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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ChansonDeSoir on October 25, 2003, at 22:20:43
Greetings. This is my first post, so I hope that you will bear with me.
A little history. I am a 40-something woman, diagnosed with fibromyalgia, with the accompanying sleep irregularities, including sleep apnea, as well as occasional (weekly or so) anxiety problems. Most of the time, the pain from the fibro is manageable, although I frequently move like I'm 80. On bad days, when the fibro flares, I'm in a lot of pain. My internist has always been very resistant to prescribing any type of pain medication, except for Trazodone 50 mg for sleep. When pressured, he decided that I needed an anti-depressant. I started on Effexor, and even at a very low dose, I experienced anorgasmia that had me thinking of suicide, without any of the pain tolerance I was supposed to gain from the drug. When I complained to my doctor, he put me on Wellbutrin XL 300 mg. I'm adapting very well to the Wellbutrin, and I certainly have noticed that I am more jovial and emotionally resilient, although it has not contributed to any pain relief at all. (I believe that the AD's effect on norepinephrine is supposed to mediate the abnormal pain response of the fibromyalgia.)
Recently, a friend suggested I try a hit or two of marijuana to take the edge off of the muscle pain of the fibro. It worked better than anything else I've tried, without any of the lingering sedating effects of other pain meds. My question is, can I combine the Wellbutrin and small amounts of pot, without ill-effect on my mood?
Thanks,
Chanson
Posted by DharmaMama on October 25, 2003, at 23:32:33
In reply to Wellbutrin and Marijuana for Pain, posted by ChansonDeSoir on October 25, 2003, at 22:20:43
I am not a doctor, however, I support marijauna for medicinal purposes! I do smoke for my anxiety and stress! Go to www.cannabisconsumers.org. I do not lay up on my couch and get stoned out of my mind. I take a couple of hits in the morning (before my job)and in the evening (before bed). If you are worried about carcinogens, you can buy a vaporizer at your local headshop. This heats the marijuana up enough to release the THC (Dr. Bob may want to re-direct this to alternative) without actually burning the plant. You can read more about it by doing a search in your favorite browser by typing in "vaporizer" + "marijuana". Should bring up some information. Good luck and I hope you find much needed relief,
Posted by Questionmark on October 30, 2003, at 4:22:30
In reply to Wellbutrin and Marijuana for Pain, posted by ChansonDeSoir on October 25, 2003, at 22:20:43
Hi. You can certainly combine Wellbutrin and Marijuana without any ill effects, as long as you don't have too much at a time (which could possibly make you uncomfortably anxious). Some people do get more depressed when they use cannabis, depending on how much and how often they use. But if you're getting that much benefit for your pain, i imagine that, if anything, you'll be feeling less depressed. Just try to keep the amount you use limited to a reasonable level (not a great deal more than it takes to relieve your pain), and you should be fine on all counts, and there would be no significant risk combining with Wellbutrin.
Congratulations on your find & your relief.> Greetings. This is my first post, so I hope that you will bear with me.
>
> A little history. I am a 40-something woman, diagnosed with fibromyalgia, with the accompanying sleep irregularities, including sleep apnea, as well as occasional (weekly or so) anxiety problems. Most of the time, the pain from the fibro is manageable, although I frequently move like I'm 80. On bad days, when the fibro flares, I'm in a lot of pain. My internist has always been very resistant to prescribing any type of pain medication, except for Trazodone 50 mg for sleep. When pressured, he decided that I needed an anti-depressant. I started on Effexor, and even at a very low dose, I experienced anorgasmia that had me thinking of suicide, without any of the pain tolerance I was supposed to gain from the drug. When I complained to my doctor, he put me on Wellbutrin XL 300 mg. I'm adapting very well to the Wellbutrin, and I certainly have noticed that I am more jovial and emotionally resilient, although it has not contributed to any pain relief at all. (I believe that the AD's effect on norepinephrine is supposed to mediate the abnormal pain response of the fibromyalgia.)
>
> Recently, a friend suggested I try a hit or two of marijuana to take the edge off of the muscle pain of the fibro. It worked better than anything else I've tried, without any of the lingering sedating effects of other pain meds. My question is, can I combine the Wellbutrin and small amounts of pot, without ill-effect on my mood?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chanson
Posted by ChansonDeSoir on November 1, 2003, at 11:12:50
In reply to Re: Well. and Mj... » ChansonDeSoir, posted by Questionmark on October 30, 2003, at 4:22:30
Thanks so much for your replies. Now comes the experimentation.
I *have* been having some anxiety this week, after a few hits of cannabis, and (this was a poorly constructed experiment, I'm afraid!) a single drink of bourbon, last Friday night. The anxiety came roaring like a freight train on Saturday, and really didn't let up until this Friday afternoon. I was managing it with tiny doses of Ativan during the day, but I was beginning to wonder if I needed a higher dose of Wellbutrin, or if it was time to try another AD.
I guess my questions are, 1) how do I tell how much cannabis is too much, and 2) should I not drink alcohol while on the Wellbutrin?
Thanks again, and Dr. Bob, if this is in the wrong forum, I'll be happy to move it to the right one. I'm such a newbie.
Chanson
Posted by Questionmark on November 1, 2003, at 14:17:16
In reply to Re: Well. and Mj..., posted by ChansonDeSoir on November 1, 2003, at 11:12:50
1) You will know how much cannabis is too much when you feel it. :?) Just take it slow when you're smoking it (maybe waiting a couple minutes or so after each hit) so that you can accurately gauge how you're feeling. Eventually you'll get more and more acquainted with judging where that level is without even having to take it too slow.
2) i drank while on Wellbutrin. If you're susceptible to seizures or are on a pretty high dose it's better not to drink, since as the alcohol wears off there's a rebound neural excitation (which could aggravate anxiety and potentially cause seizures with the Wellb.).> Thanks so much for your replies. Now comes the experimentation.
>
> I *have* been having some anxiety this week, after a few hits of cannabis, and (this was a poorly constructed experiment, I'm afraid!) a single drink of bourbon, last Friday night. The anxiety came roaring like a freight train on Saturday, and really didn't let up until this Friday afternoon. I was managing it with tiny doses of Ativan during the day, but I was beginning to wonder if I needed a higher dose of Wellbutrin, or if it was time to try another AD.
>
> I guess my questions are, 1) how do I tell how much cannabis is too much, and 2) should I not drink alcohol while on the Wellbutrin?
>
> Thanks again, and Dr. Bob, if this is in the wrong forum, I'll be happy to move it to the right one. I'm such a newbie.
>
> Chanson
This is the end of the thread.
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