Posts Tagged ‘anxiety’

Medical Marijuana Patients In Irvine, CA July 27, 2010

Posted By Dr. Sean Breen on July 28th, 2010

If you are wondering what types of patients come in to see me for a medical marijuana recommendation, here is a list of all the complaints for the patients I had in Irvine today.  Most patients are coming in because of pain.   They are typically tired of using opiates such as vicodin and oxycontin and want an alternative.   Many of my patients are women in their 50’s and 60’s who are willing to try anything to get relief.

61 year old white female who using cannabis for her restless legs syndrome.

34 year old white male who has a diagnosis of anxiety and depression.

61 year old white female who suffers from arthritis

55 year old white male who had surgery to repair C5-6-7 herniated discs following a motor vehicle accident

51 year old white female who is going through menopause.  She has symptoms of anxiety, hot flashes, insomnia and is easily irritated.

41 year old white make who had reconstructive surgery on his right ankle and suffers from arthritis.

27 year old white female who suffers from anxiety since the age of 17.  She uses cannabis instead of xanax.

25 year old white make who injured his C6-7 vertebra surfing.   He uses cannabis for pain management.

59 year old white female who has sciatica and chronic lower back pain.  She uses cannabis instead of oxycontin.

You would be very surprised by the typical patients that I see using cannabis for their symptoms.   I think the majority of people when they think of medical marijuana envision “teenagers getting stoned.”  That is not the case and quite the opposite.

If you are suffering and would like more information on whether or not cannabis can help you improve the quality of your life feel free to call our office at 877-721-0047 or contact us online at www.mcsocal.com

Be blessed,

Dr. Breen

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Medical Marijuana and Withdrawal Symptoms;

Posted By Dr. Sean Breen on July 14th, 2010

As medical director for Medical Cannabis of Southern California I often evaluate patients who had used cannabis extensively for a long period of time prior to using it as a medication.   Many of these patients do in fact discuss similar withdrawal symptoms if they abruptly stop medicating.    Common complaints are irritability, anxiety, insomnia and difficulty focusing. Although cannabis as a medication is generally very safe I think these withdrawal symptoms warrant discussion.

Cannabinoids (the medically active ingredients in the plant) work by entering our body and bind to receptors on individual cells in the nervous and immune system.    Once the medicine binds to the receptor it causes changes to occur in the cell.   What can happen over time is that when receptors are constantly being bombarded(stimulated) by cannabis they can become less responsive to the cannabinoids (almost like “oh its you again… what do you want this time).  We see this in patients who develop diabetes.  High blood sugars lead to an increase and continuous release of insulin (which binds to cells and tells the cell to eat up the sugar) which bombard insulin receptors.  Over time these receptors are less responsive to the insulin and patients have hhigh blood sugar levels.

Although much more research needs to be done it makes sense that a similar situation occurs with cannabis.  The receptors most likely get fatigued and become less responsive to the cannabinoids.   The question becomes what happens if you stop using cannabis.  What makes sense is that these receptors are so used to becoming stimulated daily that the body reacts on a cellular level causing the symptoms people describe.    This is very similar to SSRI’s that patients take for depression.  Abruptly stoping them causes A LOT of issues.  THis is why patients are told to taper off slowly over time.

What I recommend for patients who regularly use cannabis is to give their bodies a break pretty frequently is possible.   Once a month go 3-5 days without it and let you body adjust naturally.   If you find that you are still having symptoms of withdrawal then maybe take breaks more frequently.

Whenever you use a medication you always have to weigh the benefits and risks.  If you are using cannabis for pain and your symptoms improve but you have to deal with mind withdrawal symptoms if you stop for a few days then it is probably worth it to continue.  You ultimately have to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Be blessed,

Dr. Breeen

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Medical Marijuana and Your Sex Life; SSRI’s for Depression and Anxiety

Posted By Dr. Sean Breen on July 13th, 2010

Today I spoke with two female patients who were taking anti-depressants (SSRI’s) for depression and experiencing significant sexual side effects.   In both cases, their lack of libido and inability to orgasm were causing significant challenges in their relationships.   They came to me to use medical marijuana to help their depression and anxiety and also in turn repair their sex lives.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s- i.e Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro etc) are drugs commonly used to treat depression and anxiety.  They work by increasing the amounts of serotonin that build up and concentrate around nerve cells in the brain which in turn elevates patients moods.   They are THE most common drug to treat depression and anxiety.

One of the downsides to using these medications is that they can reduce a patients libido and also make orgasm very difficult.

My first patient was a 27 year old women who had been taking Lexapro for the past 12 months for her Social Anxiety.    She went on to tell me that she is engaged to her boyfriend of 7 years.  Over the past year her sex drive has been “non-existent” which has made her relationship very challenging.   Even though her fiance has been extremely supportive she told me she feels “inadequate”  because of this.   Her boyfriend decided to search out alternative therapies when he came upon my website and read about previous patients in similar situations.

SHE TOLD ME THAT FOR THE PAST MONTH SHE HAS BEEN MEDICATING WITH CANNABIS AND HER SEX LIFE HAS BEEN GREAT. In addition to having sex more she stated that she was less inhibited which even enhanced her sexual experience with her fiance.   Her plan is to continue to use the Lexapro and use cannabis to stimulate her sex life.

My second patient was a 44 year old women who came in with her husband of 13 years.  She had a very similar story although she had been taking lexapro for depression which she had “as long as I can remember.”   They also had two autistic sons ages 10 and 8 which made time for romance very difficult.    Although she initially felt apprehensive about using marijuana as a medicine those feeling quickly subsided as her sex life started to improve.   Her husband was definitely supportive as he said there marriage is “in a place that it hasn’t been in… in a long time.”

I tell every patient that comes into my office that there are benefits and risks to using every medication.  Cannabis is no different.   In these two examples both women had to weigh the benefits they were receiving from using Lexapro from the risks… which in this case were a decline in their sex life—-> leading to stress in their relationships.

The plan was simple.  If cannabis improved the quality of their lives and relationships then they would use it… if not no harm done.  Cannabis is relatively benign if used responsibly.


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Marijuana (Cannabis) as alternative treatment for menopause; Medical Marijuana Doctors

Posted By Dr. Sean Breen on June 2nd, 2010

Today at my Irvine office I evaluated a 51 year old women who wanted an evaluation to see if medical marijuana could provide relief for some of the symptoms she has been experience as a result of menopause.   Specifically she had been suffering from severe hot flashes which caused secondary insomnia.   As a result of not being able to sleep well she was “always tired” during the day.  Her ob/gyn had tried prescribing paxil and ambien to help relieve her symptoms but the side effects were worse than what she was trying to relieve.    A few weeks back a friend of hers that had a medical marijuana card for chronic pain gave her some marijuana to try to improve her sleep.  The results “were amazing” she told me.

The first night she vaporized (inhaled smoke free) one pinch of a cannabis strain called OG Kush.  She described lying down and falling asleep almost immediately.  Prior to that she would “toss and turn” for a few hours before finally falling asleep.  She reported that she slept 8 hours for the first time in 2 years!   As a result she woke up feeling rested and was able to be more productive the next day.  She plans on using marijuana for the duration of her menopausal symptoms and is “so relieved” that she has a “more natural alternative.”

Menopause occurs because of decreasing estrogen levels in the womens body.   It typically occurs around the age of 51.   Many women experience hot flashes, vaginal dryness and nights sweats.   Many women also report feeling anxious or even depressed.   It can be a very difficult time for women as there reproductive organs “shut down” for good.   Typically doctos try giving their patients SSRI’s (antidepressants such as Paxil), Ambien to improve sleep and benzodiazepines to treat anxiety.   Hormone replacement therapy used to be the gold standard to reduce the typical symptoms but recent studies showed an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer.

I see many women who get great results by using small amounts of cannabis in the evening to reduce their symptoms.  Because cannabis is such a benign medication (very little unwanted side effects) I believe that it is a great alternative to try.   It is not addictive, is not toxic to any major organ system and be used as often as necessary.  In addition if vaporized (vs smoked) there are no harmful side effects from smoke which limits most patients from even trying it.

If you are in menopause or would like more information on whether you could benefit from using cannabis feel free to make an appointment at 877-721-0047.  There is NO FEE if you do not qualify or decide not to use it.

Respectfully,

Dr. Breen

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Veterans and Medical Marijuana; A Special need

Posted By Dr. Sean Breen on June 1st, 2010

As medical director of Medical Cannabis of Southern California I often meet patients who are combat veterans and are in need of help.   One of the blessings in my life was the opportunity to serve along side the Marines of 1st Battalion 4th Marines in Iraq from January-September 2003. I witnessed combat from the front lines and experienced the buffet of emotions that our troops go through on a daily basis.   Now that I am honorably discharged I can openly discuss the benefits of using cannabis to take care of:

1. The anxiety they experience.

2. The anger they may feel at times.

3. The depression, isolation and loneliness they feel.

4. The chronic pain that they are suffering from.

It is quite an honor and a privilege to be able to sit down with them and TRULY understand what they are going though.   Most of them need ongoing therapy which hopefully they get through the VA.  However instead of having to take oxycontin for pain, xanax for anxiety, ambien for insomnia and lexepro for depression they can simply try medicating with cannabis to regulate all of these symptoms.   I have had great success with many veterans over the past two years and really enjoy working with them.  They truly are the few and the proud.   They simply need help.

If you are a veteran and would like to discuss the benefits and risks of using cannabis for medicinal purposes feel free to make an appointment.  call 877-721-0047 or send me an email and I will answer your questions.

Semper fi,

Dr. Breen

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PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome), PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) and Marijuana (Cannabis): An alternative treatment

Posted By Dr. Sean Breen on April 26th, 2010

As medical director for Medical Cannabis of Southern California I often evaluate women who suffer from pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS).  They often complain of headache, pelvic pain, breast pain, difficulty sleeping, bloating, irritability, anxiety, depression and an inability to concentrate.   Typically the standard treatment that their doctors prescribe do not work well enough and they would like to try cannabis.   I have seen amazing results with women who vaporize cannabis to treat their PMS.

Standard treatment for many of these women are SSRI’s (anti-depressants) to treat any of their mood symptoms (irritability, depression and anxiety), high dose NSAIDS (naprosyn/motrin) for pain, spirinolactone for edema, ambien for sleeping difficulties and occasionally other no pharmaceutical therapies (Calcium and Magnesium Supplements)  The problem is that these treatment modalities come with many unwanted side effects…. and/or do not provide adequate relief.   SSRI’s can cause apathy and affect patients sex drive.  NSAIDS can cause dangerous gastro-intestinal bleeding, ambien can be addicting and often makes patients extremely groggy upon awakening and spirinolactone can cause electrolyte disturbances.

Studies have shown that up to 75% of women suffer from PMS/PMDD on some level.  That is an enormous amount of people that are taking a lot of different medications that are not only ineffective but can be very dangerous if taken regularly.

Once patients understand how cannabis works in the body they are much more comfortable trying it for their PMS symptoms.  Cannabis can be extremely relaxing, elevate patients moods and assist with sleep.  (good bye SSRI and Ambien).  It is amazing at relieving pelvic pain and headaches (good bye NSAIDS) and can increase a patients libido.

What I tell my patients is that it is definitely worth giving it a try.  If it works…GREAT!  If not…. simply don’t use it.   In the meantime it is not going to damage your liver, kidneys or cause GI bleeding.  You can not overdose on it and there is an extremely low potential for physical or psychological addiction.

Lastly, you can easily avoid smoking it by using a vaporizer which allows you to inhale the medicine SMOKE FREE!

If you suffer from PMS/PMDD and would like to discuss using cannabis to treat your symptoms feel free to give us a call at 877-721-0047.  Or you can simply pre-qualify for FREE at www.mcsocal.com

Be blessed,

Dr. Breen


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Pray for Jackie: Melanoma and Medical Marijuana (Cannabis)

Posted By Dr. Sean Breen on April 21st, 2010

How often do you do a complete skin exam?  For most people the answer is rare to never.     Unfortunately for many patients like Jackie they do not notice the irregularly shaped and colored lesion on their skin until it has already spread to other parts of the body.  Jackie is a patient of mine who discovered a melanoma on the upper right side of her back just next to her armpit.   It “was a fluke as I was putting on deodorant and twisted my body a certain way and “just happened to notice a smudge of dirt”.   Unfortunately as she went to wipe it off she realized it was not in fact dirt.  It was melanoma, a deadly skin cancer.

Melanoma is a deadly skin cancer because it tends to grow down into the body vs spreading out over the skin.  Once it gets into the bloodstream it spreads to other organs.   In Jackie’s case by the time she noticed it it had already spread to her lymph nodes and lung.   After undergoing surgery and treatment she now received scans every 6 months to monitor her progress.  Her next 6 month scan is coming up.

So if you could say a prayer for Jackie I am sure she would appreciate it:  Jackie I hope and pray that your melanoma goes into complete remission and the God heals you of this cancer.  May He provide you with peace and comfort during this challenging time.

The reason why Jackie is using cannabis is because her cancer has caused a lot of anxiety in her life.  She has had difficulty sleeping and just “relaxing when I get home from work.”  She is trying different strains to see which one helps the most with sleep.  She is vaporizing the medicine so she is NOT EXPOSING HER BODY TO ANY MORE SMOKE OR CARCINOGENS.

IF YOU ARE WONDERING IF YOU HAVE A CANCEROUS MOLE ON YOUR BODY HERE ARE SOME RED FLAGS TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR, THE ABCD’S OF MELANOMA:

1. Asymmetric: benign moles tend to be very symmetric in color and shape.   If they are brown they are brown throughout.  If they are round they tend to be uniform.   Melanomas tend to be asymmetrical in shape and color.   One side may have darker pigment than the other.

2. Border irregularities: Normal moles have sharply defined and symmetrical borders.  Melanomas tend to have irregularly shaped borders and have at times there is not a sharp demarcation between normal skin and the border of the cancer.

3. Color: Melanomas tend to have multiple color pigments and darker/lighter shades in the same mole.  Normal benign moles typically have the same consistent color throughout.

4. Diameter: normal moles are smaller than 6 mm in diameter (about the size of a pencil eraser).  Melanoma tend to be larger than 6 mm in diameter.

5. Evolving:  Melanomas tend to evolve or change characteristics over time.   Benign moles tend to stay the same throughout your life.

OK. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION ABOUT A MOLE ON YOUR BODY GO GET IT LOOKED AT ASAP!  THEY NEED TO CHECK EVERYWHERE ON YOUR SKIN…. THAT MEANS EVERYWHERE FROM THE SOLES OF YOUR FEET TO YOUR GLUTEAL CREASE TO YOUR ARMPITS AND GROIN.   MELANOMAS CAN OCCUR IN AREAS THAT RECEIVE NO SUN AT ALL.



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Faces of Cannabis: Heather; Psoriasis, Anxiety and Marijuana

Posted By Dr. Sean Breen on April 17th, 2010

People often wonder what “types” of patients come in for cannabis (marijuana) recommendations. Today I was honored to be able to meet Heather. She is a 24 year old female who suffers from psoriases. Psoriasis is a skin disorder characterized by large scaly red rashes (plaques) that is a result of excess inflammation. It can affect every area of the body to include the scalp. Interestingly Heather does not medicate with cannabis to treat her psoriasis but to treat the anxiety that comes from having visible skin lesions.

It often amazes me how crude and abrasive people can be to one another.   For Heather, her anxiety stems from people making comments to her in public about her skin lesions.  She told me that often times people will say to her “you really should keep that covered” (refering to the lesions that affect her upper arms, elbows and forearms) as recently happened on line at the supermarket.  She went to say that her old job made her cover her arms up at work and told her there was a company dress code.   Many time she said people just stare at her as if “I am an alien”.

Heather had been self medicating with cannabis for the past 6 months.  She stated that it allows her to go out in public without any anxiety about what people may say or think.  Many times when people ask her what is wrong with her arms she will be calm enough to simply educate them about psoriasis and how debilitating it can be psychologically.

Cannabis has allowed her to work, socialize and function without anxiety.   It has truly changed her life for the better.   One of the great things about cannabis is that she can use it daily without fear of addiction or toxicity to her major organ systems.   Because she vaporizes it she is not exposing herself to any smoke or carcinogens.

If you would like more information about whether or not cannabis can improve the quality of your life feel free to contact our office at 877-721-0047.   Or you can simply pre-qualify for free at www.mcsocal.com

Respectfully,

Dr. Breen


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Cannabis (Marijuana) and our Combat Veterans

Posted By Dr. Sean Breen on April 6th, 2010

As medical director for Medical Cannabis of Southern California I have many patients who are combat veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  Unfortunately the military has a ZERO tolerance towards any drug use and does not recognize cannabis as a medicine.   The majority of these patients have made the decision to use medicine for one of two things:

1. Chronic pain secondary to injuries sustained while on active duty.

2. Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Depression or Chronic Anxiety/Insomnia.

VA physicians are not allowed to discuss the use of cannabis with their patients.  However there are doctors like myself who are willing to discuss this treatment option.   I understand first hand what these men and women are going through.   I spent 9 months in 2003 with 1st battalion 4th marines in Iraq during the initial push of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I have already discussed in previous blogs the advantages of using cannabis to treating chronic pain.   It also will help with sleep, anxiety and depression.  ONE THING I DO WANT TO STRESS IS THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT PATIENTS WHO SUFFER FROM PTSD, DEPRESSION AND CHRONIC ANXIETY RECEIVE ONGOING TREATMENT FROM THE THERAPIST OR PSYCHIATRIST!   Cannabis should not replace these other treatment modalities but merely compliment them.

If you are a veteran and would like to speak to a former military combat physician about the use of cannabis feel free to call me at 877-721-0047  I would be happy to speak with you.

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Alternative Treatment for Alcohol Abuse; Marijuana (cannabis)

Posted By Dr. Sean Breen on November 21st, 2009

As medical director for Medical Cannabis of Southern California I often evaluate patients who want to stop drinking alcohol.   Alcoholism obviously destroys the life of the patient and the people they have relationships with.  I have had several patients who have been able to stop drinking and instead have substituted with cannabis.

Obviously, the BEST option for these patients would be to stop drinking altogether and not have to rely on any drug.  Many patients can successfully use 12 step programs and alcoholics anonymous to stop drinking.  But what about the patients who can’t?    In my professional opinion you have to then take a path of harm reduction and try to substitute alcohol with a less toxic and harmful substance that will work.   Many times I find that what the textbook says we should do as physicians and what is practical for patients doesn’t always match up.    Many times patients will say “when I come home from work I need to unwind, know I shouldn’t drink but need to just to relax.  If I could medicate with cannabis it would do the trick and keep me from drinking.”   Even though it is not ideal I think it is a viable approach to eliminating alcohol from their life.

Although I still believe that ultimately every alcoholic needs counseling and a definitive 12 step or like plan to completely heal themselves, they can medicate with cannabis and not continue to damage their bodies.   Cannabis has not been found to be toxic to any of the major organ systems if not smoked. It is a very good medication for anxiety, insomnia, pain and many other medical conditions.  You can not over dose on it and it is not physically addicting.   It has been used safely for over 4000 years and up until the 1940’s it was part of the US Pharmacopeia.

If you  would like more information to determine if cannabis can help you eliminate or control your alcohol consumption please feel free to make an appointment by calling 877-721-0047 or visit our website at www.mcsocal.com.


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