Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Disclosure:

The statements in this forum have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are generated by non-professional writers. Any products described are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Website Disclosure:

This forum contains general information about diet, health and nutrition. The information is not advice and is not a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional.

Looking for doctors opinion - Marijuana usage with Vasovagal Syncopes

Discussion in 'Medical Marijuana Usage and Applications' started by ladychronic21, Oct 23, 2013.

  1. #1 ladychronic21, Oct 23, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 23, 2013
    I'm 21 years old and have been smoking daily since I was 15.  About 6 months ago, I was diagnosed with vasovagal syncopes, meaning my heart can't automatically raise my blood pressure when it drops. When my blood pressure drops, I can't get enough blood to my head and then I will pass out anywhere from a minute to twenty minutes.  
     
    I last smoked in July and ended up passing out, however I was also smoking cigarettes and addicted to caffeine (both of which I've stopped now). I've been smoking marijuana for years and it's now been 6 months since I've tried. I really miss smoking and was wondering if marijuana drastically affects blood pressure or if it's just the 'smoking' aspect which causes my blood pressure to drop. I'm hoping that I'll be okay or have less harsh symptoms using vaporizers or edibles, but I'd like to get a medical opinion before I try it out.  Please let me know if you have any more questions for me, I'd be more than happy to answer.
     
    If anyone else has vasovagal syncopes I'd love to hear your opinion as well!
     
     

     
  2. [SIZE=10pt]Hello :hello:[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE]
     
    [SIZE=10pt]A diagnosis of [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]vasovagal syncope means you have one of the most common types of fainting. There is evidence that suggests Cannabis will lower both blood pressure and blood sugar. In your particular case, this could be enough to trigger syncope (fainting). Be aware that the effects Cannabis has on blood pressure will be the same in edibles as in smoking. When you smoke or vaporize, hyperventilation could also compound your issue and make you more prone to fainting than Cannabis alone. [/SIZE]
     
    [SIZE=10.5pt]Generally, without a compounding underlying condition (anemia, neurological disorders etc.) syncope is not a cause for too much alarm. Whether or not to try Cannabis again is up to you. If you do, I would recommend an edible to try (eliminating the hyperventilation variable) as the best way to determine effects. There's really no way to know exactly how it will affect you but know that syncope is a definite possibility no matter how you consume Cannabis. Talk with your doctor(s) and best of luck.[/SIZE]
     
    [SIZE=10.5pt]Out of curiosity, do others in your family have a similar issue with syncope?[/SIZE]
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    *information and reference materials contained here are intended solely for the general information of the reader. It is not to be used for treatment purposes, but rather for discussion with the patient's own physician. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of professional medical care. The information contained herein is neither intended to dictate what constitutes reasonable, appropriate or best care for any given health issue, nor is it intended to be used as a substitute for the independent judgment of a physician for any given health issue. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only. The major limitation of informational resources like www.grasscity.com is the inability to take into account the unique circumstances that define the health issues of the patient. If you have persistent health problems or if you have further questions, please consult your health care provider. All visitors to this post and other  associated or related web sites agree to read and abide by the complete terms of this agreement.
     
  3. Thank you very much, I really appreciate your help!  There's no family history of syncopes, I'm the first to be diagnosed.  It's so strange, I've rarely had any fainting issues prior to this year and now they get triggered pretty frequently. I know dehydration and caffeine are huge triggers for me as well so I'm hoping I'll be able to tolerate Cannabis if I continue avoiding both of those. 
     
  4.  
     
    ...you should talk to YOUR Doctor about this.
     
     
    Nobody on GC has a medical degree and a license to practice medicine.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  5. I have an MD/PhD from the UC Irvine School of Medicine. I am not currently licensed to practice medicine because I work in a lab and it is not required. Neither is a license free, thus I have allowed it to lapse.
     
    Disclaimers are necessary because this is the internet and people can access this from all over the world. Even a practicing physician with a current license in their state cannot advise across state lines in America, let alone to the rest of the world. I don't know if you could be successfully sued for something like this (generalized internet advice? I doubt it) but why chance it at all?
     
    To have a sub-forum dedicated to “Medical Marijuana Usage and Application” seems to indicate GC would like members to discuss the medicinal application of Cannabis which is all we're doing.  Of course she should speak with her own doctor about this, I said as much.  But that does not mean the information I provided is incorrect or improper.
     
    I would be stunned to learn I was the only member on GC with some sort of medical degree.  Of course you are free to believe what you would like.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  6. #6 4shotmark, Oct 24, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2013
    OP, I suffer from horrible bouts of vasovagal.
    Smoking in the beginning triggered a faint spell for me a couple times, but these times were all my fault. My doctor advised against me smoking, but for pain issues and sleep issues I decided to anyways. The only times I passed out were times where I got way too high which caused my heart rate to increase very rapidly and then with the low blood pressure effects drop again very rapidly. It was sometimes an intense feeling.
     
    I don't know if you can but a lot of us with vasovagal can tell we're gonna pass out minutes before we actually start feeling faint. This was the case with the times I got too high as well. I got so anxious that I knew it was gonna happen.

    Now, it has an inverse effect and is extremely helpful with managing faint like symptoms and relaxing the mind. Be careful OP!
     
  7. @[member="cball"] I plan on talking to my Cardiologist as well. I was just hoping to hear some additional perspectives before consulting him. I know vasovagal affects everyone differently and that what works for other others won't necessarily work for me.
     
  8. Why would you wanna smoke if you faint. Just dont smoke?

    Sent from my SGH-T959 using Grasscity Forum mobile app

     
  9. @[member="4shotmark"] I'm so thankful you shared that with me!  I tried smoking a few times after I was diagnosed and I didn't pass out each time.  I remember I smoked a bowl and my heart was fluttering uncomfortably, but I didn't feel like passing out. But a different time I hit a huge bong and passed out within minutes. When I know I"m going to pass out I break into a sweat, my heart starts palpitating and I start feeling disoriented and dizzy. I have anxiety as well so when my heart first started feeling funny (before an official diagnosis) I was under the impression I was going into cardiac arrest or something serious, so I would always panic as soon as my heart began to flutter. I'm now on a beta blocker and my vasovagal is more manageable so I'm hoping I can try smoking a little.  
     
    My doctor advised me against smoking anything in general so we didn't explicitly talk about the effects of Cannabis. I plan on talking to him again as well, but he made it clear that I had to experiment with my triggers to see what I can handle without fainting.
     
  10. @[member="NjSouRKuSh"] I don't always faint when I smoke.  It's difficult for me because I've been smoking frequently for 6 years and this issues just started happening this year. I haven't smoked for about 6 months but I really miss doing it, especially when i get migraines.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  11. What I thought was fainting when I was younger turns out to have been narcolepsy   Use to fall asleep standing up.  Not as much fun as it looks like in the movies you don't just hang there or at least I didn't.  Use to drop like a sack of potatoes.  Always woke up when my head hit the floor.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  12. Dude, why are you so fucking negative?? Don't post if all you do is spew negative drivel.

    I've learned so much more to better my health from this section than any doctor could fathom.
    You come off as what is majorly wrong with this country, imo. You want somebody else to solve all your problems and support you through your life instead of just doing a little work, personal development, and bettering YOURSELF.

    How's your doctor handling your condition again??? Oh, that's right.....
     
  13. I got officially diagnosed with vasovagal syncope last year,l. I’ve been struggling with it sense I was 12 though, and I started smoking weed when I was 17 (20 now) at first I had a lot of issues with my heart rate going up to high but after a few months and my body getting used to smoking it helped me so much with my symptoms of course everyone is completely different and it could effect you differently but it’s helped my triggers, dizziness/chronic migraines and higher my heart rate when it’s to low. My heart rate easily goes to 120/150 when triggered and dropped down to 50 (normally when I pass out) I learned personally smoking kept if from getting that low to pass out. I’ve had better luck with wax than bud and have stuck to wax for the past yr to help with my symptoms edibles and liquid drops are also really good for helping my issues with vasovagal syncope but I recommend talking to your cardiologist and a specialist for marijuana use (in the middle of getting my MMJ card)
     

Share This Page