Marijuana Studies and ADD, ADHD

[paulbf]

The following quote comes off this page:
http://www.acnp.org/g4/
(an incredible amount of info there on all sorts of medication issues but lots of medical terms makes the reading slow)


http://www.acnp.org/g4/GN401000170/Default.htm
This part sounds good???:
"Central Nervous System Physiology
---------------------------------------
One of the most notable findings in recent years has been the effects of cannabinoids on cerebral blood flow and electroencephalographic (EEG) measures. Mathew and Wilson (83) summarized the recent literature and concluded that marijuana smoking increased cerebral blood flow, with the greatest increases in the frontal region and right hemisphere. Marijuana also increased cerebral arterial blood velocity, thought to be due to increased capillary perfusion. There is continued interest in the effects of marijuana on EEG. Struve et al. (126) reported that THC caused an increase in absolute power of all frequencies over all cortical areas. They also reported that THC produced significant elevations in absolute alpha power, relative alpha power and interhemispheric alpha coherence over frontal and frontal-central areas in chronic users (125). They referred to this phenomenon as alpha hyperfrontality."

The rest of the article is very cautious and thorough summary of the current knowledge about MJ. They say yeah, it compromises your coordination at high doses (gets you stoned), interferes with social function ("and impedes the normal development of young individuals") .

More people are using MJ these days across the population, there are no other really obvious problems, the objection with use for any sort of treatment is that the effects are too varied (lots of different neurotransmitters of many types being effected) so it's hard to tell what is causing what. Too complex to draw any real conclusions besides that it gets you stoned and feels good.

The main problem, I'd say, is that it sticks in your body for a long time leaving you with a fuzzy brain.

[purerealm]

only lasts about a month , and using the nootropic piracetam can help with the side effects

[Gregster]

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8155

Marijuana might cause new cell growth in the brain
22:00 13 October 2005
NewScientist.com news service
Kurt Kleiner
Paper by Zhang et al
University of Saskatchewan Neural Systems and Plasticity Research Group
Barry Jacobs, Princeton University
Drugs and alcohol, New Scientist
Journal of Clinical Investigation
A synthetic chemical similar to the active ingredient in marijuana makes new cells grow in rat brains. What is more, in rats this cell growth appears to be linked with reducing anxiety and depression. The results suggest that marijuana, or its derivatives, could actually be good for the brain.

In mammals, new nerve cells are constantly being produced in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is associated with learning, memory, anxiety and depression. Other recreational drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine and cocaine, have been shown to suppress this new growth. Xia Zhang of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, and colleagues decided to see what effects a synthetic cannabinoid called HU210 had on rats' brains.

They found that giving rats high doses of HU210 twice a day for 10 days increased the rate of nerve cell formation, or neurogenesis, in the hippocampus by about 40%.

Just like Prozac?
A previous study showed that the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) also increases new cell growth, and the results indicated that it was this cell growth that caused Prozac’s anti-anxiety effect. Zhang wondered whether this was also the case for the cannabinoid, and so he tested the rats for behavioural changes.

When the rats who had received the cannabinoid were placed under stress, they showed fewer signs of anxiety and depression than rats who had not had the treatment. When neurogenesis was halted in these rats using X-rays, this effect disappeared, indicating that the new cell growth might be responsible for the behavioural changes.

In another study, Barry Jacobs, a neuroscientist at Princeton University, gave mice the natural cannabinoid found in marijuana, THC (D9-tetrahydrocannabinol)). But he says he detected no neurogenesis, no matter what dose he gave or the length of time he gave it for. He will present his results at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington DC in November.

Jacobs says it could be that HU210 and THC do not have the same effect on cell growth. It could also be the case that cannabinoids behave differently in different rodent species - which leaves open the question of how they behave in humans.

Zhang says more research is needed before it is clear whether cannabinoids could some day be used to treat depression in humans.

Journal reference: Journal of Clinical Investigation (DOI:10.1172/JCI25509)

[paulbf]

Unfortunately, it looks like that particular component doesn't get you high though it does relieve pain. I'm not certain I'm reading this correct though:
"There were no psychiatric side effects."

http://www.neuromuscularinfo.com/august%202003.htm
(bottom of that page)
CANNABINOID RECEPTOR LIGAND HU210 HAS ANALGESIC AND ANTI-HYPERALGESIC PROPERTIES

HU210 applied to human skin reduced several parameters of pain perception after capsaicin application. This was the first study in humans of a topical selective cannabinoid receptor agonist (HU210). The response to application of capsaicin was assessed in ten men and 10 women (mean age, 29 years), each of whom was pre-treated with HU210 and vehicle control. The gradient of pain perception over time was reduced at the HU210 site (p=0.01). There was no difference in heat pain threshold at baseline between untreated, HU210-treated, and vehicle-treated skin, but at 5 minutes after application of capsaicin, there was a significantly greater reduction (p=0.01) at the control site (46.3 ± 0.7°C to 38.6 ± 1.9°C) compared to the HU210 site (46.8 ± 0.2°C to 43.4 ± 2.2°C). Pinprick hyperalgesia was the same for both groups at all time points (5 min, 15 min, and 30 min), but significant differences in allodynia (pain in response to light touch) were found at both 5 min (p=0.04) and 15 min (p=0.02). There were no psychiatric side effects. These data demonstrate that a cannabinoid receptor agonist applied to human skin is analgesic and anti-allodynic, with no measurable effect on either baseline sensory function or the central nervous system. (Rukwied R et al. Pain 2003;102:283-288)

[Darksanity]

I have ADD and have a very bad marijuana habit/addiction. I just can't control it. Sometimes I will stop for a week but then start again pretty fast. When I take my med (Adderall XR) my craving for marijuana goes so much high that I absolutely can't resist not smoking.

It's the WORST thing for amotivation and leads me sometimes in terrible depressive amotivation episodes if I take too much of it and become unfonctionnal... especially in College.

Althought it can be so nice if you respect it.

[Andi]

It is an unfortunate issue for ADDers and co-morbids. Many self-medicate in order to achieve a sense of normality. As much as some would like to convince themselves that it's ok because it appears to "work." the cognitve damage, let alone the social stigma, is irreversible. The question remains, if you're willing to smoke to be normal, WHY would you not consider a legal, less destructive substance? I realize that some may argue that meds can be just as destructive but if there is truly to be a discussion of either method, going without legal or illegal substances would be the physically "healthier" choice. Needless to say, I wouldn't be where I'm at if it were NOT for my "legal" medications.

[Inmate 839221]

Originally Posted by Darksanity

I have ADD and have a very bad marijuana habit/addiction. I just can't control it. Sometimes I will stop for a week but then start again pretty fast. When I take my med (Adderall XR) my craving for marijuana goes so much high that I absolutely can't resist not smoking.

It's the WORST thing for amotivation and leads me sometimes in terrible depressive amotivation episodes if I take too much of it and become unfonctionnal... especially in College.

Althought it can be so nice if you respect it.

You're twice as likely to become addicted to a substance while taking amphetamines.

[Zach326]

Related thread

[meadd823]

You're twice as likely to become addicted to a substance while taking amphetamines.

Although this may apply to this person in specific I have found the opposite to be true. When properly medicated I find my prone-ness to engage in addictive behavior actually decrease because my ability to engage in fore thought increases.

I just wanted to share the fact that increased chances of addiction when on ADD medication is an exception of a few not the general rule for all.

[wormhole]

Originally Posted by Darksanity

I have ADD and have a very bad marijuana habit/addiction. I just can't control it. Sometimes I will stop for a week but then start again pretty fast. When I take my med (Adderall XR) my craving for marijuana goes so much high that I absolutely can't resist not smoking.

It's the WORST thing for amotivation and leads me sometimes in terrible depressive amotivation episodes if I take too much of it and become unfonctionnal... especially in College.

Althought it can be so nice if you respect it.

DOOD who care if your addicted to it, think about it life consisits of addictions . food is addicting violence is addicting sex is addicting working is addicting religion is addicting . keep smoking it calms my hyperactivity makes you think more profoundly. if you think about it you are just smoking and organic plant. people who drink and have no disabilities such as add or other crap and drink alcohol even act worse then peole on add and on weed. they kill people on the streets cuz they drink. and weed is a drug. just because the law says its a drug or people say its a drug does not mean anything. . or un less the state where you live has high penalties for weed or your parants totally think is drug then quit. but if its for stupid reasons **** it live life . we are born we are thought we work and work and die. enjoi life as much as possible!

[pedalpounder]

I wouldn't have put it quite this way, but I actually agree with you wormhole.

That said, if you're going to use marijuana, you should do it responsibly. That means, use it like bacon: it's okay once in a while but it'll mess you up if you have it every day. Make sure to keep exercise, good nutrition and cultivating friendships as your top priorities, and then go ahead and indulge once in a while.

Marijuana is not addictive. I'm not alone in saying that. Anyone who has been addicted to some substance at some point in their life (hence have first hand experience with what addiction REALLY is), and have smoked pot in considerate amount will all tell you from their first-hand experience that marijuana is not addictive. Coffee is much more addictive than marijuana!

If you can't "resist not smoking", it's got nothing to do with physiological addiction. That's all in your head. For true addiction, you experience severe withdrawal symptoms (actual physical pains, discomforts, unease, intense anxiety etc...) when you quit

[Johnnny]

i smoke dope and id say one effect from the ganjika is that it makes you more paranoid and my hperactivity sometimes makes me extremely paranoid. But on the other hand it helps me focus. Either way if anyone out there are heavy users try once a day, usually at night works the best if your trying to quit.

[Slowpoke]

hi all

I live where it's pretty much accepted that you smoke pot casually...
although I've never actually smoked, I do the hotbox/secondhand thing once in a while... it helps my brain relax and slow down.
just thought I'd tell you about an experience I had..
(I have a mood disorder as well - past issues with depression and I have social anxiety)
I got really high a couple weeks ago, and it was horrible. Got really tired, and fell asleep.
but then I started having these really bad dreams, nightmares, feeling like someone had died... I kept waking up all of a sudden after yelling out or mumbling something.

So I'm not really too cool with that. Marijuana is a depressant after all.
There's scientific research about it's negative effects... yes it helps you focus/obsess about something if in a low dose, but then your brain ends up not producing its own neurochemical that helps the brain focus if you smoke a lot of pot. which is why those super "potheads" are so whacked out in the end.

[WesleyT]

marijuana might make ADHD whorse in the long term because of vasopressin depletion, supplementing with this neuropeptide will help

[Onine]

Well I didnt want to make a big deal out of it but yeah I am a daily user of marijuana.

Look, before I started using it I was totally anti-social. My mind couldnt think up complete thoughts and I got aggrivated very easily. When I roll a joint or smoke a bowl it all instantly goes away. I can talk openly with people and be comfortable with just being wherever I am. I honestly think I would have killed myself if not for marijuana.






On the other hand, I am strictly and severely against all other drugs including alcohol.

A lot of people thought I was stupid because I couldnt figure out a math problem. They thought I was a "nerd" because I never talked much. Well that all changed once the marijuana found its way to me. My friend told me the first time I came over his place high, "Dude, if this is how you are when you are high, you better start smoking that **** all the time."

It is my life and I will live it however I want to. There isn't much relief and sometimes its all you need and a good bit of ganja will go a long way towards that goal.


Speaking of which .......



By the way, there was a British study on marijuana, documented, that proved that ones attention and focus increased after the user smoked a full joint by himself. He drove a car through a cone track once before he was high and once after he was high. Again, he did a lot better after he smoked the joint. This is all proven scientifically. There isn't much actual documentation that can truthfully say, "Marijuana is bad because..."


and if they say otherwise they are lying and basing "facts" on their own opinions.


potheads unite