Study to target pot withdrawal

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Study to target pot withdrawals

Jennie Dell | 16th February 2011

 

http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2011/02/16/study-to-target-pot-withdrawal/

 

 

Study to target pot withdrawal

 

PEOPLE who feel their use of marijuana is problematic, and who want to stop smoking pot, are being invited to take part in a new trial at the Riverlands Drug and Alcohol Centre in Lismore.

 

The trial is being conducted with researchers from the Uni-versity of Sydney to evaluate the safety and usefulness of the mood-stabilising medication lithium, commonly used for the management of bipolar affective disorder in the management of cannabis withdrawal.

 

Trial co-ordinator, Dr Jennifer Johnston, said while many pot smokers felt they could stop at will, others found they experienced withdrawal symptoms such as sleep difficulties, incr-eased anger and aggression, irritability, nervousness and anxiety.

 

“Some users at the severe end of cannabis use struggle to give it up, so for them we are offering a seven-day detox at Riverlands,†she said.

 

The project is a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. Neither the participants nor the medical officers will know who is receiving lithium and who is getting a placebo.

 

“When I first heard about this, I was a bit concerned about using lithium – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and all that,†Dr Johnston admitted.

 

“But we will only be administering lithium in low doses for seven days – it’s long term, high-dosage lithium use that can be problematic for some patients. And currently we have no medications for use in cannabis withdrawal management.

 

“We’re hoping to attract a large number of people to take part in this. During the seven days, as well as receiving lithium or a placebo, participants will have access to all our back-up services, group meetings and other activities and will be closely monitored throughout with urine, blood and saliva tests for levels of lithium, oxytocin and THC.

 

“Their board and lodging and treatment will be completely free of charge.

 

“Some people who want to withdraw from using cannabis feel they need a break from their families and responsibilities for a while and this trial will offer them the space to concentrate on themselves for a week.

 

“Of cannabis users, between 10 and 20 per cent are dependent on the drug and can experience associated psychological, social or physical harms as a result.

 

“And of those who are dependent, about half to three-quarters will experience some uncomfortable symptoms when withdrawing, and we currently have no medications to alleviate that.â€

 

Anyone interested in finding out more about the trial can contact Dr Johnston on 1800 757 110 or jennifer.johnson@sydney.edu.au.

[rollingnumberspassingtime]

BAHAHAHAHA!!

 

Yep, if I was trying to stop smoking weed, the first place I'd go would be a half hour drive from Nimbin. Genius.

[smashed1]

well ive just done me own study , been smokeing an ozz every two weeks since december, two days ago run out ,

SYMPTOMS= racing mind specialy when going to sleep,

sleep not to bad took a few hours to get to sleep last night but ,

feel more motivated to do things , not to happy about that one!!!

ow haveing lil bit trouble concentraiting specialy when watching tv ,

an bit sweaty under arms not much but,

 

but this time tomorrow it will be all over , so most is very mild except for racing mind that sux,

 

running out of tobacco is much much more difficult, an some other drugs were HELL , but pot is nothing ,just anyoing

Edited February 16, 2011 by smashed1

[Frank Reynolds]

OH MA GAWD!! Smashed is 100% right only thing I get when i stop smoking is the racing mind the first and maybe the second night. That's it. I've stopped smoking heaps of times cold turkey and every time that's is the only problem, nothing a night out drinking doesn't help =D

[redeyes420]

ive jsu stopped smoking recenty due to the whole emirgration thing.

i was smoking an oz a week in the uk and have done for the past 15 years !

its been 3 weeks that ive not smoked for now.

first few days NO appitite and a bit moody

after a week i got my appitite back, but have no interest in sweets and chocolate, (used to cane the stuff)

three weeks in just get wacked out dreams every night , Very very vivid and not that pleasent

i do find it hard in the evenings , i cant seem to unwind..

still i just found a local growshop :)

so it wont be too long now '

[louise]

What the fuck, lithium for pot withdrawal... to my mind now that is just stupid. There are much safer drugs available to assist with detox that actually work and don't have the potentially life threatening side effects of lithium.

 

Yeah, free bed and board for a week while they pump you full of lithium... it takes lithium several weeks to show any effect on mood and needs to be taken long term to find out whether you happen to respond to it. I suppose it's a lot cheaper than the effective cocktail of Seroquel and Valium currently used in some of the more forward thinking detox units... but who cares anyway... they are only experimenting on drug users... not like they are an important group in society.

 

And guys, even if you don't experience much in the way of detox symptoms yourselves, try and remember we are all different. Some people do suffer quite nasty physical and psychological symptoms during detox and beyond.

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I must agree, Lithium for cannabis detox????????? WTF?

[smashed1]

I suppose it's a lot cheaper than the effective cocktail of Seroquel and Valium currently used in some of the more forward thinking detox units..

 

so thats why they gave me 200 ml seroquel, i dont like em they make you heaps druosier than xanex an next day it takes most the day to come good an its not a good feeling at all.

 

i must admitt redeyes i havent been very hungry ever an now mouth is a shitty taste in it sortof metallic tast.

Edited February 16, 2011 by smashed1

[euph0rix]

Today is day 30 since Ive had any weed, The first 3 days were the hardest, having cravings for a cone all day. My symptoms were irritability, unrest, insomnia, extreme vivid dreams, loss of motivation, lethargy throughout the day, loss of appetite, anxiety, depression(although this is something i have anyway it was more pronounced for the first 14 days) Hot flushes, night sweats and one really weird one was really itchy tingly feet. Now at day 30 I still have weird vivid dreams, lethargy throughout the day, loss of motivation and I dont know whether you could call it insomnia but my body clock is out of rhythm. I am going to bed between 1 and 3 am and sleeping until around 11am to 12:30pm. When I was smoking my sleep cycle was around 11pm to 8am. Most of the withdrawal effects lasted around 14 days, they were very strong for the first 7 days. I dont have any cravings for weed but I still find the need to get high (from anything other than weed) But havent. Thanks for reading

 

Edit: I might also add Ive had improved memory to the point of having memories surface from my childhood and teenage years, mostly negative but also some positive ones

Edited February 16, 2011 by euph0rix

[jimbojones5678]

it takes lithium several weeks to show any effect on mood and needs to be taken long term to find out whether you happen to respond to it. I suppose it's a lot cheaper than the effective cocktail of Seroquel and Valium currently used in some of the more forward thinking detox units

 

hmmmm...couldn't have said it any better.

 

Seroquel is a fantastic drug if you NEED it, and is not one to be taken flippantly.

 

I guess we're going to have wait and see the side effects of Lithium use as a detox drug before we can really make any judgments.

 

Jimbo