Urgh!!!

Well, since your blaming ADHD medication for your problems, consider what the real reasons might be for your problems. Below are symptoms of addiction to marijuana and also withdrawral symptoms. Paranoia, which is not mentioned below is also experienced when one smokes marijuana which accounts for the wanting to isolate yourself and not socialize. Your problem with marijuana addiction is far worse tha your problems with ADHD and I suggest you get help

menina2 wrote:
Where did you get your PHD in marijuana addiction

This is not a debate about marijuana and any substance used that is not prescribed or supervised by a doctor can be dangerous. We all have our opinions and thanks for your two cents worth.

lol

Im a 17 year old male from New York. About 2 years ago I was diagnosed with ADHD. Throughout the past year and half, I've been on many different types of medications to treat my symntoms. At first I was prescribed Adderall xr 10 mg (once daily) for about two weeks. At first the medication was great, my grades and behavior improved drastically. Gradually I built up somewhat of a tolerance, and 10mg of Adderall xr was no longer enough to keep these effects. My doctor then prescribed me 20 mgs of Adderall xr. This created the same effects as with the 10mgs a month earlier. Although, in my first month of taking the medication, I had noticed that I had become very irritable, and had lost my appetite. But, the effects of the Adderal were like nothing I've ever experienced. I could finally pay attention in school but, it effected my social behaviors as well. I started loosing interest in anything but, my computer. I now longer enjoyed recreation. It was as if I was a robot. For about 3 more months I continued to take this medication. Finally, the side effects became too much for me to handle and I had to stop taking Adderal. Throughout the next few months my doctor switched my meds. frequently, hoping to find something that would work as well as Adderall without all of the dangerous side effects. Throughout this time my grades began to slip once again. Finally, I had decided to start my Adderall prescription again. I took my Adderall for the remander of the year, and did extremely well. Although, good grades didn't come at a cheap price, I was beginning to isolate myself from distant friends and aquaintences, and only began socializing with my close friends. School ended for the year, and I stopped my meds. for the summer vacation, but not right away. I had tried to stop taking the pills, but whenever I didn't take them, I'd feel nauseus until I took the medication. I finally stopped taking Adderall about 3 weeks into the summer vacation. I went the entire summer without it.

                     Before I knew it, the next school year was approaching and I knew I was going to have to take the medication again. I began taking 30 mgs of Adderall XR as soon as school began again. This worked well for about a month or so. After I realized I was not getting the same effect anymore, my doctor bumped up the doseage once again. I was now prescribed 40 mgs of Adderall XR. I took this for a few more months and the irritability became almost unbareable. Everyone around me seemed to bother me. I became a "neat freak" and a perfectionist. I had lost 20lbs during my time of being medicated and was still losing weight. I just couldn't eat. My doctor suggested many different meds. for this, but non were effective. Once again, I had completely stopped taking Adderal and began going to school unmedicated. I could not focus. I wasn't organized. I just simply couldn't hand school without adderal. To make matters worse, I'm taking 2 grades at once (10-11) and was prescribed nothing for ADHD. Time went on and I became more and more irritable, I had insomia and complete lose in appetite. I started the medication again and when I had realized that I was going without food constantly, I decided to smoke pot more frequently. I had been an occassional smoker since I was 14 for recreation, but hadn't done it in a while.

                           I just remember, going to school having the Adderall help me focus, then when I would come home, I would smoke pot, and eat excessive amounts of food and I would be in bed by 11 oclock instead of 3 or 4 am! Marijuana also calmed be down alot. I was no longer as irritable and little things that would normally aggrevate me, would just roll off my back. Although I was smoking pot, I was still maintaining a "B" average. I did this for a few months. My mother did not condone the use of marijuana so when she would see me coming home with bloodshot eyes, and see me eating all the time, and sleeping, she became very suspicious, very fast. I eventually got caught smoking pot, and she had me drug tested 3 times, randomly throughout the next few months and every time I tested positive for marijuana. My grades are still up, and I am still smoking marijuana regularly. I do not feel it is morally wrong, and I believe that the positive effects of marijuana,on me as an individual, outweigh the negative. My mother has been preaching to me to stop smoking pot, but I do not feel the need. At times I use it for recreation, but the majority of the time, its for medicinal purposes. However I have not smoked marijuana in 3 days, and it is now 3:02 am... but I'm still WIDE AWAKE! Does anyone out there know of anything that I could benefit from? Would I be able to be prescribed Marinol, given the situation? Any help is appreciated, thank you

Jriles wrote:
I started the medication again and when I had realized that I was going without food constantly, I decided to smoke pot more frequently. I had been an occassional smoker since I was 14 for recreation, but hadn't done it in a while

Well, since your blaming ADHD medication for your problems, consider what the real reasons might be for your problems. Below are symptoms of addiction to marijuana and also withdrawral symptoms. Paranoia, which is not mentioned below is also experienced when one smokes marijuana which accounts for the wanting to isolate yourself and not socialize. Your problem with marijuana addiction is far worse tha your problems with ADHD and I suggest you get help.

Marijuana addiction is a phenomenon experienced by more than 150,000 individuals each year who enter treatment for their proclaimed addiction to marijuana. Marijuana addiction is characterized as compulsive, often uncontrollable marijuana craving, seeking, and use, even when the individual knows that marijuana use is not in his best interest. Marijuana addiction could be defined as chronically making the firm decision not to use marijuana followed shortly by a relapse due to experiencing overwhelming compulsive urges to use marijuana despite the firm decision not to. This contradiction is characteristic of an addiction problem. Marijuana Withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to: irritability anxiety physical tension decreases in appetite and mood Symptoms of marijuana withdrawal first appear in chronic users within 24 hours. Marijuana withdrawal is most pronounced for the first 10 days and can last up to 28 days.

I would feel much more comfortable with my son taking a pill derived from THC, then the Amphetamine based one he is currently having to swallow down .   We are a huge group here--I am sure our collective voices could persude a few politicians.   We should demand better for our kids!  

Wow man. You are in the EXACT situation i am. I really do think marijuana helps. I take zoloft to counter some of the side effects of adderal, it helps me to be more social at school again but it doesnt cut it. When i get home and sit at my computer small detours like an error, or my mom asking me a question iritate the sh*t out of me. Sence i started smoking bud regularly i have been more care free, and am able to get my work done at school. I didnt eat breakfast or lunch, and rarley dinner. But now i can eat when i get home. The only problem is that i got caught smoking yesterday and everything was taken away by my parents. I fear im in a no-win situation. I can fail my classes ( i mean F's no D's) and feel normal. Or i can take my meds, get B's and A's, not feel, then after school feel like life and everything in it sucks. If you or anyone finds anything els about this can you post on this thread?

I'm not a frequent pot smoker..  I have smoked socially and it seems to affect me in the totally opposite way that it affects most.  Makes my anxiety worse, makes me paranoid, turns my 'obssesive dial' way up, etc..   Most people that I know who smoke regularly express the exact opposite affects.  I guess it's my ADHD that makes it different for me.  What I'm saying is that it's not for me.

But what I DO know is that Marijuana has LONG been known NOT to be physically addictive.  There is no nicotine or any other physically addicting attributes contained in the pot plant.  Hence, there are no real physical withdrawal symptoms.  I'm not sure where the previous poster got their facts from, but I'm about 150% sure that those facts are wrong.

The goverment cracked down on weed during the peace movement of the 60's and this relatively harmless drug has been stigmatised ever since.  Yet there are millions of people (like me) who are legally prescribed to what is basically cocaine in a pill.

I guess my point is that though you may feel like pot is morally wrong for yourself based on the rules that are set for you by society, it doesn't really mean that it can't be a good thing that can help people in certain situations. 

If you are on stimulant medication, then you are legally on the equivalant to cocaine.  I personally find it hard to beleive that stimulants are so widely distributed and pot is so widely condemded.

MY 2 cents.

"Nearly all medicines have toxic, potentially lethal effects. But marijuana is not such a substance. There is no record in the extensive medical literature describing a proven, documented cannabis-induced fatality...Simply stated, researchers have been unable to give animals enough marijuana to induce death...In practical terms, marijuana cannot induce a lethal response as a result of drug-related toxicity...In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume...Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man." - DEA Administrative Law Judge, FL Young, 1988

Giggling is good!  It would beat my son's usual disposition--grouchy.

[QUOTE=unconditionaluv]Our country's ignorance could be keeping a potential ADHD treatment from being discovered.  THC in pill form could have great benefits--you never know!  (our politicians are a little kooky)[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but then everyone would be giggling and running to the Quickie Mart at 11PM

Same, not a huge fan of pot myself, but in an odd way would feel much safer in a room full of stoned people v. a room full of drunk people, ya know? Personally it makes me really really antsy, like magnifys my problem. I haven't tried it since my prescription though, who knows...dude might be on to the best drug combo ever. But some of y'all are being a tad hypocritical, there are people on this list who are trying to treat their head with 'natural' supplements, the only difference is those things come in a pill, but they are not FDA approved or prescribed. Whats the difference between that and a nice low grade (hopefully pure) joint?

If anyone is gonna get on his case, they better get on the cases of all the endorsers of natural treatments on this whole board.

And pot doesn't make you dumb...you may act a little silly (like thousands of people do on alcohol, pain killers and other various legal drugs everyday) but like the aforementioned products....it too wears off.

Don't get me wrong, bonafied 'stoners' or 'potheads' annoy the heck out of me. (My sister lives in Eugene Oregon, yikes) But for an occasional whatnot, or medicinal use....the FDA and uptight politicians need to get a frickin clue.

Dear Jriles,

Here is something that may help you get through school--and life.  My 10yr. old son takes 20mgs of Adderall xr around 8:00a.m, and then takes a 5mg. reg. adderall around 4:00p.m.  The regular adderall helps him when he is coming off the medication.  You may try breaking up your meds in this way--take the higher dose but divide it and take one in the morning and one in the afternoon.   This may help you with all the awful side effects.  You may have to experiment with it until you find the right combo--Great luck to you!

As far as smoking goes...You sound like a very intellegent guy to me and you seem to know your body's limits.  I know alot of pot smokers and they lead very productive lives.  My husband graduated from college with honors while partaking in smoking the whole time--plus working full time!   He rarely smokes now.  Without getting to much on a Bandwagon, I think the illegalization of marajuana is one of the greatest hypocrisies in America.  Those who keep the laws down that would support medical marajuana are the same Joe Shmoes that support the tabacco, Alcohol, and Fast food companies.    The obesity problem is getting out of control, yet, fast food is still pushed in our schools.  Anything used in excess is potentially dangerous to our bodies--we just need to use comon sense people!  By the way, I do not smoke but do suppot legalization. 

"My body is a Temple...But nothing is simple." ---Garbage (the band, not the statement)

Well, One of my greatest friend...he is ADHD/BiPolar... never been treated. He smoke pot as treatment for an illness that is far more complex. An issue that I have found personally through my own experiences and that of those surrounding me... Pot puts you in a state of NOW. Not the past...not the future...but now. And I'll tell you what...he stays in that state of NOW and is scared as hell to look any further. My former classmates...from Elementary School through HighSchool to our supposed "college years". I don;t know if the weed is different in all regions of the world...but these people haven't changed. Those that smoke the bud that is. Nate...well Nate is married to some psycho chick who came with 1 kid...now has 3 of his own and is 100% miserable. The only thing that keeps his sanity is that god damned pot. Every time he stops it...he makes some sort of change...thinking about where his life has gone and where his life is going...and he freaks out and starts smoking again. F*ck the kids and the wife...he has no job and spends any money he finds to support that habbit. There are medical programs to support those who have no way of paying for mental health and such. They won't give you money to buy a bag off the street. Donny...no car...no license...numerous arrests for driving without a license...jobs come and go...he gets bored. He smokes pot...who needs work when he wants to go fishing or fix his friends car. He is depressed. Enters the other drugs...thus "gate way drug". His most recent spell was with Heroine. All the while smoking the herb. If he would get some damn ADHD meds...he could possibly keep a job and get out of that damn hole he has dug himself. But in the NOW...who cares. As long as we got a joint and a 6 pak we are alright...and hows tomorrow looking? Awe hell...smoke a blunt and drink a beer.

I have seen alot of people suffer not physically...but mentally due to the effects of maryjane. I smoked it...I won't deny it. Has it changed...hell yea. Were they this peranoid in the 60's? The bud's changed.

So yeah, I unsubscribed to this post weeks ago and out of the blue I get an email about it?    

This site's a bit buggy, eh?

People just have to search their soul and be 100% honest and rationalization free about what they take and why they take it.

Personally, Pot is the LAST thing in the world I would try to treat my ADD with. Its been 40 years of inability to muster the mental acuity to act on the thoughts in my head.

Why would I want to smoke something that just expands the thoughts and lessens my motivation to act? I guess everyone is different, but I just don't get that trade-off.

I'm sure there are folks who honest to god need the pot to function, but I'll bet there are just tons of people telling themselves little stories about why they use it.

I've been through the hell of addiction and back. I'm not taking one extra friggin milligram of anything or one puff of anything unless I absolutely need it to function and support my family.

If I even feel for a second that my medication is starting to own me, or that I'm losing self honesty over it....I'm calling ten friends with a century of combined sobriety to find some honesty about it.

I wish everyone well who suffers. I just hope people don't rationalize their way into trading a disease for an addiction. 100% brutal and total honesty with yourself is the thing to do.

If you need your Wife or your Mommy or your boss or the State Patrol or the circuit court judge to coax you into a little self searching, then you are lost. Good luck everyone, and don't become addicted to anything you don't need. But if you honestly need it, God bless and good luck.

your NOT supposed to be up at 3 am ....dope fiend......hahahahahah.

   your just high (amphet. high, that is ) ....true add does not need a dose increase in  miliigrams to respond to the meds.......lol

  I am 37 yrs old....had it all my life ....im on straterra now (3 rd week ) hate it !!! 

  try taking 5 at a time ....you'll be up tommorow at 3 am ,too.

Isn't it ironic that people taking stimulants (that are widely condemned) see the need to jump on a sincere poster and "lol" "yeah right" his comment about marijuana for medicinal use.

And another posts pure nonsense about marijuana addiction. THC has no measurable physical addictive property. Alcohol and nicotine are physically addictive, extremely. So are stimulants and many depressants. THC gets a bum rap. Marijuana can become a psychological 'addiction', i.e. a frequent habit that is not generating useful results but is a refuge for stress or whatever. But then so can eating bowls of ice cream and drinking 10 sodas a day ...

Further, there are many people who judiciously use THC. I am aware of a very successful entrepenuer who has been doing THC for 30+ years and attributes success to the confidence-building, relaxing properties of THC ... at least in their case.

Just because someone uses THC does NOT IN ANY WAY make them a "yeah dude" stoner. I know persons who handle their THC so well you wouldn't have any idea they had just smoked. Further, there is a huge difference between doing a one hit and smoking a huge joint.

Persons who deliberately use marijuana know how much they are using, and do so to yield a beneficial effect on mood, appetite, creativity, etc. I do not know a single friend who uses marijuana to become stoned. I think that's for reckless teenagers and for adults who have the mentality of a reckless teenager.

People who carry on about 'marijuana abuse' generally have little knowledge of the subject, just hyperbolic opinion. It is NOT physically addictive, there is NO COMPULSION to smoke more and more. As a matter of fact, the beneficial response from THC administration is best maintained by smoking LESS, not MORE. Experienced users know this and manage their consumption to ensure the continued benefit.

People who are going to abuse marijuana, likely do so with alcohol and other substances as well. They are simply denying responsibility for their actions since they aren't finished abusing themselves yet. When they grow up, they will leave behind their abusive behaviors and engage in more responsible behaviors.

Many responsible, successful, happy, positive people are long-time cannabis users ... medicinal, considerate users ... not potheads, stoners and druggies.

- - -

Finally, with supercritical fluid extraction (SCFX), an industrial process using CO2 under pressure (~70 atmospheres), the psychoactive components of THC -- actually most other alkaloids as well -- can be extracted for use in oral medicines. SCFX is used on a huge scale for extracting most spices. The benefit of SCFX is that the CO2 is inert and doesn't involve all the nasty chemicals (solvents) and dangerous waste products of earlier extraction processes.

The subject material (THC, another alkaloid, a spice) enters solution in the supercritical CO2 and is transfered to another chamber. The pressure is lowered and the supercritical CO2 returns to a gas that can no longer hold the dissolved alkaloid, which then precipitates (rains) into the collection chamber. The gas is reused, not wasted. No nasty, explosive chemicals, no high temperatures for evaporating solvents etc. SCFX is a hugely popular process in modern, high-tech food manufacturing.

If the US Govt wasn't beholden to right-wing Xtians and draconian Rockefeller drug laws, THC would have long ago been developed into useful prescription pharmaceutical products. The prejudice against THC is solely due to tiny little minds in the heads of many people in power ... and people who vote for them.

There will be tablet or sublingual forms of THC in the future. It is only a matter of time. As for marinol, I have never tried it, but the experience accounts I have read (Erowid, Lycaeum, etc) generally describe it as worthless.