4 ms·

I'm struggling with this now. Daily cannabis user for 15 year or so, started puking not long after I'd switched primarily to concentrates. I've landed in the ER

I'm struggling with this now. Daily cannabis user for 15 year or so, started puking not long after I'd switched primarily to concentrates. I've landed in the ER several times, and been hospitalized a handful of times for dehydration. Usually once an episode starts, a cocktail of ativan, reglan, and pepcid is about the only thing that'll get me out of it. I've tried to quit cannabis several times now, but usually break down after a week or so when the night sweats and nightmares set in. I've been able to mostly get things under control by avoiding all concentrates and daily doses of nortryptiline and protonix, but quitting entirely is turning out to be really hard for me.

cainxinth 4y ago
This is why I’ve avoided concentrates. I’ve tried (and enjoyed) them all, but I was already concerned that my tolerance to plain old weed was too high. I knew if I got too into wax and shatter, I’d end up chasing the dragon (or at least the weed version of that) and potentially worse (i.e. cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome). Concentrates are something I treat myself to just a few times a year. Everything in moderation… including the occasional excess.
- dylan604 4y ago
  "but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas I've always liked that quote as I have seen it over and over again in people I know. Those that can use and moderate to just a recreational use vs committing to a full on daily use (addiction by most acceptable use) is very small. I love to partake when I have the time and lack of responsibilities requiring all of my faculties. But when I've tried the daily use and watched my capabilities diminish has shown me that I'm not fully functional with that daily use so I just keep it in the recreational realm. From my 100% unschooled medical perspective, those that think they are 100% with daily use are just lying to themselves.
  - johnisgood 4y ago
    Yeah. I wish that we determined who the actual "junkie" is on a case-by-case basis, not by the fact of consumption alone. I medicate for the same reasons mentally sick people do, but I actually have a physical brain damage and my limbic system might be the region affected along with many others. I am able to treat the mental issues, and the same medication happens to help with the incontinence I have. If I told anyone about it, they would consider me a junkie. I do not even get high from it, for fuck's sake. It makes me more neutral, otherwise I'm an emotional wreck, full of suicidal thoughts that I end up acting on eventually as I used to. I go through intentional withdrawal every N months to reduce my tolerance. I tend to keep the dose as low as possible. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I do not. I might buy that box that has a lock with a timer on it or something. ^^ I do not consider myself a junkie just because I am dependent on it, similarly how people are not junkies for depending on beta-blockers. They need it, and I need it too. It just happens to be something some people tend to abuse. Well, I do not wish to suffer because of them. Again, I do not get high, I do not get any of those feelings that would make me crave it. Many people might, but many people do not have the same medical condition as I do, I guess. As I said, I am not "100% with daily use". I sometimes fail at controlling the dose, because sometimes my issues are worse, but... I wish I did not have to depend on it. It fucking sucks. I do not want to depend on it, but I have tried every psychiatric medications there is during my years... None of them helped one bit. I had no idea that what I am taking would work either, I stumbled upon it by accident. Again, I wish I did not need this, but I am afraid I will die taking it unless they find a proper treatment or cure for what I have. But yeah... it sucks. I could talk about it more, like how I cannot even get out of bed and do my damn job without it and such, but welp.
    - aaaaaaaaata 4y ago
      Is it an amphetamine/upper?
      - johnisgood 4y ago
        No, that would make things worse for me.
- snarfy 4y ago
  I switched to shatter because it was much cheaper at the quantities I was doing. Then one day I was disgusted by the whole situation and went back to flower. I didn't like the idea of needing to use a blow torch to smoke shatter out of a crack pipe. Too many real life responsibilities and just getting too old for that.
tsol 4y ago
I've found concentrates way too strong for me. I've had conversations with friends where we both say we miss the cheap weak stuff. I've actually moved to microdosing concentrates. Using a tiny amount, no more than the head of a toothpick, gives me more control over how strong it is. The other thing you can do is switch to concentrates. This also makes it easier to quit because you know how much you're taking in so you can slowly taper down.
- selfmodruntime 4y ago
  I agree. The cheap weak stuff needs to come back.
bogomipz 4y ago
There was an article this past week in the nytimes about this where a young woman was experiencing this. The diagnosis was "Cannabis hyperemesis." The article is here if you are interested: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/well/mind/teens-thc-cannabis.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/well/mind/teens-thc-canna... See also: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21665-cannabis-hyperemesis-syndrome https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21665-cannabi...
theptip 4y ago
Just a suggestion - have you tried tapering your dose down? It is usually easier to stop a strongly formed dependency by gradually reducing the dose, instead of just stopping altogether. Reduce daily intake by X% every week. If a given step down ends up being too painful you just go back to the previous one for another week and then try a smaller step next time. Optimum X varies by drug but I’m sure there are recommendations specific for cannabis out there. It sounds like you have the desire to make a change, with persistence and the right technique you can definitely make it happen.
wonderwonder 4y ago
Why are you still smoking concentrates? Switch back to flower. Then slowly get flower with lower thc percentages. I have never been addicted to anything so its hard for me to relate so I dont want to cast negativity your way but friend if something is hospitalizing you go see an addiction specialist yesterday. Replace the addiction with something else that makes you feel good, start running or going to the gym. Good Luck!
- skyyler 4y ago
  >Why are you still smoking concentrates? If you read their comment a little closer, you will see that they do not. >I have never been addicted to anything so its hard for me to relate If you have no experience, why are you giving advice?
  - wonderwonder 4y ago
    Because I can? Its an open forum... Sorry if I offended you :)
    - sdfhsdfj 4y ago
      OP here on a different throwaway (because I already killed the session from yesterday). To be honest, I had to step away because of your comment. It is incredibly frustrating that every single time I've shared the situation in, some jerk chimes in with their preconceptions, often without even reading the information put in front of them. For instance my last trip to the E.R was the first in a few months. During triage the nurse confirms their existing records that Droperidol is the only medication I'm known to have a negative reaction to -- something that is documented, because multiple times in the same E.R, Droperidol has caused every muscle in my body to go twitchy. My chart indicates the Ativan/Reglan/Pepcid cocktail consistently works. P.A. comes into the room, first thing he asks is why I'm still smoking cannabis. He follows that up with orders for fluids and... Droperidol. Tells me he doesn't want to go the Ativan route because it can be habit forming and I'm already an addict. I spend the next couple hours twitching in addition to puking, until shift change, when the doctor who took over finally hit me with the right set of meds. And yes, I've been trying to get the mental health assistance I need. Unfortunately it is spectacularly difficult to find help unless you're either rich or destitute.
newsclues 4y ago
I live in Canada where there is legal weed, and even some of the legal cannabis makes you sick because it’s grown with chemicals and not flushed or it’s contaminated with powdered mildew or other shit. And it’s able to pass what little QC there is, and it makes me sick. So I buy from people that have been doing it for decades and smoke their own stuff as QC. If it’s too strong smoke less, but clean cannabis is the solution for that.
sam345 4y ago
And this is good to legalize?
snarfy 4y ago
I would not have been able to quit without the antacids. I think it is a mistake to take them continuously though. They are supposed to be taken two weeks on, two weeks off. Don't try to quit the weed until you start on the two weeks on cycle, then take them continuously while you get over the weed. Take all the hot baths you need.
fragmede 4y ago
Do hot showers make you feel better? Might be CHS https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_hyperemesis_syndrome https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_hyperemesis_synd...

cainxinth 4y ago

This is why I’ve avoided concentrates. I’ve tried (and enjoyed) them all, but I was already concerned that my tolerance to plain old weed was too high. I knew if I got too into wax and shatter, I’d end up chasing the dragon (or at least the weed version of that) and potentially worse (i.e. cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome). Concentrates are something I treat myself to just a few times a year. Everything in moderation… including the occasional excess.

dylan604 4y ago
"but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas I've always liked that quote as I have seen it over and over again in people I know. Those that can use and moderate to just a recreational use vs committing to a full on daily use (addiction by most acceptable use) is very small. I love to partake when I have the time and lack of responsibilities requiring all of my faculties. But when I've tried the daily use and watched my capabilities diminish has shown me that I'm not fully functional with that daily use so I just keep it in the recreational realm. From my 100% unschooled medical perspective, those that think they are 100% with daily use are just lying to themselves.
- johnisgood 4y ago
  Yeah. I wish that we determined who the actual "junkie" is on a case-by-case basis, not by the fact of consumption alone. I medicate for the same reasons mentally sick people do, but I actually have a physical brain damage and my limbic system might be the region affected along with many others. I am able to treat the mental issues, and the same medication happens to help with the incontinence I have. If I told anyone about it, they would consider me a junkie. I do not even get high from it, for fuck's sake. It makes me more neutral, otherwise I'm an emotional wreck, full of suicidal thoughts that I end up acting on eventually as I used to. I go through intentional withdrawal every N months to reduce my tolerance. I tend to keep the dose as low as possible. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I do not. I might buy that box that has a lock with a timer on it or something. ^^ I do not consider myself a junkie just because I am dependent on it, similarly how people are not junkies for depending on beta-blockers. They need it, and I need it too. It just happens to be something some people tend to abuse. Well, I do not wish to suffer because of them. Again, I do not get high, I do not get any of those feelings that would make me crave it. Many people might, but many people do not have the same medical condition as I do, I guess. As I said, I am not "100% with daily use". I sometimes fail at controlling the dose, because sometimes my issues are worse, but... I wish I did not have to depend on it. It fucking sucks. I do not want to depend on it, but I have tried every psychiatric medications there is during my years... None of them helped one bit. I had no idea that what I am taking would work either, I stumbled upon it by accident. Again, I wish I did not need this, but I am afraid I will die taking it unless they find a proper treatment or cure for what I have. But yeah... it sucks. I could talk about it more, like how I cannot even get out of bed and do my damn job without it and such, but welp.
  - aaaaaaaaata 4y ago
    Is it an amphetamine/upper?
    - johnisgood 4y ago
      No, that would make things worse for me.
snarfy 4y ago
I switched to shatter because it was much cheaper at the quantities I was doing. Then one day I was disgusted by the whole situation and went back to flower. I didn't like the idea of needing to use a blow torch to smoke shatter out of a crack pipe. Too many real life responsibilities and just getting too old for that.

tsol 4y ago

I've found concentrates way too strong for me. I've had conversations with friends where we both say we miss the cheap weak stuff. I've actually moved to microdosing concentrates. Using a tiny amount, no more than the head of a toothpick, gives me more control over how strong it is. The other thing you can do is switch to concentrates. This also makes it easier to quit because you know how much you're taking in so you can slowly taper down.

selfmodruntime 4y ago
I agree. The cheap weak stuff needs to come back.

bogomipz 4y ago

There was an article this past week in the nytimes about this where a young woman was experiencing this. The diagnosis was "Cannabis hyperemesis." The article is here if you are interested: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/well/mind/teens-thc-cannabis.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/well/mind/teens-thc-canna... See also: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21665-cannabis-hyperemesis-syndrome https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21665-cannabi...

theptip 4y ago

Just a suggestion - have you tried tapering your dose down? It is usually easier to stop a strongly formed dependency by gradually reducing the dose, instead of just stopping altogether. Reduce daily intake by X% every week. If a given step down ends up being too painful you just go back to the previous one for another week and then try a smaller step next time. Optimum X varies by drug but I’m sure there are recommendations specific for cannabis out there. It sounds like you have the desire to make a change, with persistence and the right technique you can definitely make it happen.

wonderwonder 4y ago

Why are you still smoking concentrates? Switch back to flower. Then slowly get flower with lower thc percentages. I have never been addicted to anything so its hard for me to relate so I dont want to cast negativity your way but friend if something is hospitalizing you go see an addiction specialist yesterday. Replace the addiction with something else that makes you feel good, start running or going to the gym. Good Luck!

skyyler 4y ago
>Why are you still smoking concentrates? If you read their comment a little closer, you will see that they do not. >I have never been addicted to anything so its hard for me to relate If you have no experience, why are you giving advice?
- wonderwonder 4y ago
  Because I can? Its an open forum... Sorry if I offended you :)
  - sdfhsdfj 4y ago
    OP here on a different throwaway (because I already killed the session from yesterday). To be honest, I had to step away because of your comment. It is incredibly frustrating that every single time I've shared the situation in, some jerk chimes in with their preconceptions, often without even reading the information put in front of them. For instance my last trip to the E.R was the first in a few months. During triage the nurse confirms their existing records that Droperidol is the only medication I'm known to have a negative reaction to -- something that is documented, because multiple times in the same E.R, Droperidol has caused every muscle in my body to go twitchy. My chart indicates the Ativan/Reglan/Pepcid cocktail consistently works. P.A. comes into the room, first thing he asks is why I'm still smoking cannabis. He follows that up with orders for fluids and... Droperidol. Tells me he doesn't want to go the Ativan route because it can be habit forming and I'm already an addict. I spend the next couple hours twitching in addition to puking, until shift change, when the doctor who took over finally hit me with the right set of meds. And yes, I've been trying to get the mental health assistance I need. Unfortunately it is spectacularly difficult to find help unless you're either rich or destitute.

newsclues 4y ago

I live in Canada where there is legal weed, and even some of the legal cannabis makes you sick because it’s grown with chemicals and not flushed or it’s contaminated with powdered mildew or other shit. And it’s able to pass what little QC there is, and it makes me sick. So I buy from people that have been doing it for decades and smoke their own stuff as QC. If it’s too strong smoke less, but clean cannabis is the solution for that.

sam345 4y ago

And this is good to legalize?

snarfy 4y ago

I would not have been able to quit without the antacids. I think it is a mistake to take them continuously though. They are supposed to be taken two weeks on, two weeks off. Don't try to quit the weed until you start on the two weeks on cycle, then take them continuously while you get over the weed. Take all the hot baths you need.

fragmede 4y ago

Do hot showers make you feel better? Might be CHS https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_hyperemesis_syndrome https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_hyperemesis_synd...