, how do you convince them that the pot "withdrawal" is aggrevating their mental condition? Brain Damage - Allan N Schwartz - Jan 29th 2009
Frankly, I am a little surprised that your psychiatrist could determine brain damage from the little evidence you povided him with. However, as I am NOT a medical doctor and not there, there is little I can really say about this. Having a Bipolar Disorder has nothing to do with brain damage. Also, I doubt that the drugs you used could have resulted in any permanent brain damage. I suspect that your memory and concentration problems have more to do with having a bipolar disorder than anything else. The correct medications for bipolar disorder and psychotherapy should enable you to improve concentration and memory. Dr. Schwartz brain damage-marihuana - - Jan 28th 2009
First I apologize because of my spelling, I am an spanish writer. I´m interested in the discussion of marihuana side effects because recently (1 year ago) I´ve been diagnosticated with bipolar disorder. I´ve been suffering fron severe depressions since I was 21 (Know I am 30) and form light depressions since I was 15. The first hipomania I can recognized I had ocurred after eating some hallucinogen mushrooms. The second one after and unfinished treatment with antidepresants. After that I smoke pot in a frequency of about 5 times a year an I ate 3 more times mushrooms (2 of them great experiences) I think from phylocybe genera and another time I ate mezcaline (Lophophora williamsi powder ) in a spiritual Huichol ceremony all of this from my 21 to my 28 years. I use to be very good at school without having to study and been recognized by my friends like a smart person. I used to get depressed in high school because I had and stressing family environment that kept me feeling worried and sometimes a little depressed, I suffered also becuse I was introverted. I started my biology carrer in the firsts years with an average of 10 but after a relation of two years (20-22) with a boyfriend I was emotianally stressed and at the end of my carrer I started having memory and concentration problems when I was depressed thing that became more and more frequent with me taking and leaving med treatment. A year ago I went with a psychiatric that told me that I was bipolar and that I have worsen mi sickness with the use of drugs, I show him a tomography (brain scanner) that I had from 4 years ago and he told me that there where some zones near the pre-frontal part of the skull where grey matter had disappear, tiny parts he said. This brain damage most surely have occur because of my brain sensibility caused by the bipolar disorder and the use of drugs. Know I am finishing my master degree academic things are not as easy as they use to be I´ve memory problems and I get very frustated because of them, sometimes I think sometimes in the mania period my lucidity appears to return but when Iám depressed thinks like cooking, or keeping attention to clases, books or my own field data becames a hard work, I get frustated and I dont want to do anything but seeing tv so I don´t feel stupid. My question is, this concentration and memory problems could be the effect of the sickness progression, or of the sensibility because of the bipolarity plus the use of drugs?...... Could I hope that it will be reversible with a good treatment I mean if this can be simptons that could lately dissapear?????? thanks bi-polar - Holly - Jan 20th 2009
I've been dealing with my husband for the last 13 years with Bi-polar disorer I, he has been in the hospital over 15 times, he abuses drugs and alcohol, sometimes he is awake for days when he is manic. I wish there was a cure for this illness. I don't think using "street drugs" help at all with Bi-polar at all. Really? - jaymi - Dec 26th 2008
As a avid pot smoker and enthusiast. I don’t totally agree with this. I have read and heard things about weed making depression worst, and all the other jazz, but the more excuses people make because of pot leads to why its illegal. For me when I do smoke it seems to intensify the mood that I am in. If I am happy it will make me more happy, if I am depressed then I become really sad, I choose not to smoke at all when I am upset. Pot can be helpful, relaxing and enjoyable if used right. You just have to be smart about it, its like having a really bad manic episode then thinking "hey maybe drinking some alcohol will help." Don’t smoke when your sad, upset, thinking about hurting yourself. Try smoking when your calm, or relaxed turn on some jazz and read. Also weed wont cure you of anything. Don’t stop taking your med to see if weed will help... Jeez! If you choose to smoke do it responsibly don't do it during your bad times. The more hospital visit you make admitting you smoke pot just helps keep it illegal. Yes there are some drugs that will and can really mess you up, but weed isn’t one of them. Also there are some of us who are diagnosed with depression, smoke pot, drink, and manage to have a pretty effective life.
How many people overdoesd on pot?
How many people are hospitalized JUST because of pot?
How many people do stupid things when high then blame it on pot. (5%)
This is why pot is illegal. biPolar and marijuana use - - Dec 8th 2008
I am helping a friend whose son is 20 and diagnosed as bipolar about 3 years ago. The son has been using marijuana (and other drugs) since about age 15. He has had about 4 episodes where he has been hospitalized, but after each episode goes back to the beer drinking, pot smoking life he has "enjoyed" since youth. My impression is that the very use of the drugs may have had some impact on the onset of bipolar and that the continued use only serves to possibly bring on the "manias" that put him in the hospital again and again. Are these two conclusions accurate? Seems to me that it would be impossible to determine if the prescribed medications are having their intended result if they are interferred with by outside medications(?). The son is in the hospital now and will be released in a couple of days. He will probably go back to his ways within 1-2 weeks and the cycle will begin again. i diont know what to believe - - Nov 13th 2008
I am trying to be a supporter of a loved one with bipolar. Pot use makes that person very relaxed. Its the after effects that frighten me. Violence was awful, but am still confused on if the pot made it better during the mania and just calmed them down to what was naturally inside or made it even worse during the depressive phase and is just an escape from having to deal with the reality that my loved one has BP. I just want it all to stop and get the help that lasts.. pot for depression? - jman - Nov 4th 2008
I use to like smoking pot, all the time,got older more relaxed with it. I hit a point in my life I was not happy,perhaps mid-life crissis. Situational depression doc says, the pot use had to stop it use to drive me to a low,so low, anietiy attacks, my first panic attack I thought I was going to die. It was after smoking pot, can't smoke pot anymore does the opposite of what it did before,my situational depression. J I'd say it differently today, but my conclusion would be the same - Mark Dombeck, Ph.D. - Nov 1st 2008
Thank you for writing on this subject, Allan. It's an important one that frequently flys "under the radar". There are a lot of people who use marijuana as a form of self-administered psychiatric drug. In reading over the advice i gave back in the year 2000 (it is now 2008) I'm rather sorry that my response was as hostile as it was. I told that question asker (and the other people reading that question) that their desire to use marijuana as a psychiatric remedy was "a load of crap". Ouch! That tone was unnecessary, and probably went part of the way to provoking some of the defensive and hostile comments that came back at my response. I hope readers who were offended by my tone will accept my apology. If I were re-writing my answer today, I'd be softer in tone. However, my conclusion would not be different. I've seen too many cases (patients and also friends) where the use of marijuana has led to exasurbations of existing mental illness, or which has preceeded first evidence of mental illness to believe that any positive benefit of the drug outweights the negatives, at least with regard to mental illness. I'm not completely anti-marijuana in a general sense. I just think that marijuana is a powerful drug, and needs to be treated like other powerful drugs that have medicinal uses; e.g., carefully, objectively, and with a lot of considered thought. It should be used when it is appropriate, as determined by prescription from a legitimate doctor, and not used when not prescribed by a doctor. I think that doctors (physician medical doctors and doctoral pharmacists) and not politicians should be the people who make these decisions, as only these doctors have the training to make careful rational decisions on this risky subject. I think that if legally prescribed by a competent physician who understands a particular person's history and case in intimate detail, marijuana (or the active ingredients therein) can at times be an appropriate part of a person's treatment. What frightens me and you, and what should frighten users of marijuana with mental illness vulnerabilities (known or unknown) but often doesn't, is the capacity for marijuana use to make mental illness conditions worse, or to release and activate such mental illness conditions in the first place. | 
RSS Feed
Readers in the Boulder, Colorado metro area (or Denver area people willing to drive) may contact Dr. Schwartz for face-to-face consultation and psychotherapy. Email him at dransphd@aol.com for details.