Xanax vs Marijuana (cannabis) for Anxiety: Medical Marijuana Orange County and Long Beach
May 29, 20106 CommentsDisease Treatment
benzodiazepines,
cannabis,
cannabis indica,
cannabis sativa,
Dr Sean Breen,
marijuana,
Medical Marijuana,
panic attacks,
panic disorder,
xanax
As medical director for medical cannabis of southern california I provide medical marijuana recommendations for patients throughout Orange County and Long Beach. One of the most common complaints that I here from patients is that they are tired of taking Xanax to treat their anxiety because of all the side effects and want a safer more natural alternative. Marijuana has been shown to have incredible anxiolytic properties and has limited unwanted side effects.
Xanax is a drug that is most commonly used to treat anxiety and panic disorder. It falls into a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It works by binding to areas in the brain that regulate a compound called GABA. GABA has an inhibitory affect on the brain, meaning it slows everything down.
Unfortunately benzodiazepines have a plethora of side effects. The first is that patients build up a tolerance and dependance which means they require more and more to get the same effect over time. Xanax can become highly addicting and patients can experience withdrawals when they try to stop. On top of having to worry about becoming addicted to xanax patients most commonly experience the following: DROWSINESS, LIGHTHEADEDNESS, DEPRESSION, HEADACHE, CONSTIPATION, DRY MOUTH, CONFUSION, NAUSEA AND VOMITING, AMNESIA
MORE SERIOUSLY PATIENTS CAN HAVE: INCREASED HEART RATE, SEIZURES, BREATHING DIFFICULTIES
Most commonly patients tell me they walk around feeling like a “zombie” and they “can not function on it.”
Cannabis has been shown to have incredible anxiolytic properties. It is NOT addicting, you can not overdose and it has very few unwanted side effects. It can be used daily in small doses with better results than xanax. Patients report using it prior to bed time and they say it not only helps them sleep but regulates their mood for 24-48 hours following.
If you would like more information on how cannabis can treat your anxiety I would be happy to discuss the benefits of using cannabis with you. Give our Irvine or Long Beach office a call at 877-721-0047
www.mcsocal.com provides medical marijuana recommendations to patients who qualify under California Proposition 215.
Dr. Sean Breen
I have been prescribed Xanax for so long ive lost count, 4-5 years,to make it ” work better” Id have 2 or 3 stiff drinks along with it, as you can imagine that wasnt a very good regular habit to have developed, so I went to AA for a bit & quit drinking approx 1 year ago,But the pills remained prescribed to me. I dont think I was realy addicted to achol, no witdrawls, no overwelming urges or relapses, It was too easy to quit, I didnt feel like I fit in I couldnt relate to the other Acholics. I belive my addiction was to the meds the liquor was a scapegoat. I just wanted have a couple drinks to ease my stress like everyone else. Stopping drinking made everyting anxitywise much worse I was in a downward spiral. My Dr presciberd remron becuse I was slept one night i a week, and someother med for depression both of which didnt work. My Dr has tried just about every med he is aware of to no avail Though I hadent since my early 20s I suplemented smoking 4-6 months later & things got noticable better, not just to me but to my famiy as well ,they just didnt know why, I never have been comfortabe with pills to fix my mental state, though I must admitt that in taking the meds I was better able to separate real vs axnity driven perceptions of threats, ” some of them were only in my head Everytime I go into the Drs office Im afraid to tell him how afraid I am. I have developed a tollarence to the meds & I know the only solution he has availible is to raise the dosage Im @ 4mg a day, I dont want to take any more of it, Unfortunatly theres not much you can do as im in Iowa, Ive never been unemployed at any point from the day I stated @ 17,Im now 32, I have children, been married 9 years & dont want to loose that because my safe natural remedy of choice is illegal here,my point is I am not a criminal & dont like being labled as one so I stopped & the downward spiral began again, I just want to hide in a dark closet,& not interact with anyone. Following the law is important to me but somethings got to give here soon or I fear I will have had enuff & will take the whole bottle fix my anxity permanatly. I dont know if you can provide the letter that says ” this guy could bennifit, hes not just trying to get high” letter, To a non CA resident but I am indeed suffering, In my mind its just like my perscription for the pills having had spoken with a medical professional been given an official recomendation would make feel better about it, Then Id feel like a pacient that lives in the wrong state, Im not sure why as id still be prosicuted if caught. I guess it would be a peace of mind thing knowing Id not just come to the conclusion myelf. Let me know what you think? Thank you for your time
Wow I have finaly found something that goes with what i have been dealing with for the last 4/5 years as well. I to as well am facing losing my mind on these drugs so I to went to the mj for a trial basis. I could not believe how much difference it made. I have researched alot of different websites for alturnatives for anxity,and even went to the dr that i have seen for the last 10 years to explain my case……….to my surprise i was given a higher dose of the meds and then told in a month from the prescription that i would then be drug tested in the office for any substance that i was not prescribed and if anything is in my system then i would be turned away for a more prescription. It just proves that honesty is a double edge sword. I went to get help and got told you need a heavier dose of zanix, and leave the mj alone or you wont get the pills. All I asked is there anything he could prescribe me that would take the edge off live the mj did because i work construction and long hours. I have lived on my own since I was15 paying my own way, I to am not lazy, just becoming an old man before i can reach the retirement age of 70 now…………i have looked up why mj is looked down upon all over the internet and can not find anything on it accept its illegal…..currently I am living in a stat that does not suport mj or out of state card carriers, however i have lived in my state all my life and my family is here. Its on the books for legalization but i fear in this state youll have to be dieing to get the card because there scared that everyone is going to turn into the hulk, I just wish they would see that it has been here and is being used everyday by more people than will admit, I am just one of the ones who is speaking up for either giving those who need its medical provision or finding the equivalent of it because were not all the same and when you prescribe a bandaid for my forehead because i have a headache is when i really start to wonder if i am truly paying the right state taxes and should maybe consider moving…..thanks for listing
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Dr Breen, i have to respectfully disagree. I have anxiety problems and was originally prescribed Xanax and took it for 6 years then switched to Medical Marijuana for the last 3 years. I am now as we speak going through physical and mental withdrawl. You can become addicted just as easily as you can to alcohol or coffee. For some addictionis worth the benifits but please do not misinform readers by saying it is not addictive. Please tell people the truth, i agree its way better than a bunch of the meds out there but saying its NOT addicting is a load of bull. My headaches nausea irretabilty insomnia amongst other feelings right now are evidence of addiction. And to clarify medical marijuana is the only medication ive been on for the past 6 months and never done a “street” drug.
Dave,
Experiencing mild withdrawal symptoms is not uncommon but that is different than “addiction”. The Mayo clinic defines addiction as follows:
“Drug addiction is a dependence on an illegal drug or a medication. When you’re addicted, you may not be able to control your drug use and you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes. Drug addiction can cause an intense craving for the drug. You may want to quit, but most people find they can’t do it on their own.”
I have not spoken to any patients who have not been able to stop cannabis at will. Also, you do not get the “cravings” with cannabis like you do with benzodiazepines or opioids. Withdrawal symptoms can occur as you have experienced but that typically happens with patients who use recreational doses over long periods of time. But true addiction to cannabis is extremely rare with medical dosing.