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Is marijuana smoke as bad as tobacco?
My husband has been diagnosed with COPD caused by working at the Nuclear test site in Nevada. The only time he ever smoked tobacco was when he was giving up marijuana 30 years ago. he soon gave up tobacco, too. For the past 15 years he has been dealing with stenosis, disc degeneration and nerve pain. A year or two ago he started smoking pot again for the nerve pain and it does bring some relief. The pain pills he takes are not enough. He didn't tell his pulmonologist. I don't know why. I'm worried about it because he's vaping the flavored stuff. In the old days many people thought pot was not harmful to the lungs, but I have heard it is and wonder if anyone has thoughts on this.
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@pamelaaci Chantix does something with the brain but are there side effects? I think I’m going to try it! Any suggestions
No side effects at all with me nor my husband who used it as well. Am sure they must have a big list to review as all medications. I would not have been able to quit without it and am truly thankful my pulmonologist recommended it.
@tjphillipp Chantix was the only thing that got the 50+ year cigarette monkey off my back. It works by telling receptors in your brain that you already have nicotine in your system, therefore don't need to add any more. Yeah, a few really spectacular nightmares, but that's a pretty cheap trade-off.
@capnjack Thanks for the update. Much appreciated!!
@pamelaaci
I heard Chantix will give you thoughts of suicide. Is this true?
I would think anything you put in your lungs at this point would be bad. He should try the gummies instead. They do work. I know someone who was on opioids, and the gummies help them.
@19rose63 I had heard this prior to taking the medication, it may also be listed on their list of possible side effects. I did not experience those thoughts nor any other side effects. Had I not quit smoking 16 years ago I doubt I would be alive today.
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1 Reaction@19rose63 Needless to say…my smoking 2 cartons of Marlboro 100’s weekly was actually slow suicide over 20 years…Wished I never had started, but it was the cool thing to do back in those days…
@fauxpause, the short(ish), yet still somewhat cloudy, answer to this question is:
If we are talking specifically about smoking marijuana (not vaping) in relation to COPD, marijuana use is associated with chronic respiratory symptoms, including (but not limited to) chronic cough, increased phlegm production, wheezing, chronic bronchitis symptoms, and airway inflammation.
Current evidence is insufficient to conclude that marijuana use alone causes COPD or persistent airflow obstruction.
Marijuana Use, Respiratory Symptoms, and Pulmonary Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6231497/
For someone who already has COPD, smoking marijuana may worsen respiratory symptoms and make the individual feel more uncomfortable due to increased airway irritation, coughing, mucus production, and wheezing.
An additional concern for your husband, is what @sueinmn brought up, is the "extras" that can come with inhaled products, whether nicotine or marijuana.
The lungs are already vulnerable in COPD, so adding any inhaled irritants may increase symptoms and make breathing more difficult.
@fauxpause, how is your husband doing?
@pamelaaci
I remember back in the day if I wanted to hang with the cool people, I had to smoke.
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