Can Marijuana Help Your Bipolar Disorder

Can Marijuana Help Your Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder Treatment Print Can Marijuana Help Your Bipolar Disorder? By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 09, 2020 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 15, 2020 Bipolar Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Your Rights Deux / The Image Bank / Getty Images Award-winning mental health journalist and author,  John McManamy, wrote a thoughtful blog about the implications of medical marijuana as a treatment for bipolar. Its reasonable to think that the risks outweigh any possible benefits, but the topic is certainly worth discussing. Since both bipolar depression and mania can have psychotic features, there is some evidence that even medical marijuana use might have negative effects in people with bipolar disorder.?? Studies Show Links to Worse Outcomes Medical research shows that cannabis use in people with psychosis is associated with an earlier age of their first psychotic episode. Its also associated with manic symptoms and problems thinking.?? In one study, patients who quit using marijuana or reduced its use following their first psychotic episode had the greatest improvement in symptoms at the one-year mark, compared both to continuing cannabis users and people who had never used cannabis.??  Long-term cannabis use may have a negative effect on long-term clinical outcomes for those with bipolar spectrum disorders, as well. A 2015 study found lower bipolar disorder remission rates for current regular cannabis users (those who used it three times a week or more often) and those who regularly smoke tobacco when compared to people who dont use either substance. That study, which lasted two years, concluded that regular marijuana users who also have bipolar didnt do as well long-term as people who didnt use the drug.?? Another study looked at the short-term effects of cannabis use in people with bipolar disorder  and concluded that the drug was associated with both manic and depressive symptoms. However, that study couldnt find evidence that people with bipolar were using cannabis to self-medicate on a regular basis.?? Now, none of these studies prove that cannabis is actually causing these problems in people with bipolarâ€"they just show an association between marijuana use and problems. But you should factor this information into your thinking when deciding whether or not to use cannabis. Substance Abuse Risk With Marijuana All drugs have risks and side effects, and cannabis is no exception. Substance abuse can be quite prevalent among those with bipolar disorder. People have used alcohol and drugs to try to control their systems in great numbers  and may reduce their likelihood of successful treatment of their bipolar as a result. By using marijuana to self-medicate for bipolar disorder, you run the risk of gaining a second diagnosis in addition to your bipolar diagnosis: substance abuse (Substance use disorder).