Combinations - Former pothead, advice needed

[Jonro]

From the age of 16 to 23 swim was a pothead, and when i say pothead i mean when it comes to cannabis swim has done just about anything that can be done with it but not without a price. in the end when swim was smoking at his heaviest it ended up giving swim severe heart palpitations and anxiety(which took a good year to get over smoke free). Swim is 26 now and not smoked since then(has tried to though) if swim even smokes the smallest amount it creates palpitations and anxiety, Swims body just flat out rejects it now. Swims no longer gets palpitations on any other substance and can take basically anything else freely without any ill effects.

But recently SWIM has been getting a little nighttime anxiety and has been prescribed xanax which takes care of it very nicely. Swim wants to know if the xanax will allow him to have the occasional smoke anxiety free, swim also has beta-blockers(propranolol) that were prescribed with the xanax can they be any help too?

Thanks.

[Sketchyman]

SWIM has had anxiety before from smoking and after using xanax in combination with smoking, he can definately say it helped more than enough. Just don't overdo it, you will pass out very easily.

[Bajeda]

Klonopin (Clonazepam) or Valium (Diazepam) may be superior alternatives to Xanax (Alprazolam) for swiys situation as they are less intoxicating, but it depends on the person. Xanax would most likely diminish the level of anxiety produced by smoking, but it can also dampen the effects which may make smoking cannabis less pleasurable, though if swiy is reacting to cannabis the way he is, any enjoyment would probably be an improvement.

A major question is why does swiy want to continue using cannabis despite all the trouble it has caused him. If it cost him a year recovering from previous use, why chance another long-term adverse reaction? Perhaps swiy should look at alternative substances for recreation that can be enjoyed in moderation without producing the mental anguish that cannabis would. Why did swiy smoke, and why does he want to now? Swiy should try answering that question and once he has done that look at other substances that could maybe fulfill the same purpose to a close enough extent.

Smoking blends such as Spice Gold may be something for swiy to look at. Some of my woodland christmas critter friends found that the blend produced many of the same pleasurable effects cannabis, and though the experience was lacking in the trippier and more psychedelic effects this also meant that it was lacking the anxiety and paranoia that often accompany such effects. Maybe it would be a reasonable compromise for swiy.

Yet another consideration is the variety of cannabis consumed. Was it generally Indica or Sativa? Were some strains preferable to others for swiy because they produced more forgiving effects? For instance, maybe a nice clear heady high works better for swiy, or maybe he does better with a stony body high. It could be that some of the cannabinoids prominent in certain varieties of cannabis exacerbate swiy's symptoms while others may alleviate them or at least not accentuate them. Perhaps if swiy found a specific strain of marijuana that was enjoyable yet accommodating he could enjoy smoking without additional pharmacological tinkering.

Finally, swiy should keep in mind while deliberating this issue (and when swiy has a desire to smoke) that he encountered serious problems with cannabis use in the past, and that he is prescribed a benzodiazepine for anxiety so there are obviously current symptoms which could be exacerbated by getting stoned. Is it worth taking the risk if there are acceptable alternatives available? If swiy should try smoking again - with or without alprazolam - he should start with a small amount and get a little buzzed to see how he handles it. People returning to smoking after a long hiatus often experience stronger effects again like they first did (no tolerance, the experience isn't as common so you aren't used to it anymore, cannabinoid sensitivity perhaps, etc.) so it is easy to smoke too much and have to deal with too many overwhelming effects. Swiy should start slow, ingest a small amount and give it time to affect him, gauge the intensity and acceptability of the effects, and then perhaps work to a comfortable level if it is possible. If he can find a range where he can smoke without anxiety, or use alprazolam to effectively counter the anxiety, then maybe he can enjoy cannabis agian. Just keep in mind that the latter option is maintenance oriented and most likely can't be sustained without encountering other problems (such as physical and psychological benzodiazepine dependence), and that even if swiy can enjoy cannabis again he should remain cautious and responsible with use so he can keep it under control. The optimal scenario would be if swiy could sit down and enjoy an occasional smoke without problem and then go about his things until the next opportunity. Excessively frequent use would likely create more anxiety issues and swiy would be back to getting no enjoyment from smoking as it became habitual (rather than recreational) and seemingly out of swiy's control (yet another cause for anxiety). If swiy used and wants to use cannabis for medicinal purposes of some kind however, please specify as this would help with evaluating alternatives and the costs/benefits of cannabis use.

[Nature Boy]

It's generally high-grade skunk loaded with THC that seems to trigger these episodes in some people. The strains are bred specifically in order to produce as strong a high as possible and this can mean there might be a disproportioned level of cannabinoids which produces a somewhat unnatural effect. It's these secondary cannabinoids that are needed to balance the strain's effects. The prohibitionist argument suggests that THC levels are spiralling out of control. Debatable as that may be, there is some truth to it. But the better solution is for legalization and a better growing culture, where people can grow strains that suit smokers as opposed to just going for the strongest effect. Strong effects are what black market drugs are all about.

Interestingly however, I have never heard about any problems about hash oil. Very high in THC, you would assume it would trigger mental problems in some users. I'll admit hash oil is rare but at the same time, why is it that we haven't heard anything about it? Even normal hash (not "soapbar") doesn't produce many, for lack of a better word, victims. Could it be that whatever way THC in herbal cannabis is taken, it produces more negative effects in people?

[Mr. Giraffe]

Originally Posted by Nature Boy

It's generally high-grade skunk loaded with THC that seems to trigger these episodes in some people. The strains are bred specifically in order to produce as strong a high as possible and this can mean there might be a disproportioned level of cannabinoids which produces a somewhat unnatural effect. It's these secondary cannabinoids that are needed to balance the strain's effects. The prohibitionist argument suggests that THC levels are spiralling out of control. Debatable as that may be, there is some truth to it. But the better solution is for legalization and a better growing culture, where people can grow strains that suit smokers as opposed to just going for the strongest effect. Strong effects are what black market drugs are all about.

Interestingly however, I have never heard about any problems about hash oil. Very high in THC, you would assume it would trigger mental problems in some users. I'll admit hash oil is rare but at the same time, why is it that we haven't heard anything about it? Even normal hash (not "soapbar") doesn't produce many, for lack of a better word, victims. Could it be that whatever way THC in herbal cannabis is taken, it produces more negative effects in people?

This is an interesting question. Perhaps it has something to do with how the cannabis is cultivated. My cat has experienced some unpleasantness with some strains of hydroponically grown weed. However, he has never experienced anything like the same effects from organic weed. And my cat tells me that he has smoked some very THC heavy organic weed. A dog my cat is friendly with speculates that it might have something to do with the chemical grow nutrients, which are often not properly flushed from commercial weed due to time constraints. These things are steroids which have fairly dramatic effects on the appearance and size of the plant, so it's logical to assume they're going to have some effect on humans too.

[Shampoo]

Originally Posted by Nature Boy

Interestingly however, I have never heard about any problems about hash oil. Very high in THC, you would assume it would trigger mental problems in some users. I'll admit hash oil is rare but at the same time, why is it that we haven't heard anything about it? Even normal hash (not "soapbar") doesn't produce many, for lack of a better word, victims. Could it be that whatever way THC in herbal cannabis is taken, it produces more negative effects in people?

That is indeed a very interesting observation. Swim would think that such intense concentrates would indeed produce some negative reactions if by nothing else than by virtue of an unexpected jolt of intensity. By my education, I would have to say that the answer to the last question is probably no. In fact, many of the negative side effects of THC ingestion are offset by the presence of certain flavanoids and terpenoids that fail to make it into most hash (you can tell by the lack of smell in high concentrates). This is one of the reasons oil-suspension based THC has been less successfully employed as a medicine in many areas as compared to inhaled vapor. However, perhaps somehow in the process of hash creation, a significant percentage of the THC is oxidized, rendering it as CBN/CBD. This would result in a more sedating, analgesic, physical inebriation, with less disrupted thought patterns and time-disparity, as well as diminished psychedelic effects, which in swims experience seems to correspond accurately with heavily concentrated extracts. They generally give a more sedative relaxation, very rarely will hash produce an 'up' sativa-like high. Perhaps this has something to do with the lack of 'bad-trip' incidents involving concentrates. I will do a little research and find out.

[enquirewithin]

Originally Posted by Jonro

From the age of 16 to 23 swim was a pothead, and when i say pothead i mean when it comes to cannabis swim has done just about anything that can be done with it but not without a price. in the end when swim was smoking at his heaviest it ended up giving swim severe heart palpitations and anxiety(which took a good year to get over smoke free). Swim is 26 now and not smoked since then(has tried to though) if swim even smokes the smallest amount it creates palpitations and anxiety, Swims body just flat out rejects it now. Swims no longer gets palpitations on any other substance and can take basically anything else freely without any ill effects.

But recently SWIM has been getting a little nighttime anxiety and has been prescribed xanax which takes care of it very nicely. Swim wants to know if the xanax will allow him to have the occasional smoke anxiety free, swim also has beta-blockers(propranolol) that were prescribed with the xanax can they be any help too?

Thanks.

Just be careful with xanax, or any other benzos, as they are genuinely addictive.

[pipefitter]

Hello jonro,
I was prescribed Lexipro for anxiety and one nice thing is when I smoke I have no anxiety at all. I'm not sure what to say about xanax because I never used it. But before the lexipro when I smoked I always had alot of anxiety so I rarely smoked.

Good luck

[Jonro]

Thanks for the great reply Bajeda, to answer your question as to why i want to smoke weed again, to answer simply swim just loved a good stone, there was nothing like coming home from work and getting blasted and relaxing.

And to the variety's smoked swim always had a mix generally, sometimes heady sometime a body stone but dident always know exactly what strain he was always smoking.

Another main reason why swim wants to give this a go is because most of swims friends still smoke and it would be nice to get mashed with them again occasionally.

Swims is aware that xanax is very addictive and does not use it every night, only when its needed for the nighttime anxiety. And swim will definitely start off with small amounts of this combo and hope that it works out fine.

Cheers for all the reply s.

[Jonro]

Well SWIM finally got around to trying this combo(Alprazolam + weed) to see if it would allow him to smoke again minus the anxiety.

He started out with 2mg of Alprazolam 30 mins before smoking one full cone(we call them cones in my country but i think Americans call them bowls) then he went a watched some TV. It started out badly with the dreaded anxiety creeping up but was definitely stoned, wanting to cull the anxiety another 1mgs of Alprazolam was taken but was probably not needed because after about 10 mins the anxiety was completely gone and swim had a VERY nice high and decided to smoke another full cone and was completely blasted with the combo. A very euphoric high for a couple of hours and then nodded out to a peaceful sleep.

SWIM thinks he mistimed the Alprazolam and should of taken it an hour before where only 2mg was probably only needed.

In swims opinion this combo should be handled with care as it will probably keep working great if only done once a month or so.

All in all it was a great high.

[Woodman]

My advice:

Be grateful for the time that you were able to enjoy it.

Now, stop using or even wish you could use.

It's over!