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ksos · 11-26-2003, 05:36 AM

I went to a seminar yesterday and an esteemed psychopharmacologist was discussing the identification of Lithium toxicity in Manic Depressive patients, but then she slipped in the statement that the worst street drug that any person with Bi-Polar Disorder could take is Marijuana. I bring this up since that was the drug I last used when I relapsed in February of 2003. I last used it on June 2nd, 2003. Also, I have Bi-Polar Disorder.

Although I've worked in the mental health and substance abuse field since the late 1980s, I never knew that the use of marijuana was so profound to those of us who suffer from Bi-Polar Disorder. In fact, I would have said Crack/Cocaine, Alcohol, even Opiates would have been the worst, but the MD said marijuana.

I spoke with her after the presentation and asked her why was this the case. She said that there were anticholigernic properties associated with marijuana use which activates mania, but couldn't cite any literature or references on this, other than her 15 years experience in the field.

When I relapsed, I acted out on the internet with porn, started spending money excessively, made innumerable phone calls to women and now, in retrospect, I think I was manic. Now I'm separated from my wife due to my behavior. I never would have thought that my using and my psychiatric condition would have resulted in such damage. So, I just wanted to post this so that others may think twice about smoking a "harmless joint" if they are, in fact, Bi-Polar.

Bless You All

11-26-2003, 05:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
ksos Waiting For Engines Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: brooklyn, new york Posts: 545	FYI: Bi-Polar and Marijuana I went to a seminar yesterday and an esteemed psychopharmacologist was discussing the identification of Lithium toxicity in Manic Depressive patients, but then she slipped in the statement that the worst street drug that any person with Bi-Polar Disorder could take is Marijuana. I bring this up since that was the drug I last used when I relapsed in February of 2003. I last used it on June 2nd, 2003. Also, I have Bi-Polar Disorder. Although I've worked in the mental health and substance abuse field since the late 1980s, I never knew that the use of marijuana was so profound to those of us who suffer from Bi-Polar Disorder. In fact, I would have said Crack/Cocaine, Alcohol, even Opiates would have been the worst, but the MD said marijuana. I spoke with her after the presentation and asked her why was this the case. She said that there were anticholigernic properties associated with marijuana use which activates mania, but couldn't cite any literature or references on this, other than her 15 years experience in the field. When I relapsed, I acted out on the internet with porn, started spending money excessively, made innumerable phone calls to women and now, in retrospect, I think I was manic. Now I'm separated from my wife due to my behavior. I never would have thought that my using and my psychiatric condition would have resulted in such damage. So, I just wanted to post this so that others may think twice about smoking a "harmless joint" if they are, in fact, Bi-Polar. Bless You All __________________ Ksos "If Enough people Call You A Duck, You Better Start Quacking."