More evidence of cannabis-induced psychosis
Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal DrugsArticle Date: 01 Apr 2005 - 11:00 PDT
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opinions'More evidence of cannabis-induced psychosis'
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Cannabis-based medicines given in a highly-controlled clinical environment unexpectedly lead to strong psychotic effects -
Volunteers taking cannabis-based therapeutic drugs as part of a controlled trial, which had been approved by an ethics board as safe for the subjects, experienced psychotic effects just as strong as if they had smoked cannabis. These findings, highly unexpected in such a controlled environment, are published today in the peer-reviewed, Open Access journal BMC Psychiatry.
Dr Bernard Favrat and colleagues, from the Institut Universitaire de Medecine Legale in Switzerland, were conducting a clinical trial into the effects of orally administered delta-9-tetrahydrocannibol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis, when two of their male subjects experienced impaired psychomotor functions and severe anxiety typical of cannabis-induced psychosis.
When smoking cannabis, the effects of THC on psychomotor functions usually start once the concentration in the blood has reached 10ng/ml plasma. The trial should have been safe as the subjects were given low doses of THC and had much lower concentrations in their blood. However the two male subjects experienced their reactions with blood concentrations of 4.7ng/ml and 6.2 ng/ml, respectively.
Favrat and colleagues found that both subjects reported severe anxiety and impaired psychomotor functions. Other effects included transient symptoms of derealisation and depersonalisation, and paranoid delusions. They were described by one subject as worse than those experienced after smoking cannabis. One subject was given dronabinol, a synthetic THC that has been in medical use in the USA since 1985. The other subject was asked to drink a decoction of natural THC. The authors hypothesise that the effect may have been because the THC had been ingested, rather than inhaled; digesting THC may produce potent THC metabolites, which induce psychotic effects.
Research into designing THC-based medications has boomed in the last few years, due to the many therapeutic effects of THC. These drugs could be used to alleviate muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients, restore appetite in AIDS patients and alleviate pain and nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Such research has to be approved to ensure that it is treating patients ethically and safely. Dr Favrat's research had been approved, which makes the findings even more unexpected.
Favrat and colleagues' report adds to the body of evidence that cannabis might be more harmful than previously thought. In the UK, cannabis was downgraded to class C early last year, but government officials have called for a review of the decision following a series of studies revealing that cannabis dramatically increases the risk of developing mental illnesses.
After publication this article is available free of charge, according to BMC Psychiatry's Open Access policy at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/5/17
BMC Psychiatry publishes articles on all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders, as well as related molecular genetics, pathophysiology, and epidemiology.
BMC Psychiatry is published by BioMed Central (http://www.biomedcentral.com), an independent online publishing house committed to providing Open Access to peer-reviewed biological and medical research. This commitment is based on the view that immediate free access to research and the ability to freely archive and reuse published information is essential to the rapid and efficient communication of science.
BioMed Central currently publishes over 100 journals across biology and medicine. In addition to open-access original research, BioMed Central also publishes reviews, commentaries and other non-original-research contributors.
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Visitor Opinions (latest shown first)
Total 120 opinions, latest 20 shown. For all opinions, click through to the full thread.Good To Read Up
posted by ban on 29 Apr 2012 at 6:51 pmfirst off, to the person who said the government A- did studies, and B- wouldn't make something harmless illegal, pot was made illegal (in the way it is today) by J Edgar Hoover in one of the most blatant power grab trough fear ever.
That said, as a pot smoker of about 17 years I think it is my duty to inform the younger generations of anti-establishment youth that there really are negative consequences to smoking weed. I had always taken the occasional paranoid outburst, in reality some of them quite severe, as just part of the territory. I really like(d) smoking weed, and knew it played with my head, and I was fine with that.
However, lately some personal stress really hit home, and I found that i couldn't enjoy getting high. Fine then, I wont get high I thought, I've had such life events and times of not smoking weed before. But this time Not smoking isn't really helping much. I haven't smoked at all for nearly a week, and i can't tell where my paranoia ends and my problems begin. And remember, this is after more than half a lifetime of smoking high grade dope and riding out the unpleasantness just fine.
I think the people who say "if you have a clear conscience" or whatever you wont get paranoid might be right, but you know what? Humans make mistakes... if you have a clear conscience you are a sociopath. The result is that pot really can screw you up pretty badly, even when you think you know what you are doing.
I'm not saying don't smoke it. Like I said, i love(d) the stuff. But I came to read this page today because i am feeling messed up when im not high. something to consider.
and to briefly touch on my first point, it Should be legal. If it were we could have frank and honest discussions about its negative side effects. when i was young i didn't believe any of the negative stuff because i wasn't an idiot and it was so abundantly clear that the government/police use negative propaganda to control all the small minded people like the poster who thinks the government just wants whats good for you. if someone i could trust had told me what i know today, i might have lead my life differently.
i got into one of these with weed
posted by anonymous on 15 Mar 2012 at 1:48 pmi smoked weed and the effects were instant on me and i tried to commit suicide after multiple times. but it wasnt just thc there were other variables involved thatre hard to explain that if werent there wouldnt have resulted in any problems. which is why its probably safe for the average person to smoke it.
I Know What You Mean!
posted by Robert on 5 Jan 2012 at 8:51 pmFor me, my high's are either great, or horrible. I either think about all of the details about people and the things around me and then I usually have the conscious decision to think good about them, or bad. Most of the time I'll have feelings of fear come up, but then I realize that it's all choice in whether, or not I want to give attention or energy to these thoughts and once I realize this I continue to think positive. When I am high, I nit-pick at everything and I am very analytical about everything, it can either lead to negative thoughts or just general fear, but I know deep down that I have the choice. I need people around me, and I need to be social in order to have a great time. For now, I am going to take a long break.
Worst High Ever
posted by ethan on 1 Jan 2012 at 1:58 pmI'm 17 years old and I've smoked off and on since I was 15 usually only on special occasions and such. Since the first time I ever smoked I was really paranoid and felt like I got way to high. Sometimes I would be afraid that I was going to get sick after smoking like throwing up but i don't know why. Some highs were worst than others and I don't think I've ever felt completely fine while being high, there is always something in my brain that messes with me like paranoria, feeling like my chest is on fire, sick to my stomach, panicky feelings, claustraphobia, and all sorts of stuff. Last night was new years eve and I decided I wanted to smoke with my girlfriend for the first time and a couple of friends. Earlier that day when I woke up I felt nautious and almost threw up. I'm a very very anxious worrisome person and it makes me sick all the time. Anyways I was pissed off but my nausea ended up going away after a while until it was completely gone. Me and my girlfriend and friends Hung out for a while and everything seemed perfectly fine. Then we decided to smoke a joint and I only took two hits. Bad idea. Soon afterwards I was feeling very panicky claustraphobic, anxious, and I was just thinking very negatively about everything bad that could happen and stuff. Then I started feeling very nautious and claustraphobic so I decided to go on a walk with my girlfriend. Immediately after going outside I was on the verge of puking. I gagged a couple of times but held it off. For the next couple of hours I was miserable with all of my bad symptoms occuring at once while feeling anxious and nauseated it sucked. I just wanted to be left alone and go to sleep. Then finallly I actually Puked and there wasn't really anything because I hadn't eaten since the night before. After that I took everyone home and was only hanging out anthem one of my friends that stayed the night. We both passed out quick and now today feels very weird. I still feel anxious and panicky and stuff. I haven't aten in almost two days and I'm not hungry. I just don't know what to do and why I'm this way. I've decided as well that I'm done smoking for a looong time and never again with my girlfriend.
Newbie Smoker
posted by Newbie on 23 Nov 2011 at 4:26 pmI'm 14 years old and I just smoked pot for the first time last night with a good friend of 2 years. I do believe in God by recently decided I'm sick of following rules. Anyway, my first hit, I breathed it in really long and hard and burnt my throat and lungs. I took 2 or 3 more smaller hits. I was feeling really scared so I just watched my friend for a while. He started laughing at me and calling me a "bunny." Lol. Then, I felt really weird all of a sudden, affected vision, like I was in a dream and a lot of paranoia due to his parents being right inside. We decided to jump back in the basement window. I sat down then started laughing uncontrollably and could almost see myself from the inside out. Then, it took over my whole upper body. I don't remember anything after this except that my sense of time was flexuating a lot and I was really paranoid of his parents catching us. Then, I "woke up" from the "dream." I felt really funny but I could almost pull myself together if I needed to. I also remember getting really angry when my high started to ware off. I have one question, why was I able to get high my first time? Thanks.
Same experience - help. Cannabis induced psychosis
posted by Angela on 23 Nov 2011 at 10:58 amI feel the same way ...3 days ago and i still am light-headed.Reality is not the way it used to be.
PLEASE write to me , and tell me what to do
Evil Thoughts
posted by lolos on 10 Apr 2011 at 1:17 pmI smoke wees about 1 year ... first it was pretty hardcore.. my mum find out because i came home totaly high i promised to never try again but as you can see i did not stop. :D lest 3 months while smoking i have very evil feelings i am totaly hypochondric about everything i think my friends are evil and every action they did they did aginst my person also once i almost died thinking about ..omg what if i once become a gay? can something like that happen to me? even if i am straight?:D crazy i know... but it happend weed is a good stuff but it doeesnt bring good thoughts everytime.
Thoughts That Bring It On
posted by Devin on 5 Mar 2011 at 11:20 pmIm just so glad that other people feel like this too, I thought I was the only one, but anyways as of late I've been getting really paranoid trips during sessions, and it lasts the entire day and even when I wake up I still feel groggy/not really there. Weed stifles my personality when im high, and during the high I always get very weird trips like my nzose being very runny when its dry as a bone, and that I have a small dick when I know for a fact mine is actually a little bit bigger than most... like very weird trips. I was blazing it with a friend and we were watching a movie and I thought I wet myself and I checked in his bathroom and I was dry but my mind would keep playing tricks on me and I would" feel" it. My face muscles were either relaxed or tensed so bad. I even told my friend to talk me out of it when we were sober and he did his best but it never worked. When I turned my back I thought they were laughing about me. Two of my very good friends which are like bros to me. I can't talk myself out of these trips either. I can't really maintain a conversation with them when im high, which is odd because I can with no problem when im sober.
Cannabis Psychosis and Schizophrenia
posted by Steven Bell on 16 Feb 2011 at 2:46 pmThis is my personal story after being a cannabis user for around 6 years.
At first, usage was purely social and then it was all the time. The initial feelings of relaxation and hunger decreased as dosage increased, these feelings were replaced by paranoia, lack of energy, weight loss and social withdrawal.
During the last few months of chronic usage, intoxication was rarely felt and the psychological effects were magnified to a point where life was unbearable. Psychosis was becoming obvious, auditory and visual hallucinations, severe sleep disturbances, muscle spasms, panic attacks, phengophobia, arrhythmia, complete social withdrawal and the inability to function in a logical way.
After an episode of intracranial pressure and seizure I knew death was imminent and the use of cannabis was immediately and permanently discontinued.
2 years later, I feel well and can function normally without any of the previous symptoms being present. In retrospect, maybe the symptoms of my chronic usage were closely linked to the fact that the strength of the female variety of cannabis known as "skunk" is purposely much stronger than when compared to the 1970's hippie culture where cannabis was considered a peaceful and harmless drug. IT IS NOT HARMLESS.
Really!! there are harmful side-effects caused by marijuana
posted by Nasouh Ascha on 28 Jan 2011 at 2:48 pmGuys marijuana is illegal for a reason, your government isn't gonna make something illegal just for the sake of it, they've tested it and found out that there are harmful side-effects caused by marijuana. THC in marijuana doesn't only cause paranoia and anxiety attacks, apparently marijuana increase your heart rate by 50%, is a bigger cause of lung cancer than tobacco(not saying tobacco is better), not including the fact that theres no filter, and apparently marijuana depresses your immune systems. Is that enough for you :)
I Thought I Was Going Crazy
posted by Amanda on 28 Jan 2011 at 1:54 pmso i smoke everyday. either bowls or joints, 9 times out of 10 just bowls and never had any problems, i remember in the past getting like that maybe once or twice but last night was the most terrifying experience of my life. i was with my boyfriend and roommate/friend Steve and we all live together and have smoked together a million times so obviously i felt comfortable, nothing out of the ordinary, but then they pulled out the bong. i knew right off the bat it was a bad idea, i was just really nervous for some reason but i took one hit. i figured i smoke 2-3 bowls a day, i'll be fine. wrong! i took a HUGE bong hit and it hit me instantly. i knew right away it was going to be a bad high. i tried to do anything i could to get my mind off of being high and try to preoccupy myself so i thought to myself, let me hang clothes.. that didnt last, i then decided, let me go in the shower, maybe it will help. it actually made it worse. i kept feelings like i was blacking out in the shower and kept forgetting where i was or what i was doing and my leg were shaking, i decided it was obviously not smart to be in the shower and got out and called my bf in and started crying hysterically and explaining that something wasnt right and i didnt think it was weed. i went through every emotion last night and i couldnt help but shake. i kept drifting in and out of reality and nothing seemed real.. my heart was pounding so fast and it felt like my pulse was going crazy. i lost almost all of my hearing and my vision got blurry. i felt like i was having a seizure and it felt like my throat was closing up. i kept telling my boyfriend that i ddint understand what was going on and i thought i was going to die. i kept yelling to call an ambulance and to take me to the hospital. i really thought that i was never going to wake up again. i couldnt control my body, i couldnt control my thoughts. everytime i tried to think of something positive it turned into the most negative thought. it was so crazy the things that were racing through my head. all of the muscles in my body got so tense and today i feel SO exhausted and every muscle in my body aches. i still dont feel normal and i am nervous to smoke again because im afraid im going to think of what happened and it will happen again. i dont know why this happened, maybe it wasjust was too much. either way, it was the most terrifying thing i have ever been through and i honestly wouldnt even wish it on my worst enemy.
Social Pressures Trigure Learned Instincts
posted by Anonoumys on 18 Jan 2011 at 3:25 pmHaving smoked marijuana for some time now I have recently begun to get into bouts of extreme paranoia and near anxiety attacks. These do not, however, coincide with any adverse physical changes. I believe it is mainly due to an inane fear of the taboo the society around me places on my habit and my extreme terror at the idea of being found out. This is because of past experiences of such actually happening, and my incredible desire to avoid future instances as a survival mechanism.
It is thus my conclusion that the extreme paranoia is a side effect of the drug being illegal, and if it were legal and socially acceptable the mind would have little reason to treat it as it currently does.
Paranoia
posted by Jamie on 4 Dec 2010 at 3:31 pmYou are saying paranoia is only because it is illegal. Everytime I get paranoid, it is not about getting caught or anything like that. It is extreme paranoia almost to the point of being schizophrenic. I feel like I have been poisoned with something stronger, I feel claustrophobic, I have outrageous fears of things that won't ever happen like the house blowing up, I feel like everyone is in on some evil plot against me, and I feel like I need to be taken to the hospital or placed in a psych ward. Weed just doesn't work for some people.
I Agree about weed
posted by crazy892 on 11 Oct 2010 at 3:34 pmI used to smoke weed when i was younger a lot and then slowed down because i had met better friends and had more things to do with my life. so i barly smoked weed. but then when i would go a long time without it and then smoke it. i hated the experiance, i felt weird and left out and it like i get bad high's and no i do not plan on doing it again.. im glad someone knows how i feel :)
Out Of Your Mind
posted by nick on 6 Oct 2010 at 9:19 amYou're gonna keep smoking and your anxiety will get worse cause you mentioned paranoia. You'll probably end up stopping.
Feel Ya
posted by nick on 6 Oct 2010 at 9:15 amYou're absolutely right and I hate when people say it makes you that way cause it's illegal. Not true at all it's because you get stoned and you can't be the person you want to be cause your too paranoid zoned out and antisocial. Smoked it for 8 years and I know
Always Uncomfortable
posted by Baked n paranoid on 29 Sep 2010 at 12:48 pmI'm 15 and I've been smoking for about 3 years. Last spring break I had a big party at my place while my parents were gone for 10 days. I invited people I knew but I realized people kept inviting one another and my house became filled with over 60 people which half of I didn't even know. That night we smoked alot of green from gas masks bongs joints etc. We also had grey goose vodka and such. I myself got really crunk and started to feel uncomfortable around everybody even my closest buddies. Stuff was getting broken, jacked, food everywhere, it was a mess. I'd realize what was happening but my mind was too ducked to do anything. The next morning I had a few closest friend come over and help clean ad we took a few bowls from a little left over weed. It's been about 9 monthes since that happened and now everytime I get high I feel so pranoud in public and pprivate. I can't act normal like (no knowing where to look with my eyes when people are around.) and feeling like people were looking at me and talkin about me on the bus and other places . earlier before the party I still did have occasional paranoia but not this extreme. To this day on I still blaze but try mostly to smoke indoors and have ppl come over instead of us going out. I feel like I can't act normal around my friends and am very speechless when I'm high. And now it's affected my brain so een when I'm sober , my eyes don't know where to look when people are around. Yes I do get this feeling alot and I agree with the statement above . I try to smoke just one bowl to not get baked but just a little over a buzz. Anyone get this feeling or know how this can be cured
Yes - smoking and paranoid attacks
posted by flawless on 18 Sep 2010 at 4:02 pmi have felt the exact same way...only problem is i would love 2 continue smoking because i like the way it would make me feel b4 i started feeling that way...i wish somebody could help me with my problem and make it so that i dont feel paranoid n have these anxiety attacks no more
I Know Waht U Mean
posted by sky on 18 Sep 2010 at 3:34 amjust so u know ur not the only one whos had wierd experiences ike that.one day about three years ago i had a spiritual awakening while high.it was to this day the strangest thing ive ever felt.i was smoking with this guy in los angeles and his stuff must have been really good because god led me in a pattern to see his everlasting love.i started off playing basketball and my friend was rebounding for me well i thought believed at the time he was a angel sent by god. i know it sounds crazy and maybe it was but it was the most intense feeling i my life.all i can say is i felt scared and completely ovewhelmed.now just so u know im a completely normal and sane individual who can have a coherent conversation.and to this day i believe god was speaking to me.and to this day i can say god is the utter expression of lovewell anyways he started telling me that i was in a word 'nothing' compared to him.it was pretty depressing. the feeling i had was a mixture ofe depresion fear and a startlingly whole feeling of awe.i ended the whole thing speaking in tongues thats how high i was lol.it was crazy to this day ive never smoked alot bc im afraid god will apear before me again.u know im afraid of the mind bending breaking he does to my soul.ne way hope this story opens ur eyes
Pick Your Poison
posted by Young black and married on 23 Aug 2010 at 2:14 amI first smoked weed at age 13, it did not affect me very much at all. Besides the continuous burn in my throat, there wasn't much to remember about it. At age 14, that was the first time I got high. That was truly an event to remember. In reality, it was probably the same story as most smokers... laughter, carelessness, worry-free, hungry and wow I can't wait to do it again.
Besides the pleasure aspect of it, what I really drew from that experience was a sense of responsibility. I encountered an approach to life and thoughts that I hadn't matured to yet. I gave up just thinking about things and making a decision. I began to think deeply and try to project the way a situation would play out and what the outcome could be before ever making a decision. I learned how to cover my tracks and not get caught (I'm really not a bad person, but we've all have done something that questions our integrity).
I'm not saying weed does this to me. I'm saying after my first experience high, I developed a new way of thinking that resulted in success in the long run. I don't view intoxication as a requirement. I don't feel that I have to use it to be motivated. I view see it as relief or therapy. Many people choose alcohol or other drug, some choose reading, while others pay for massages, I choose cannabis. No matter which one you choose, that is YOUR choice to just get away and relax for a while. Pick your poison.
By the way, I don't currently smoke. I'm trying to find a new job and many companies do hair tests nowadays. When I get hired, well that may change. The government claims that weed ruins lives and kills and everything but a positive thing for you. If that is true explain how I earned a full-athletic scholarship (I had a 3.1 GPA too), played in the Big 12 and started (smoking since age 13????), earned a degree (this is can't be true), and have never failed a drug test: urine, blood or hair (HOW??).
Marijuana is not addictive though it can be habitual. Eating fried chicken can be habitual, but it's a matter of self control. I haven't smoked 5 months after going 10 years being an on and off regular. What I mean by that is, if i could responsibly smoke everyday of my life I probably would never drink alcohol again. Due to the fact that it is still outlawed, there are things far more important and I don't cultivate it I take as much time away from it as needed to make sure that my record stays clean, I don't go to far in debt and my family has everything they need.
My recommendation for those that haven't tried it yet, try it... with me. For those that didn't like it while you were just hanging out doing nothing, try it again then get involved in an activity. Play video games, listen to feel good music with rattling bass, go bowling, go out to eat, check out the iMax theater. For those that tried it again and still didn't like it, leave it for the rest of us and don't do any other drugs because they only get worse. Peace and thank you for your time.
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