Posted by DayByDay on September 26, 2003, at 7:43:05
In reply to Which neurotransmitters does Pot affect?, posted by Jasmine Neroli on September 26, 2003, at 0:21:33
High Jasmine!
The main active substance in cannabis is Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which binds to specific cannabiod receptors. There already exists a chemical in the brain naturally called amandamide (think thatīs how itīs spelled) thats chemically diffrent in structure but identical in action. This is similar to opiods acting on the
same receptors as your own opiods in the brain.
What diffrent functions amandamide has in the brain is under research - one theory i heard is that for instance some overweight people would have more of this substance thus having an increased appetite - another theory is that it is the substance in the brain that helps us to forget painful memories making cannabis medicines
(and the chemical development of possible new cannobiod-based medicines without the intoxicating effects and less side-effects)
an promising alternative in treating PTSD.
The natural opiod-system is actually believed to have a similar effect on painful memories, if this system is somehow "cooperating" with the
cannabiod system or if both work indepentantly
is yet unknown. What is known is that many people with PTSD for instance victims of war, are heavy consumers of cannabis or opiods.As far as other neurotransmiters go Iīm not sure but I think the cannabiod-system donīt affect any
of the classical ones but is a system of itīs own (Im not sure here-Ill do some research of my own to find out), I know it doesnīt have a
affect on dopamine (or if it was only minimal)
the neurotransmiter is affected by most other recreational drugs, including alcohol and tobacco.
Dopamine release is involved in the development of
addiction thus cannabis has a low potential for addiction and mild withdrawal symptoms compared
to strong dopamine-boosting drugs.As far as GAD goes i can say out of my own experience that when I used to smoke cannabis chronically it helped me with my depression and anxiety problems when they where mild to quite moderate, when they got very severe however cannabis made it worse especially the anxiety.
Diffrent people react diffrently though some
experiece it diffrently. Some people react with
anxiety increase or even panic from smoking it at
all, anxiety reactions are also more common in inexperienced users, at to high doses or in an inpropratiate set or setting or in combination with certain other drugs/medicines.Another thing is that when people stop chronic
smoking they experience mild (in comparision to other drugs) withdrawal symptomps. In my experience most people who only are addicted to it recreationally and stop have, (along with the
general craving and boredom/restlessness cuz your
not high) : trobles with insomnia (2,3 days - 2 weeks), can get more easily irritated thus capable of reacting stronger than necessary if something is pissing
them of (most noticable the first couple of days),
some also get a loss of appetite and sweatings.
Most withdrawal symptoms usually ends within a week while the sleeping problems can take up to two weeks.HOWEVER some people who use it to treat depression and anxiety are more probalbly to get even emotional withdrawals. They can find their symptoms unmasked (unless itīs gotten better) when quiting. On top of that they are also increased during the first days when quiting because of withdrawal. Allthough this can be tough
i wouldnīt consider it a problem since itīs relativively mild and if itīs tricky can be helped with sedatives and sleeping pills, some people prefer using alcohol for a couple of days -one shouldnīt use them both though! Of course one
should stop after the withdrawals pass - keeping on drinking instead of smoking is probably not such a good idea unless you like to do that -
in my oppinion itīs better to keep on smoking in such a case.
I guess it like that with every drug, if you use it to cure phychological problems you find it harder to quit then if you use it for recreational purpose only.Never the less the withdrawal (in my case at least isīnt that bad) that I would discourage people from using it as a benefitial long term therapy. I would consider the short-term memory problems and amotivation more relevant to think about and of course the possibility that you might start to like it to much!
If it medical marijuana then spending a lot of
money wonīt be a problem eighter.If you would be using medicinal marijuana what kind of doses and potency would it be?
I used it in heavy doses becaused I liked it for recreational purposes as well, would be
interesting to hear what kind of doses are required are consider optimal for medical purposes.Hope Iīve been of some help even though you might already know much of the stuff I wrote, as far as the neurotransmiters goes Iīll have to check some
more and come back on this thread. You can also surf on the net yourself. It would to inresting to
know how it goes with you perscription, if you
feel like it, Jasmine, it would cool if you posted an update on this thread.Wish you the best of anxiety relief
DayByDay
poster:DayByDay
thread:263379
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030923/msgs/263425.html