VT – Bipolar disorder is a complex mental disorder that is difficult for psychiatrists and therapists alike to treat. Patients' moods fluctuate between mania and depression, affecting all areas of their lives. Project CBD, a hub for reporting on CBD and cannabis medicine, writes, “For many people, just existing becomes unbearable, and 25 to 60 percent attempt suicide at some point in their lives.”
However, this story has recently changed. Project CBD reports that patients and a small number of pioneering physicians are “reporting life-changing benefits of CBD-rich cannabis, including mood stabilization, the holy grail of bipolar symptom management.” It is reported that.
Although symptoms of bipolar disorder often appear during adolescence, it may take up to eight years into adulthood for a formal diagnosis and specific treatment to be warranted. Young patients are often misdiagnosed with ADHD, with symptoms such as excessive talking and impulsivity, which span both conditions.
Bipolar disorder is treated with a combination of medications, including mood stabilizers such as lithium, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants, and often leaves patients unable to carry out daily activities. .
Self-medicating with cannabis or alcohol is common but not recommended by medical professionals. Clinicians tend to avoid recommending cannabis to bipolar patients due to the risk of worsening manic episodes and its “association with increased risk of psychosis.”
Holistic doctor Deborah Malka, M.D., has seen several patients with bipolar disorder over the years and is one of the doctors willing to prescribe CBD oil for bipolar patients, citing research. is.
Malka found that out of 10 patients with bipolar disorder, most found it most effective to use CBD as an ongoing mood stabilizer. CBD has anticonvulsant properties, and anticonvulsants are frequently prescribed to patients with bipolar disorder to address the side effects of traditional psychotropic medications.
Dr. Malka advised patients to seek professional help from a physician before attempting treatment with cannabis. Cannabis high in THC can alter a patient's perception, make them unable to reason clearly, and induce psychotic experiences.
In the Project CBD article, author Mary Biles interviews a woman named Diane Greene. Green, who lives in California, struggled to control her bipolar disorder symptoms until she started using CBD. The medication she took left Ms. Green feeling like she was in a fog. “Rather than improving her depressive episode, the medication made it worse,” Project CBD wrote.
CBD made the greens calmer and more relaxed. Eventually, over time, Ms. Green stopped taking her other medications (done under the guidance of a mental health professional). She is currently taking 33 mg of CBD twice a day and is experiencing a reduction in her bipolar cycles.
Further research needs to be done to see if CBD can help bipolar patients. A 2020 review by the National Library of Medicine studied CBD and its effects on various mental health conditions. The study found that “CBD and CBD-containing compounds, such as nabiximol, are associated with comorbidities in cannabis-related disorders, schizophrenia, social anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).” “It can help alleviate the symptoms of.” Moderate recommendation. However, the evidence is weaker for insomnia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and Tourette syndrome. ”
Research is also being conducted on cannabis use and bipolar disorder. A 2017 review by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute (ADAI) found that cannabis use was associated with the onset of bipolar disorder at younger ages, longer or worsening manic episodes, and a higher likelihood of attempting suicide. It has been reported. Another study found that patients felt less angry, depressed, and nervous after smoking cannabis.
It is up to the individual to decide what works for them and their mental health. CBD has been shown to reduce some of the symptoms of the disease alongside medication. It also has the potential to be an alternative to the numbing prescription drugs traditionally prescribed to patients with bipolar disorder.
Do you have any personal experience with cannabis and CBD and their effects on mental health? Whether positive or negative, your story may provide valuable insight to others. Please share your experience by emailing us at info@greenmountaincannabisnews.com.
