I have just been prescribed Straterra for my ADD. I really hope this will be the one that works. Adderall was the most amazing thing to happen to me until the good effects eventually went away and was replaced with anxiety and depression all throught the day. Adderall made me consious of my heart 24 hours a day and i was in fear of having panic attacks which I had never even come close to having in my past. Well Im starting Straterra tommorow morning and I am a daily marijuana smoker mostly nightime before bed. I often have trouble falling asleep and smoking always hits the spot. I wouldnt consider myself a pothead because I dont really enjoy the experience during the day with friends. It makes me paranoid and feel ackward socially, as well as give me anxiety. These are things I notice most of my friends do not experience at all and was wondering if Straterra would effect the marijuana high. If marijuana will interact with the medication I have no problem quitting the drug but it has been in my life for several years now and I am just curious about its effects with Straterra.

Welcome to the forums Xboot...I haven't heard that question been asked yet here....and the first and last time I had any marijuana was -- well you probably weren't born yet:)

I cannot imagine the interaction could be terribly beneficial....what does your doctor think?

I dont know about strata but it sure works well with dexedrine

I wont say it had any benifits as to helping my ADD and clearing my thinking process

But It certanly didnt hurt on the dreaming aspect of it

Seriously though I have been a user since I was 13 (now 49)
haventt used it much at all in last year and a half since I started medication for ADD. (Dexadrine)

I used it as a self medication all my life with out knowing I was medicating myself for anything

I would have to say with a reasonable degree of knowalge that
It would probally be like a negative and a positive

The good of the starta will be cancelled by the effect of the pot

so if you really want to help yourself and try to get a handle on the ADD (My Oppinion) would be that the pot has to go

That is my oppinion for what it is worth

Pot has a low risk of interaction with other medications, however, it does have the potential to increase your anxiety level, which is probably already elevated by your meds and now by the thought of mixing meds with pot. Choose one or the other if for no other reason than to be able to judge if your meds are helping (no complicating factors involved).

I would have to agree with Why. Though I am not advocating nor judging anyone regarding the use of pot, the fact remains that Strattera is a new medication, with side effects that vary from cotton mouth to significant drug-drug interaction with blood pressure meds. So my recommendation would be to stick with the Strattera, without the pot, for at least 2-3 weeks. Once you've determined the benefits/effects that it has on you, then you can experiment (if you choose) with mixing Strattera & pot.

Originally posted by xbootubex
I have just been prescribed Straterra for my ADD. I really hope this will be the one that works.


[Pot] It makes me paranoid and feel ackward socially, as well as give me anxiety.


These are things I notice most of my friends do not experience at all...



Objectively, from your own mouth it sounds like your own appreciation of the effect of Pot is:

1) not good for you (causes anxiety)

2) different from others, so your technical request to compare with others experience might not knitt any more tightly than the lack of similarity of pot's impact on you compared to your friends.

Aside from other concerns, ANY drug can have rebound effects that make it hard to stop. Many prescription "tranquilizers" make the people who take them excessively un-tranquil whenthey try to STOP. Librium, valium, etc. have had this reputation.

Since pot is illegal, good information about the RATE of Occurance of similar experiences is hard to trust. But we might be able to assume that for some people, rather than just making them mellow, pot could also make them quite un-mellow as well.

the suggestion has already been made that you pick a drug and use it alone so you can tell its impact from any others.

My experience with adults who self medicate is that try as they might, there is categoricall no way for them to be objective. Those who continue to use report problems but do not take the actions they would propose for othes similarly faced. Those who pick abstenance are haunted about taking any drugs, and are severely bothered by any others who have also chosen to abstain when they are critical of any drug use for any reason. Such people care, but do not have an internal arrow of direction objective and independent from their personal experience of the drug state.

Al that is to say, you will end up takin both at once, or only taking one or the ohter, but the confidence you seek about which is really "right" will, within my experience, be impermanent and ellusively haunting.

You've already indicated your experience differes greatly form others, so i would suggest you not seek to compare your experienc eof drug combinations with others experience as a primary guide.

You've already indicated that pot use cause you, as you assess it, a problem or two you don't like enough to stop another drug that did that to you, so I'd suggest you consider stopping the pot that also causes it as well.

But that would only be you following your own advice as you laid it out in your original post.

i really haven't made any suggestions you didn't already state point blank in your own post.

Good luck and welcome to the area.

PS.

Though some here might have found "one thing that works" i think most of us have more modest hopes for things we do, plan, swallow... i think that most of us do not expect a magic bullet that will cure all our ADHD and related problems. But for this, check the wisdom of other posters.

Go in peace.

If adderall gave you problem you can always try the two major constiutents alone... dexadrine and methyl phenidate. One at a time you might find what is hlpful and what is distrubing.

wow, its only been one day and several people have replied already to my post. Well I took Straterra today 25 mg for the first time and i felt pretty uncomfortable through the first half of the day. I felt alot calmer but very dysphoric during school, i wasnt figgeting like usual and didnt talk at all in class, very much not like me. Its only the first day and im still optomistic that this will work. As far as pot I just want to clear up some things. I do not like to smoke pot during the day because of how self-consious and paranoid it makes me. The thing i am concerned about is giving up smoking at night before bed. When nighttime rolls around each night I crave pot. Its such a habit for me to smoke at night that if i dont I get very irritated and generally have a hard time going to sleep. The reason I asked if there were any known interactions was because I have had bad interactions in the past with other meds. The entire pot experience has changed forever for me ever since adderall. Before adderall I was generally in a stable state of mind but with notible signs of ADD for several years. My school work and grades was really the only problem in my life. As soon as i was started on adderall there was a huge improvement in grades and attitude. Eventually the rapid heart beat that the adderall produced turned into daily anxiety. This was the first time I had ever experienced anxiety in my life and it became debilitating after awhile to the point where I would have panic attacks until my arms went numb and couldnt goto school. I could also feel my heartbeat at any time during the day just by sitting there. This anxiety eventually got worse and worse and my parents didnt understand it. I was constantly repremanded and felt like it was my fault, this turned into depression and I was prescribed Wellbutrin. This didnt help at all as i still got panic attacks and had to leave school and take homeschooling. Eventaully after I was off the adderall my heart still raced throughout the day but it took about 2 weeks of being off aderall for it to go back to normal. My depression went away after being on wellbutrin for several months and then stopping it on my own because i did not like how it made me feel and I knew i was not depressed anymore and it was definatly caused by adderall. Smoking pot while on adderall made my heart pound over 200 bpm and skip several times a minute. After a whole 7 months on adderall I lost about 40 lbs which was mabye the only good thing that came out of it. From 160 to to 120 lbs I used to be chubby but now im very slim and have kept it off ever since. Along with adderall pot also was unpleasent with remeron, paxil, wellbutrin, etc. Now im back at square one and Im starting the Straterra, I dont know why i wrote all this but tonite Im gonna hit the bong and see what happens, ill keep posted.

I cannot imagine the interaction could be terribly beneficial....what does your doctor think?

My doctor thinks pot counteracts everything and anything, no exceptions. Most of the information that is taught about marijuana is not true at all and based on unconclusive research. Im not defending it, what do i know I could be wrong, but I dont like his know it all attitude when he doesnt know anything. Even with medications that he has prescribed me I find myself knowing more than him about them because I actually research them. I have heard of people being prescribed Wellbutrin and having serious reactions where they are sent to the hospital and then when they go back to the doctor he prescribes them Zyban, the same dam thing. So doctors I dont trust 100%, I trust what i read on online forums and reading as much as i can about something and then using my judgement. Before starting any medications I would smoke occasionally during school and find myself in class as high as can be actually sitting still doing my work and being totally absorbed in the lesson. I have tried ritalin adderall and concerta for add and they all have bad comedowns. Total bliss and euphoria with unimaginable ability concentration and motivation to do almost anything is great, but its not worth coming home and not having enough energy to stay up but not sleepy enough to goto sleep, no patience to hear a word from anybody and total dyphoria for the rest of the night until 3 am in the morning. SUCKS. dam i did alot of writing today im gonna go eat, Thanks for welcoming me to the forum I like how everyone helps eachother here. :-)

I'm not going to pull any punches:

You recite the life of a person addicted, psychologically and perhaps physiologically to pot. You need to get clean and sober or your daily rebound will eat you up. That is the last i'll say about that.

it's your responsiblity to not make excuses that don't excuse, and do what it takes to take care of your REAL interests.

I trust you'll do it as soon as your are ready, and not an instant earlier. If all you needed was straight talk, you've had it, and i have served my obligation to bring it to your attention once.

Second, I worked on a literature research project that covered the available research on MJ and delta-9 THC over 200 years. The available information up to 1979 was primitive and almost useless.

There are many substances in MJ that are psychoactive, not just one, and many of them metabolize into other psychoactive drugs.

If you don't keep the weed in a refrigerator immediately after harvest and until consumption, the degradation of some of the most "important" components is all most complete within 36 hours, even at room temperature. (this is based on studies done with chromatigraphs.)

That being the case, and the weed usuallly spending considerable time in very hot modes of transportation for hours or days, its a wonder there is any effect left at all that is not "learned." With dozens of competeing effects it is a wonder that there is any agreement on the subjective effect of MJ at all.

That you report a requirement to hit the bong should tell you somehing about the nature of your relationship to it, master and slave. Whom is the master and whom the slave?

A word to the wise is sufficent.

That being said, keep coming back. You're among people of many experiences and differing opinions. Take what you like and leave the rest.

David, it appears you've made some assumptions about cannabis that I would disagree with. Instead of starting some silly back n forth, I would merely like to post some information to serve as a "seccond opinion" on the issue.

Please keep in mind that I am posting only the information that I, myself find credible - whether anyone else finds this info credible is up to them. I am not preaching, nor am I seeking to win a debate - only to round out the discussion.

A link to a House of Lords (British parliament) report on cannabis produced in the late 90s: http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199798/ldselect/ldsctech/151/15101.htm . Some excerpts from the reccommendations at the end of the report:

Recreational use

8.18 It is believed in some quarters that the current absolute prohibition on the recreational use of cannabis and its derivatives is not justified by the adverse consequences for the user and the public. On the evidence before us, we disagree. On the contrary, we endorse the Government's statement in Tackling Drugs: "The more evidence becomes available about the risks of...cannabis,...the more discredited the notion that [it is] harmless" (paragraph 6.16).

8.19 The harms must not be overstated: cannabis is neither poisonous (paragraph 4.3), nor highly addictive, and we do not believe that it can cause schizophrenia in a previously well user with no predisposition to develop the disease. However, we are satisfied that:

— It is intoxicating, enough to impair the ability to carry out safety-critical tasks (such as flying, driving or operating machinery) for several hours after taking (paragraphs 4.6-9);

— It can have adverse psychic effects ranging from temporary distress, through transient psychosis, to the exacerbation of pre-existing mental illness (paragraphs 4.10-12);

— Regular use can lead to psychological dependence (paragraphs 4.23-33); and, in some dependent individuals (perhaps 5-10 per cent of regular users), regular heavy use can produce a state of near continuous intoxication, making normal life impossible;

— Withdrawal may occasionally involve unpleasant symptoms (paragraphs 4.23-25);

— Cannabis impairs cognitive function during use (paragraph 4.6);

— It increases the heart rate and lowers the blood pressure, carrying risks to people with cardiovascular conditions, especially first-time users who have not developed tolerance to this effect (paragraph 4.4).

8.20 Moreover, it is possible, though not proved, that the effects of cannabis on driving etc. may last longer than a few hours after taking (paragraph 4.7); that the damage to cognitive function may endure after withdrawal (paragraph 4.13); and that cannabis has adverse effects on the immune system (paragraph 5.16) and on fertility and reproduction (paragraphs 4.15-16).

8.21 In addition, smoking cannabis carries similar risks of respiratory disorders to smoking tobacco. It is also possible, though not proved, that exposure to cannabis smoke increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and lung (paragraphs 4.17-18).

8.22 Therefore, on the basis of the scientific evidence which we have collected, we recommend that cannabis and its derivatives should continue to be controlled drugs.


[list] A link to a Canadian Senate Special Committee Report on Illegal Drugs: http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/Committee_SenRep.asp?Language=E&Parl=37&Ses=1&comm_id=85 . Some excerpts from the summary:

Conclusions of Chapter 7

Acute effects of cannabis :

Ø The immediate effects of cannabis are characterized by feelings of euphoria, relaxation and sociability; they are accompanied by impairment of short-term memory, concentration and some psychomotor skills.

Distinctions between uses :

Ø For purposes of public policy, the Committee does not feel that the traditional distinctions between acute and chronic effects are useful.

Ø Similarly, the Committee does not feel the dichotomy of use and dependence is useful.

Ø The research data does not allow for a clear distinction between use, at-risk use and heavy use.

Ø The amount consumed is an indicator, but other factors, psychosocial factors and factors relating to the context of use and the quality of the substance, are equally determining in the passage from use to at-risk use and heavy use.

At-risk use and heavy use in adults :

Ø Nevertheless, the Committee feels that for people over the age of 16, at-risk use lies within the range of 0.1 to 1 gram per day; anything more than that is heavy use, which can have negative consequences on the physical, psychological and social well-being of the user.

Ø According to this distinction, and in accordance with the epidemiological data available, there is reason to believe that approximately 100,000 Canadians could be at-risk users and approximately 80,000 could be heavy users.

Any use in those under age 16 is high-risk use :

Ø The Committee feels that, because of its potential effects on the endogenous cannabinoid system and cognitive and psychosocial functions, any use in those under age 16 is at-risk use;

Ø Our estimation would suggest that approximately 50,000 youths fall in this category.

Ø For those between the ages of 16 and 18, heavy use is not necessarily daily use but use in the morning, alone or during school activities;

Consequences of heavy use :

Ø Heavy use of smoked cannabis can have certain negative consequences for physical health, in particular for the respiratory system (chronic bronchitis, cancer of the upper respiratory tract).

Ø Heavy use of cannabis can result in negative psychological consequences for users, in particular impaired concentration and learning and, in rare cases and with people already predisposed, psychotic and schizophrenic episodes.


Ø Heavy use of cannabis can result in consequences for a user’s social well-being, in particular their occupational and social situation and their ability to perform tasks.

Ø Heavy use of cannabis can result in dependence requiring treatment; however, dependence caused by cannabis is less severe and less frequent that dependence on other psychotropic substances, including alcohol and tobacco.

These studies lead the way to the current proposals in both UK and Canada to decriminalize cannabis.

Does nightly use of cannabis lead to a physical addiction? Unlikely. Does it lead to a psychological dependence? Possibly, but so may a Big Mac, golf or Half Life. Should one use pot nightly as a sleep aid? Well... is it ok to have a "nightcap", to take a a sleeping pill, have sex/masturbate, watch Letterman, listen to Bach...? If any of these activities become a necessity for you to live life then perhaps there is a problem. Is that problem - addiction? Unlikely.

An excellent update!

Indeed if it were a more socially acceptable substance, some of the critism might be different.

But even "workaholics" who make good money, and have devistaed family lives have a problem.

successful peole who successfully balance (participate) in work and play do not have that as a problem.

My obserations come from his own post only, my conclusions are the ones that he alredy stated himself by his own report:

1) He is driven, in a non-voluntary way to it, every night.
2) He identifies that it causes some of the same "problems" he uses it to control.
3) He identifies that it participates in the failure of some of his other attempts to deal with potentially unrelated problems.
4) He identifies that it affects him differently than others he would use to judge objectively his own course of action, effectively eliminating that as an option without reported relacement of an objective frame.
5) He suggests that "he could stop" if he wanted to. [Isn't this on a poster?] Just to be clear, people who can stop after one drink, or two rarely think to actually SAY SO. And habits are not exactly equal to addictions in my lexicon.

I too believe that canabis should be "decriminalized" and regulated. That has, in my opinion, nothing to do with his situation with regard to:

1) the advisability of mixing drugs in an uncontroled and unsupervised environment in a person with already non-standard reactions to at least some of them. (He specifically asked about this)

2) the complicating role that the impact of "daily withdrawl" and the "down" it produces encouraging the appitite for the cure that in fact increases the perceived need. (He specifically brought up his trouble with interactions, other issues, etc. and described his profile of use.)

On another level...

I'm not sure what real help I am if I don't "accurately" reflect what I think I see, or if i sugar coat ramifications and implications that might be obscured from his view.

I was hoping, mostly to be an outside perspecitve of what he brought here to us, rather than an outside opinion (that might relfect some of my own feelings about the subject!)

In fact, by trying to keep my own "input" out of this, i was hoping to make it impossible to be perceived as material for an "arguement" or "convincing" engagement. If all i work with is what he gives me, the most he can do is "argue" with himself, which seems completely appropriate to me. And i am willing to stand in for him to give him the opportunity to spar against his own observations and conclusions to his own benefit (not mine!) by externalizing part of them while he choses what to retain and work with on "his side" and in the privacy of his own existance.

I really was only trying to make sure that, by rephrasing his own words, I could serve to give a clear voice to his own voice in a way he may himself have become accustomed to discounting out of hand before due consideration.

Do you think I made it, or that i'm kidding myself? :) (i'll politely take either answer, or another...)

Now, if you want MY opinions, just feel free to ask! (in a separate thread please!)

If it isn't too much trouble, please read my post carefully. Though the spelling sucks, some thought went into other parts.

For instance you my infer that i think mixing drugs in a person with uncommon reactions is inadvisble, but i really only posed the description in conjunction with the word "advisability" not "inadvisability." I did not there state an opinion, but simply restated what had already been stated.

Please try to make sure you don't credit me with INTENDING the inferences you draw from what I write. I appreciate the credit, but I don't deserve it. You can take credit for that yourself, gentle reader.

Thanks!

David,

I don't think I frased my comment correctly. I had not intended it as a criticism or a rebutal. Your post is as you said it is, and mine unfortunately came out to be a bit paranoid and defensive. I guess I failed to be cognizant of the tone of my post nor the actual content of yours. My bad.

Thank you. (For those in a 12 step recovery this would be an Excellent Step 10!)

But don't fall on your sword yet!

I really appreciate your comments, content and participation.

I have been held to account for my own mis-statements when my ACTUAL position had already been disclosed as well, and i am here to tell you that i will not eagerly hold you to ANYTHING you want to revise.

I'm interested in "knowing" your intent as well as possible. And I hold no truck with the practice of pinning people down to possitions or even off-hand comments that they wish rather to clarify or alter or change or rethink or state more strongly!

Geeze, too, i hope i didn't stomp on you! When i try to get vey clear (it is VERY HARD FOR ME) i some times come across very strongly... too strongly... it is a reflection of all the effort I am putting into self control, but it apparently leaks all over! i really have no ida how to prevent or diminish that yet.

Sorry!

I look forward to more of your comments!

What a fun topic! We're all jumping at this one. I suspect many of us who suffer from ADD at one time or another found pot to be a way to feel better. When I was younger I found that it calmed down the buzz I had going on in my head that led to repetitive and worrisome thoughts. Unfortunately, the side effects of pot are too great to be valuable long term. If you get a chance, take a look at the SPECT scans Dr. Daniel Amen has taken of people's brains who smoke pot. www.brainplace.com Those pictures will keep you off street drugs. As far as getting to sleep, there are many ways to get help that have far fewer side effects than pot does. Personally, I've found that taking Strattera is helpful for getting to sleep. Perhaps you'll find it has the same impact on you. I also found relaxing exercises like yoga, and the relaxation response can be wonderful at calming an overactive mind.

I have enjoyed the debate immensly and see good points and bad point to each side.

Bottom line for me if I didn't drive a Big Truck and am subject to random drug tests

being that I dont like the taste of alchol (love the effect)

given a choice as a recreational escape I prefer the pot to booze.
makes person Less agresive than booze dreamer ect

But I have seen first hand the pycological dependance and it sucks.

It is not an easy thing to shake with out the help of a friend , coach, wife ect

On this last statement I speak with experence

Garry

I just wanted to know if there was any interaction lol. Smoking at night is something that I have become accustomed to and enjoy. I am not addicted at all in my opinion, I have gone on long trips, vacation, etc and have no desire to smoke at all. There are times i dont smoke for weeks at a time because its just not on my mind and doesnt fit in my schedule. On the other hand there are times where it is every night for months. TV becomes extremely enjoyable and I have a strong attention span and can become lost in the show or movie, i become very relaxed and just lay in bed and watch tv gleefully until i fall asleep. It basically makes doing nothing tons of fun and at night theres not much to do when you have school the next day, esspecially for someone who has more energy at night than any other time in the day. During the day i can fall asleep whenever i want, after around 9:00 at night im wide away nomatter how much sleep i got the night before and its hard for me to goto bed at a reasonable time that is unless im preoccupied with work or something else. To add to the marijuana discussion this is my throughts on it. I think the way pot is taught in schools is very wrong. It is taught in the same context and seriousness as drugs that really ARE bad for you. When someone starts to smoke pot they will see that what they were taught was bs and might assume that about other drugs as well. I think that these school programs should teach the truth. Putting marijuana, magic mushrooms, cocane and heroin in the same category is absolutely rediculous. Mushrooms are another topic that really bothers me. Mushrooms have done wonders for people and there lives nomatter who takes it 90% of the time it makes permanent positive changes in the person. People who relie on information about drugs from the media irritate me so much. Mushrooms can make permanent changes in your personality and show you what life is really about. Putting everything into real life perspective, being able to live and experience the lives of every person and animal who has ever lived or ever will live everyplace on the universe in the matter of moments, putting you in touch with spirituality, etc. You learn things about yourself that go on in your mind every second of the day that you are so familiar with yet while not under the influence of mushrooms have no consious knowlege of it. All with little to no damage to your body. Addicition is also impossible and if anything Mushrooms can cure addictions. I have read alot about them and have tried them only once and I have to say its like being reborn again wih so much motivation and love for life that lasts for weeks after your trip. It should be taught in a good/bad perspective way. Nonetheless Mushrooms still change the world you live in and your judgement while you are intoxicated and this can cause you to do things that can harm you. I didnt mean to get off topic but just putting some input.

Originally posted by xbootubex
TV becomes extremely enjoyable and I have a strong attention span and can become lost in the show or movie, i become very relaxed and just lay in bed and watch tv gleefully until i fall asleep.

During the day i can fall asleep whenever i want, after around 9:00 at night im wide away nomatter how much sleep i got the night before and its hard for me to goto bed at a reasonable time that is unless im preoccupied with work or something else.

Mushrooms have done wonders for people and there lives nomatter who takes it 90% of the time it makes permanent positive changes in the person.

All with little to no damage to your body.

Addicition is also impossible and if anything Mushrooms can cure addictions.

OK. Just the facts m'am...

I have a strong attention span... It FEELS like that, but why do you think that people who are high look SPACEY rather than looking the super intellectual way they feel while they are high?

Do you think you are the first to smoke dope? If it were the intellect increasing drug you seem to think it is, rather than blood tests requiring it NOT be in your blood, airlines, bus companies and nuclear power plants would REQUIRE their employees to be high on the job.

There can be a difference between Perception and Reality.... Which brings us to "as defined by what?"

Attention might be tested by command of facts, concepts or the abilty to apply information to novel situations. Studies done of ADHD kids hyperfocusing have indicated they aren't PERFORMING any better in computer games, etc., than they do otherwise because they continue to use unadapted strattegies.

Sleep; If you can't sleep after 9:00 PM (like me) then either go to bed earlier, or be happy with what you already know you will get. Don't spit into the wind, and then complain about someone spitting on you!

If you fall asleep when you are pre-occuppied about something at work, perhaps you will find experience that matches your own with the AMEN clinic.

"Mushrooms have done wonders for people and there lives nomatter who takes it 90% of the time it makes permanent positive changes in the person." This sounds like a PFTA Fact: Pulled From Thin Air. Come on! These are great statistics! I just made them up fesh myself! : )

"Addicition is also impossible..."

I know plenty of addicts who had extensive periods of planned and unplanned sobriety, and thought that since they didn't fall down, go to the hospital, or indulge more reliably than they did anything else, that that alone could mean that they weren't addicts... until they decided for themselves otherwise. Perhaps their decision changed from a change in their criteria for defining themselves as or not as an addict.

What can I say? You must be right?

Good Luck in your walk.

Keep coming back. Take what you like and leave the rest.

You know... 94.76% of all statistics are made up on the spot!

I know plenty of addicts who had extensive periods of planned and unplanned sobriety, and thought that since they didn't fall down, go to the hospital, or indulge more reliably than they did anything else, that that alone could mean that they weren't addicts... until they decided for themselves otherwise. Perhaps their decision changed from a change in their criteria for defining themselves as or not as an addict.

you CANNOT! become addicted to mushrooms, ever.

Easy please. I wasn't beinging so "focused" on a single "addiction."

Ok.

You believe that one cannot become addicted to mushrooms.

I have no opinion on that proposition at this time.

Go in Peace to love and serve...

(David backs out quietly, bowing low with respect, eyes averted, trying to avoid any further insult, injury, offense or confrontation.)

Ha, David!

I was once (briefly) addicted to mushroom pizza. Perhaps you're referring to some other mushroom delicacy...:D

Yeah right David! ...eyes averted...avoid confrontation... and what the heck are we supposed be reading! No... I'm afraid I object! You keep posting or I'll post nekkid pictures of you n that wombat ;-) !!

Not the wombat... I I promised anonymity!

Boob tube: Do you want input or have you made up your mind on this topic? The collective take we're giving you is that you're asking the wrong question. I don't think you've done your homework on this topic. I question the validity of where you're getting your information.Many of us have been where you are and know there's not a bright future with regular pot use. There's a lot of real world experience in this group.

I agree with roger on this

Been there , Done That is the expresion I will use to cover everything you have been saying Boob Tube.

I will agree with ,that you cant become addicted to Pot or Mushrooms.

But That is a physical addiction that " CAN'T Happen"

You can become pyscologcally addicted to the euphoria that is created by recreational drugs and "POSSIBLY" , nothing but a sledge hammer will ever break that, Train of Thought,

But from my experence when that sledge hammer hits, it hits with enough force to shatter your world and it can happen in a heartbeat.

ie:

My wifes words to me!!!

"When you smoke your joint the world is fine but when you start to come down or wake up the next morning , "You Take Out Your ANGER and Emotions on who ever happens to be in the way , and it is ussually "THE KIDS or ME"

When she said that and I took the time to recognise what she was saying, "MY Drug INDUCED EUPHORIC WORLD" collapsed in a heartbeat and it took a long long time to rebuild my World.

Yes I missed MY , "Dream World ", but looking back now over what I have accomplished once I could think clearly, I wish it had happened 20 years earlier.

You can continue with you thoughts that it is not hurting anyone, and bsomeday your world will come crashing down and you may then wish you had thought about it many years earlier.

Garry

Boob sounds a little like myself. I have always been tired throughout the day, and very awake at night. Therefore, I have come to self medicating with Marijuana and alcohol. I have been smoking for about 10 years now, and really want to stop it. Maybe I am physically or psychologically addicted to it, who knows. I do not smoke during the day, but at night it is a GREAT sleep aid. Without it, I may spend hours tossing and turning.

After wanting to get off this "illegal" drug, I went to a psych to talk about legal drugs to help with my issues. I am recently trying Straterra and find myself more tired during the day, but just as awake at night. I am still using Marijuana to take the edge off and get sleepy. I have the drive and motivation to get away from this illegal drug, but with my past of self-medication, I know it will be tough.

I too have had my share of mushrooms, LSD, exstasy, and some cocaine. All of these 4 drugs I no longer do. Cocaine never really did anything for me since I already had that buzz that people were looking to get off of it. I agree with boob about mushrooms/LSD, they can be VERY eye opening as far as things you would never think about when "sober". My wife and I used to do exstasy together at home, not really the club type, and have fantastic times however she got prescribed paxil which we have heard kills the good effects, so we stopped that a few years ago.

To be honest with you, to me (after 1 week of taking a small dose) Strattera feels a little like exstasy. Very faint feelings though, whereas x was very strong when we got the "good stuff". It makes me feel a little out of it, but still able to carry on good solid conversations, and last night I had a powerful orgasm. I dont know, maybe everyones brain chemicals are different and these drugs, whether they are illegal or legal affect us in different ways.

Needless to say, with the nausia feeling I get from Strattera, I so far have found that MJ helps take that edge off when I get home from work, and then helps me sleep at night. I hope strat, or some drug is able to help me overcome my need to self-medicate.

Thanks for listening, dont bash me as I am trying to be better (as society would see it).

My voice is with those that suggest "get off the pot"!! - At least give it a try.

I just quit! I have ONLY used it at night to get to sleep. I have increadable figits at night and will manytimes go all night without sleep.

Pot definitly helped me sleep. I wont repeat what others have said regarding the side effects - I agree that it is not a long term solution! It ultimatly causes more harm than good - For me. Others ??? I think it depends on the situation.

Just a note - I am craving it every night - Its been 1 week tonight! I have only slept for a total of about 8 hours all week - and 2 nights absolutelly no sleep and EXTREAM irritation (I had some awsome weed - the one hit S**T)

It has been and is very difficult for me - But I know I will win this one as after the 3rd night I began to notice that things were starting to improve, in many subtle ways.

I like Garry prefere it to booze! (by a long shot) I may still occasioinally use it - But not for sleeping or for any medicinal use!

Please dont anyone take that statement the wrong way. It is the same as I may occasionally have a drink as well. I am not using rec. drugs to medicate anymore!

I never want to go thru the anxiety / depression / sleepless / irritable YUK feelings ive had in getting off it.

Im not out of the woods yet - But I see the clearing just ahead.

My personal advise to anyone that especially is newlly diagnosed and on add/ adhd meds is to get off the pot.

----------See what the meds can do on thier own. ---------------

I have noticed that my meds have become WAY more effective alreadyand I think I will be able to decrease my dosage soon.

The noise in my head is getting less at the end of the day when the Dex wears off ...And less rebound - witch was really bad before. Im hoping I will be able to sleep all night again soon.

I cant type anymore .... so thats all for now

Great to hear that you're seeing personal progress, Diesel :) Much luck to you, and thank you for updating us!

Originally posted by Wheel1975
If adderall gave you problem you can always try the two major constiutents alone... dexadrine and methyl phenidate. One at a time you might find what is hlpful and what is distrubing. What are the brand names? Or... how do you get those alone? I was on Adderall XR but it screwed with my head too much.. it was overstimulating.

I have not smoked weed on a regular basis for years so I am no longer an expert. I was a regular wine drinker. 2-3 glasses a night for years. Once I started on Strattera I have lost the urge to drink. After a few weeks I noticed that I often forgot to drink. Now I only drink occasionally. I have even gone over a week without a drink. This has not happened to me in 30 years. I never made a consious decision to cut down, but once my medications started working, I found I do not miss it.

Maybe the same will happen to with weed. Give the medications a chance.

You know, it's strange but now on Concerta I don't have the desire to chug coffee like a maniac or drink alcohol in the evening. I just don't think about it. Before, I almost psychologically craved both. The alcohol relaxed my muscles and my brain in the evening and it was a welcome change from the chaos of the day.....a brain on overdrive stressing itself, my nerves and my muscles to boot. Now with Concerta, no desire for either. I take it that Strattera has the same effect. Cool.

I have a friend that is very ADD and thinks that meds are unnecessary. He's very religious. In his eyes, I'm just exchanging one drug for another. Even if this were true, it would still be a God-send since it's in a measured amount. Usually when I'm in control of my vices, I ALWAYS go overboard. I do everything in excess unless on Concerta....no desire for sensation overdrive now.



I was a regular wine drinker. 2-3 glasses a night for years. Once I started on Strattera I have lost the urge to drink. After a few weeks I noticed that I often forgot to drink. Now I only drink occasionally. I have even gone over a week without a drink. This has not happened to me in 30 years. I never made a consious decision to cut down, but once my medications started working, I found I do not miss it.

I started Strattera a few weeks ago. I pretty much consider myself a pothead. I think that smoking while being medicated for ADHD sometimes dramatically decreases the effects of the medication; doesn't help with memory, procrastination, or motivation. I think that smoking before you go to sleep will probably work just the way it always has, but, some advice as a smoker: I used to not be able to sleep if I didn't smoke and it's not fun. It may have just been from the depression and constant worry about work and such, but I really think that smoking pot is not the thing that you want to send you to a place of comfort. Don't get too dependent on a awkward sleep schedule, either. It'll send you down a deep, deep hole.

I just started strattera a week ago. I'm at 40mg for another few days then I go up to 80mg on Sunday. I'm definately a pothead and haven't had any negative effects yet. I perfer to not "smoke" and instead use a vaporizer (http://www.ilovemyvolcano.com) since I consider it more healthy. I found this thread by googling "strattera marijuana", so apologies for bumping an old thread. I'll bookmark this thread and post back when I get to 80mg and again if I stay on strattera (which is going great so far!).

My education therapist (who specialises in ADD,ADHD) explained to me that THC blocks dopamine reseptors in the brain. Dopamine has a alot to do with concentration and this is something ADD medication targets. The THC stays there for a long time and doesnt allow your brain to make use of the increased levels of dopamine.

I was a heavy smoker for about 15 years. At the time I was seeing my educational therapist I was a complete wreck because I didnt know what was "wrong with me". I decided that day to give up smoking weed. It has been nearly 2 years. Every now and then I think I wouldnt mind a smoke but I quickly put that though out of my mind. I honesty feel that I personally am better for it.

chronic marijuana smoking mimics the same symptoms of ADD. I don't think there's any point in taking a med for ADD when smoking is going to make it a lot worse anyway.

you should really try to cut back to something like weekends only. try getting some exercise as this has helped me get a good sleep.

Smoking weed really helps with a few of the symptoms of ADD but makes much more of them more severe and is not worth it from my experiences

edit: oh ok, this thread is from many years ago :o

also, I'm fairly sure marijuana does not block the dopamine receptors.

Even if marijuana affects dopamine in the brain, strattera is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, not a dopamine reuptake inhibitor like the stimulant based ADD medications.

:)i used to smoke marijuana just at work once on the first break and once on the second break i picked up the book bye daniel amen out of a dumpster and started reading it. i quickly found my self in there. i was a type three, but I thought that i was a type two. I found out about self medicating in this great book, and mentioned it to my other three pot buddies. i told them that i had found out about add and that i had taken a test on line and passed with flying colors. I wanted to try the medication out , because I had always wanted to go to college. I wanted to see who the person that i was at the end of the tunnel. I stopped smoking the pot a week before the test with the psychiatrist because i wanted to get a good and sound test that was not mared bye the pot. After the test, the doctor got up and told me to stay in the room , came back with a whole handful of pills. It was strattera, I took the pills home and looked at them for about two weeks and read some of the forums on this site. It has been seven months now , I am no longer lethargic, it helps with depression and ocd, and I dont butt into conversations, the anxiety has gone away . It lowers your sex drive , butt that comes back after a while, and i havv found that it feels like your a virgin again. i have not even thought about smoking pot. I love this drug , I cant imagine going off of it. At my height of drinking coffee, I was drinking 20shots of espresso a day. right now i might drink a sip of coffee two or three times aweek.