Is It Okay to Smoke Pot After a Brain Injury?

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Comments (283)

Please remember, we are not able to give medical or legal advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your doctor. All posted comments are the views and opinions of the poster only.

Matthew replied on

My question is can you smoke cigarettes after brain injury

Anonymous replied on

I got a brain injury from a car accident. Lobectomy, all that s***!! Hydrocephalus, shunt, seizures all the time. 14 antiepileptic meds a day and seizey poos still happening. Added medical marijuana, going on 4 months Seizure free. It works!!

Drew replied on

Keep in mind that this is not the only method, ofc weed is always fun to smoke but you need to remember that herbs are known for healing as well. Herbal tea is a great example of this as in this case you have seizures. Try looking up “Bacopa Herb” and even look at the teas they offer.

Anonymous replied on

My boyfriend has TBI with memory loss, gets lost everywhere, among other things. He’s great when he’s not smoking, clear thinking and even wakes up and talks about things from days and weeks before on his own without prompting.
When he smokes, it’s hard to speak with him and he needs supervision, like complete fog, memory loss is exasperated, cannot even take the dog for a walk, and does not think smart whatsoever.

Anonymous replied on

That’s what pot does to you. It’s a downer and makes you lazy but also helps with a lot of other things. It really depends on how much you smoke and what kind you smoke

Allan replied on

I had a clot on the frontier of the Amygdala and left parietal lobe - never stopped smoking herb. I have been aware and always looking for answers. Before the stroke, I considered weed to be a PED? Could always go downhill on wheels or edge better stoned! Maybe it has led to some dumb decisions after? It is a benevolent drug. Other drugs make it hard to get it up. Have you ever heard of a violent crime involving only Mota? I believe that it stimulates creativity and focus? I am not a scientist; but only, a curious surviver. Sometimes my emotions are hyperactive. I don't think weed is the perp. Fight on brothers and sisters, we only get one turn.

Big Osc replied on

I have a relative who has experienced a TBI Traumatic brain Injury. He really wants to smoke pot at night. He says it helps him sleep at night. I am concerned that this will slow and even halt his recovery from the TBI. He is 35 years old. I keep telling him how bad it is and he still says it helps him sleep at night. Very confused on what to do to help him properly.

Christine replied on

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

My son has right frontal lobe damage and has trouble staying employed due to his impulsiveness. Does cannabis help those of you with right temporal lobe injuries control impulsiveness (speaking without thinking?) Acting without thinking? Thinking through the consequences of your actions before making the wrong decision?
Does it help to control anxiety and angry outbursts?

Jayne replied on

I have witnessed worsened impulsivity and disorganization in my relative with severe TBI. Very frustrating to witness. As a person without a brain injury, I remember smoking pot and then getting loads of ideas I could not organize well enough to do anything with them.

Joe replied on

This article contradicts Everything that is now known about cannabis, , which is that it is actually very helpful in both preventing and treating brain injury. Who is this guy who wrote this article?

Tatiana replied on

He's a PhD and has 3 different roles in Ohio Institutions including the Ohio State University, all dealing with brains. People want to say big pharma wants all the profits but I've seen people spend hundreds on weed here in CA. The weed industry puts out things that make them look good but they just need more true double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trials, and then have to repeat the study to prove the first study didn't happen by chance. Maybe because he's older he doesn't like weed for the connotations it is starting to get over. Maybe he really just doesn't want people to do what he's clinically seen. They say science is never final and we just don't have enough studies with brain injuries as described above.

ilse replied on

I've seen the worst of this drug too!! Well said.

Nicole replied on

I recently had a brain aneurysm which the doctors called a subarachnoid hemorrhage stroke. Is it ok to try marijuana edibles?

Tatiana replied on

If you're concerned about smoking, edibles cross the blood/brain barrier too and edibles make me and a few of my friends paranoid and lasts WAY too long if you do get paranoid from it.

S. Daniels replied on

I had the same thing ..all I wanna know is will I mess up if I smoke marijuana again? I've stop drinking, and stop smoking cigarettes. My stole was on August 19, I haven't did either since. My b'day is Wednesday the 6the and I wanna smoke.

Char replied on

For me TBI happened 7 months ago spent 17 days in two hospitals 3 days in a coma 7 in an ICU unit. I'm still recovering. I smoke cigarettes didn't while in there. I have smoked pot for a long time but since this injury I have only smoked very little but has help me to eat sleep and not be so irritated with myself or life as a whole..if you know your limits trying it may not be so horrible.....

Kyle B replied on

I had the same thing, a TBI with a subarachnoid hemorrhage. I have smoking to alleviate the headaches.

Christine replied on

Dear Dr. Corrigan,

I'm wondering if CBD oil ( without THC) will help a survivor of a TBI with frontal lobe damage. i have a son that acquired an alcohol problem many years after his TBI.

I would appreciate any information, links, contacts, etc. on TBI and CBD oil.

Thank you,
Christine

Jon replied on

Yes CBD is very neuroleptics and is super helpful for those in a tBi. On sept. 17 2021 I was t boned by a caR in a car crash and then was in a coma for almost 1 month. I had thc in my blood during the crash and your likelihood of surviving with thc in your blood is 98% and your survival rate with no thc in your blood is 88% a whole 10 points lower!! I take cbd oil everyday and cbd is suuuuuuoper beneficial! Hell cbd even cured my 5 herniated discs in my spine from my first crash. Cbd and medical weed is gods gift 10/10 would reccomend (just wait a year to try thc after a tBi) and tell him to consult with a doctor before he ever does thc because it may increase the likelihood of seizures.

God Bless

Anonymous replied on

I’m not a professional by any means and this may not help. I developed alcoholic tendencies after traumatic brain injury and have been suffering since. Genetically I’m prone to alcoholism but I never had such intense cravings until after my head incident. Praise the Lord I did not die or become paraplegic after my accident. I have been smoking marijuana since my injury in 2008 and it has helped immensely. With legality of the product throughout the years I have been able to use pot to help with brain injury and quit alcohol. With love to TBI sufferers may you find peace -B

Anonymous replied on

Hi B,
Thanks for your reply, it's much appreciated. I just posted again but it's not showing up yet. I have some questions about impulsiveness and employment when one has right frontal lobe damage. My son cannot stay employed due to impulsiveness with his words (out of turn and inappropriate comments.)Once said, he is well aware he should not have said whatever he said. Navigating social situations is super hard for him. Now he tends to prefer to be alone more than not. I would love your input if you have experienced this yourself.

Lea replied on

- ❤ ❤ ❤ -

Grant replied on

I have a TBI from being knocked out and falling and hitting my head on the concrete sidewalk. I had to have emergency surgery on the left side for the hematoma and inside bleeding. It has been 1 year now. My headaches and pain are every day. They very from a throbbing to stabbing pain that rate a 1 or 2 for my good days to a 7 or 8 on my bad days. I cannot take lyrica or gabapentin due to side effects. I currently take butalbital - acetaminophn and Excedrin migraine when I cannot stand the pain. I tried the edible pot because everyone said it helped. I do not think that is the answer for me. I am prone to having seizures for the rest of my life now. It did help me sleep better, but I still woke up with pain. Also when I tried it during the day, It caused me to slur my speech and make head feel like it was moving when it wasn't.
I say try what you thinks help, but be ready for side effects and be willing to try other things too. I think pot is more natural and better for the body, but it is not a cure everything.

Molly replied on

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/25264643/
There are evidence-based studies coming out to show presence of a positive THC screen after TBI is linked to better outcomes (lowered mortality) and trauma patients with THC in their system experienced fewer secondary affects from their trauma (ie: reduces inflammation).

Kate replied on

I suffered a mTBI with multiple body injuries as well. The combination of post-concussive syndrome, PTSD and cognitive dysfunction was crippling. I take an (nardil) MAOI for the depression and have with double vision. I still see a therapist who's completely on board with me using marijuana to ease my symptoms... I think this doc is full of crap. He has no citations for reference to his information. What I have, and many here too, is permanent brain damage which makes taking any oral medication a crap shoot. I have zero response to pain meds, hyper response to muscle relaxers. Why take an RX with all the side effects, like memory loss, when CBD handles my pain and marijuana helps me sleep through the night. I wake up fresh. Consult an MMJ doc for advice for your specific injury if you like. Friends, It just works!

Jason replied on

I don’t completely agree with this doctor I received a tbi when I was 15 I’m now 27 I’ve been on so many medications I couldn’t function I finally got off some of them but I still have a lot of problems I just recently tried marijuana and found that it helped my tremors and my anxiety tremendously I haven’t had any seizures in years but haven’t had a problem since I started the marijuana and haven’t felt any sort of odd side effects from it although I would be careful and not buy it off the street from any random person but sometimes you have to use your own commen sense and not believe everything the doctors tell you especially when it comes to medication

James replied on

I was in the Army for 16 yrs and suffered a major head injury during one of my deployments, orbital fractures and at the bottom base right side of my skull. Then kept deploying jumping out of airplanes etc. and had minor head injuries since. Been retired about two medical for TBI PTSD, I’m down to 600 Mg a day of oxcarbazepine and 100 mg of trazodone for sleep. I keep bouncing on and off Mary to stop, but same deal no nothing for feelings. Nothing towards family just a hulk. I get a 20 take three hits and I can hear myself come to life again, I can feel emotions again, apply sympathy and empathy to people because of my experiences in the world, I am a productive, healthy happy member of society that understands and doesn’t lash out like an animal. I have never had this relief in my life. When I was in high school, I got blazed, ripped Cheech and Chong style. Now I can walk with Jesus because I can see life in my family and my self again. God help us all. Amen.

Pat replied on

Thank you for this comment.

Katie replied on

Thankyou for this comment

George O replied on

As of 3 Nov 2018, I became a moderate/severe TBI survivor. The anti-seizure meds I was on were killing me. Edible cannabis saved my life. I literally believe that I would be dead now, had I been without it.

Joshua replied on

I was on 1500mg keppra (seizure meds) a day, and like you said the marijuana edibles made me be able to walk again. The CBD is the main thing that you need from weed, it has more of the healing properties. THC is more the psychedelic high, which can also help with problems

Jam replied on

Do u think CBD would help with sleeping at night? Or is it the thc that does that. I am 2 weeks removed from successful brain surgery but prior to that probably havent missed a day smoking last 25 years but these bad dreams n waking up every hour is dreadful. When i used to smoke..always out within 5 min. Of laying down n sleep thru the night like a baby..Im hoping since Doc said I did so well that I can use again just to sleep..not leisurely anymore

Richard replied on

Tell it ..like it is George
I was on Dilantin 8 x 200 mg then asked to be switched to Phenobarbital an started having Aura's and only way to stop them ? .. Take a toke an I was fine
have also seen that Marijuana does not affect You if You have TBI .. but actually helps You an have seen it does So now days dont Belive everything You .. read

joe replied on

Hey, glad to hear you're making it work.

Joe

Bob Taylor replied on

Absolutely retrograde. No science. He just says it and we're expected to accept it uncritically. I would not assume the responsibility of recommending it to others, but my very smart neurologist is tacitly in favor of it. I know when I'm having a bad day, a little bit of cannabis does wonders for my pain and my mood. And I know that some studies suggest moderate marijuana use after a TBI actually favors neuroplasticity. Experts! God deliver us from them!

Joel B replied on

I got hit by a drunk driver when I was a teenager. I have a brain injury and a seizure disorder. I take a lot of different kinds of meds. When I smoke weed I feel sober. I don't get high like I used to just feel normal. When will marijuana be legal for my help? I'm 38 now and I was 18 years old when I got my brain injury, why does weed help so much? Why can't I get it as a medicine? Brain injury is hard to live with. I don't get high I get sober I don't feel brain injury. Why do I need weed to feel better from my brain injury?

Anonymous replied on

Suffered a TBI after being hit by a moving vehicle. I noticed the same thing. I don't get high from it any more. They put me in duloxetine and a bunch of other crap to help with restless legs and anxiety and now my number one medicine isn't even effective. I ha e had bobbing swaying and rocking sensations for months.

Judy Gersonde-Bryant replied on

yes Bob, I'm with you. Pot and CBD oil help my mood, depression, and anxiety/panic and pain. man made poison made me want to kill myself. did time in the psyc ward. I'll take what God has grow and given us. big pharma pays off the government and feed you poison to keep you hooked until you die. in the meantime they have a customer for life. thanks, but no thanks

Joe replied on

They nearly killed me at a state run psychiatric outpatient facility I went to here in Connecticut. Misdiagnosed me had me on lithium carbonate combined with other drugs which are known to be very dangerous combinations. Gave me brain damage. The only thing that I find helps a little bit now is cannabis. I agree with you.

Amy Hill replied on

Hello!

I am a little relieved to be reading this! It's been about 7 months now since my accident, was hit by a car that pulled out in front of me while I was on my motorcycle. I had brain surgery, broken ribs, clavicle and broken femur. I am doing great now! I have been taking cbd oil, restoring my endocannabinoid system for around 2 months now. Nutrition and fitness being two other factors that help and am passionate for.
I do have a hard day every now and again. I have not met or talked to anyone else who has TBI yet and was hoping for that to happen. So thank you guys for sharing what you have. I feel supported.

Tasha replied on

Amy!

This very same thing happened to my 19 yr old son 3 months ago! Skull fracture, front temporal lobe damage, fractures pelvis and collar bone, femoral blood clots. Maybe I can can connect you with him and hopefully talking about your experiences will help you both!

Tasha

Taylor replied on

Hey Amy, I read your comment and I feel we're very alike. I have a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), broken clavicle, humerus, and broken ribs due to my accident in 2017. I was wondering if it was okay to smoke marijuana or it it's better to get CBD oil? I wasn't sure if people with a brain injury were able to smoke or anything. I felt that it could cause me to have seizures. Should I ask a doctor?

Anonymous replied on

Yes. You should talk to a doctor first!

Gabe Goldman replied on

I sure would like to read evidence based articles on the topic. If none are available then case studies, cohort studies, and lower grade information.

Ray Ferretti replied on

Dr John Corrigan,posted this 8 years ago! A lot of has happened in 8 years and a lot more research has come to light. I wonder if the good doctor still has the same evaluation??!!

Jacqueline Koslosky replied on

I had been in a bad car accident 8 years ago and i had a TBI and the marijuana actually helps me calm down instead of making my anxiety worse and i am against taking pills when things change over the years the certian amount of pot helps and its healther in my case it helps me eat and remain calm <3

MW replied on

Marijuana use after a brain injury can actually help prevent further damage. It reduces inflammation and swelling which is the number one cause of damage during and after a brain injury. I suffered a serious brain injury in high school and started using marijuana once I got home. For the next few months I had serious headaches which marijuana helped alleviate by reducing inflammation and helping with the pain. While some drugs may make it worse. Marijuana is not one of them. If used in moderation it can provide remarkable medical benefits to anyone with an injury. People still think you can group all drugs into "its terrible for you". But each of them can provide specific benefits to those in need depending on the affliction. Some have less medical benefits like cocaine. But under the right circumstance some can have positive life altering medicinal benefits.

Sally replied on

I am reading all stories . I had a mild tbi from a car accident 17 years ago . Was terrible at the time . Im much better now but when i have a bad day pot helps . Only a small amount . Like a one paper joint or two cones and its amazing how much better i feel after this .

Steve replied on

I wish i knew if i could smoke weed, i can't drink beer anymore due to seizure medsm so it'd be nice to have sonething to escape this TBI torture and the feeling of 'NEVER BEING THE OLD ME' feeling

BrainInjuryMan replied on

I feel ya. I just got out of the hospital after a severe TBI and I feel the exact same way. Mostly because I lost 80% of my hearing, but I feel that I'm stuck "never being the old me" as well... You're right about it being torture...

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