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Medical Marijuana & Metoprolol Tartrate (beta blocker)

Hello,

I am going to be applying to receive a medical marijuana card for treatment of my Tourette, severe anxiety disorder and PTSD. I take 25mg of Metoprolol Tartrate every morning solely for anxiety to slow my heart rate down (I tend to get anxiety episodes where tachycardia is the main symptom). I’m wondering if anyone (preferably a doctor, of course) would know if medical cannabis would interact with beta blockers, such as Metoprolol Tartrate. I’m afraid to stop taking it because I’ve been taking it for a long time and would be afraid that my heart rate would speed up at any moment (it’s gotten up to the 120s during panic attacks before & all doctors have checked my heart thoroughly saying there’s nothing wrong with it). Any thoughts on this? I’m very nervous but am exploring medical marijuana/cannabis as a last resort med to treat my anxiety and panic.
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Avatar universal
I may not have the answer to your question, but I know something about medical cannabis. I suffer from fibro and medical cannabis was my last resort and it didn't disappoint me. Finally received my card two weeks ago. I tried two strains. One worked really well, the other not so much.  

One ten second draw on my Firefly 2 was sufficient. I didn't get high, but I received the painkilling benefits. The second night I slept until 6:30am, and for years I've awoken from pain every morning at 4 am.
I also woke up without any breakthrough pain or stiffness. So much so I was immediately able to reduce my Oxycodone intake by 15 mg, the first week, and now I'm trying to reduce it by another 15 mg after two weeks.

I'm really amazed this one strain worked for the other strain. You just gotta find the perfect strain that will work for you.
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Avatar universal
The only drug class you haven't tried, I think, are the tricyclics, such as imipramine.  But you've tried a whole lot of stuff, some of it not so good for anxiety sufferers.  You also seem to be therapy resistant, as am I, though you've been a lot more persistent than I was.  I see nothing at all for you to lose at this point trying weed.  I understand there is marijuana now bred for anxiety sufferers that takes out the part that gets us stoned.  Have no idea if it works or not, but it's something to think about as it has been bred allegedly to treat anxiety.  
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Oh, one other thing you haven't tried, I think, is neurontin.  Sort of like taking something that is very close to GABA, the neurotransmitter targeted by benzos.  I wonder, did you ever try any other form of therapy, such as hypnosis?  Maybe you've got something that actually happened to you that triggered all this -- most of us really don't.  Therapy never worked for me much, but I also kind of stopped doing it during the time meds were helping a bit.  I will always regret that.  Good luck.
Avatar universal
Thanks for the responses. Here’s the background. I’ve had 4 ER visits for panic attacks. I’ve tried the following treatments for my anxiety/ADHD/Tourette/OCD/panic attacks leading up to exploring medical cannabis:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with 7 previous counselors (CBT)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
St. John’s Wart
Xanax XR
Ativan
Zoloft
Paxil
Prozac
Wellbutrin XL
Lexapro
Clonidine
Strattera
Vyvanse
Concerta
Exercise

I’ve currently and have been on the following for a long time:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (on my 8th counselor so far in my life)
Metoprolol Tartrate (Lopressor)
Xanax
Chamomile tea
Magnesium
Organic flax oil
B vitamin
Vitamin D3
Exercise
Gluten free (helps my stomach slightky) & VERY healthy overall diet (yearly blood tests are always perfect/optimal on every level, weight is great & nothing is wrong with my thyroid or testosterone levels)
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1756321 tn?1547095325
I should of said I had severe anxiety and panic attacks from magnesium deficiency.
Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
I have had various health condition causing anxiety and magnesium deficiency was one if them. I had a very long list of symptoms (had severe magnesium deficiency) and included muscle spasms, muscle tics, severe heart rhythm, seizures to name a few symptoms. If there was one nutrient that could help with Tourette Syndrome magnesium would be #1 on my list. I'm not the only one to think so! :)

Excerpt from Dr Axe's article Tourette Syndrome + 9 Natural Treatments...


"1.Magnesium

Magnesium supports the central nervous system, promoting proper muscle action and reaction. In 2008, researchers in Spain found that oral solutions of magnesium and vitamin B6 decreased total tic scores in children with Tourette Syndrome. Researchers did not see any side effects and the treatment was deemed safe and effective. Further studies are needed. (17)

In addition to the evidence of helping reduce the tics association with Tourette’s, those with a magnesium deficiency can suffer from anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue, many of the same co-occurring conditions that affect those with Tic Disorders. Try incorporating more magnesium rich foods and brain boosting foods into your diet, such as avocados, bone broth and dark chocolate."

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Avatar universal
There are no doctors on here.  Actually, hardly anyone at all on here anymore, unfortunately.  I don't know what you've tried, as you don't say the path that got you to where you are now.  I'm assuming you have a doctor, as you'd need a prescription to get medical weed.  If you google the website of the manufacturer of the beta blocker you're on it will probably give you contraindications.  That being said, the two drugs don't work on the same things, so my guess is the answer will be nobody knows -- mainly because marijuana has been illegal and therefore not as well studied for interactions as legal substances.  But you should discuss this with a psychiatrist, because the heart problem you're taking the beta blocker for doesn't exist and so the fact your heart races some when you get anxious doesn't mean controlling your heart rate is the best way to treat your anxiety.  Beta blockers have mostly been studied for just a couple forms of anxiety, the one I know the most being social anxiety.  Also know that pot isn't the greatest drug for anxiety -- it does help some with PTSD in studies and in experience, but many of us got our anxiety problems while stoned so be aware that any drug that turns you inward might just focus you more on your anxiety.  Then again, it might work.  Antidepressants tend to work the best all the time for anxiety; benzos work but only during the short time they are active in the system and are addictive if used regularly.  The only cure, though, is therapy and/or lifestyle changes.  Good luck.
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I should add, for less severe problems, there are also a host of natural remedies that can be very helpful, but are hard to use in conjunction with meds.  
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