Chapter 18

This chapter is about the effects marijuana can have on medications as well as the therapeutic effects weed can have when you aren't on any meds. To start off, drugs should never be mixed with other drugs that aren't compatible. It's dangerous, and can have adverse effects or can make whatever medications you're on stop working. "According to Dr. Oh, he and the other pharmacists are neither advocating nor discouraging the use of marijuana. However, they want the public to know that just as pairing grapefruit with statins can cause a dangerous interaction, THC and CBD — chemicals found in marijuana and cannabis products, such as gummies and other edibles — can interact with prescription medications and lead to serious side effects. These side effects can include bleeding complications, increased drowsiness, reduced heart rate and breathing rate, extreme confusion and memory loss, poor judgement, and aggression. THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, interacts with nearly 400 prescription medications, and CBD (cannabidiol) interacts with more than 540. Common types of drugs that can have dangerous interactions with marijuana include: Sedatives — such as Ambien, Lunesta and Benadryl, Anti-anxiety medications — such as Xanax, Valium and Librium, Antidepressants — such as Zoloft, Prozac and Lexapro, Pain medications — such as codeine, Percocet and Vicodin, Anticonvulsants (seizure medications) — such as Tegretol, Topamax and Depakene, Anticoagulants (blood thinners) — such as Coumadin, Plavix and heparin." In my experience, weed affected my mood, specifically my depression, anxiety, and aggression, but switching to the topic of the therapeutic effects, it increased my mood and relaxation during the time periods while I was high. "CBD and THC have many of the same medical benefits. They can provide relief from several of the same conditions. However, CBD doesn't cause the euphoric effects that occur with THC. Some people may prefer to use CBD because of the lack of this side effect. CBD is used to help with other various conditions, such as: seizures, inflammation, pain, psychosis or mental disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, nausea, migraine, depression, and anxiety. THC is used to help with the following: pain, muscle spasticity, glaucoma, insomnia, low appetite, nausea, and anxiety." Thank you for reading My Journey Through Mental Health, Going Through it Together. Please remember to collect and comment on, vote on or review this book. Also if you have any topics you'd like me to discuss please put it them in the comments.