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@gailb

@lalyfa

Welcome to Mayo Connect. I am a Volunteer Mentor and not a medical professional. As such I can offer the benefit of my personal experience, as can others on this site, but not medical diagnoses nor medical opinions. We strive to help each other with the understanding that we are all different and what works for me may not work for you. I have gotten so much good from participating in Mayo Connect that I love it.

Yes, I have used CBD tincture and CBD Living Water for anxiety. I haven't used it for depression as I already take an antidepressant. It doesn't seem to interfere with my Citalopram.

I decided to try CBD when I was withdrawing from Tramadol, a synthetic opiate I had been taking for pain (with 2 other medications) for over a year. As I began slowly reducing my use, I experienced a lot of anxiety and muscle tremors in my legs especially. I know that using a marijuana medication meant that my pain doctor would not prescribe for me again, but I was getting off the pain medications one by one anyway, so I don't care.

The CBD Living Water was my favorite as it just was like drinking bottled water and was immediately available in my system. Within a few minutes of drinking one serving, my anxiety began reducing. It was so benign that I thought perhaps it was just my own thoughts that were calming me down--my belief that it would help. So, I bought the CBD tincture as kind of a test to see if I reacted the same. The next time I was having withdrawal anxiety I used the CBD Tincture. I didn't realize at that time that it can take up to 2+ hours to have effect when you take the tincture, but that was actually good for my test purposes. My anxiety continued for another hour until slowly the tincture began taking effect. I decided then that the CBD Living Water worked best for my anxiety.

CBD Living Water is expensive at $5.00 per bottle with 2 servings. It has no flavor (the tincture had a sweet weird flavor I didn't like) and is easy to drink. I only used 4 bottles to help me through my withdrawal. I don't use it now, but I will if I have anxiety in the future. I am impressed with how helpful it was in my withdrawal. I think it would help in withdrawal from cigarettes too. I did that 34 years ago though.

Are you willing to share what you're anxiety is about? I had panic and anxiety attacks for years and used Ativan and later Lorazepam for them, especially when I had to fly in planes. About 6 years ago I started taking Citalopram antidepressant, and all my anxiety/panic attacks went away. I only had it again recently during my withdrawal process. I know my relief from anxiety is from the Citalopram. I even did 7 zip lines in Costa Rica a little over a year ago. My flights there, to Panama and back were anxiety free. That has been so incredible for me! I love traveling now.

Please let me know if you have questions,. I also hope others on Mayo Connect will let you know their experiences with CBD and Marijuana as medical alternative treatments.

Gail B
Volunteer Mentor

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Replies to "@lalyfa Welcome to Mayo Connect. I am a Volunteer Mentor and not a medical professional. As..."

@gailb, how did you learn about the CBD Living water and the CBD tincture. Do you think it worked better than Ativan?

How long were you on the antidepressants that you are weaning off of?

@anniegk

My husband got it for me when he was at the Medical Marijuana Dispensary. It contains only CBD I believe, so should be legal anywhere. I wouldn't compare Ativan with CBD as they are pretty different. I'm not a medical professional, so I can only share my experience. I think I'm very sleepy with Ativan and not so much with CBD. But everyone is different in how we react to medication. I also know that since CBD is not well regulated at this time, the mixtures each person takes can be different. I would not recommend one over the other.

Perhaps others on this thread can respond to the comparison question.

Gailb
Volunteer Mentor

It is very important to remember CBD oil is NOT automatically legal everywhere! For instance the AG of Indiana has declared it illegal in the state.

@gailb, thanks for the responses. This will help in my decision-making. @cognac

@jfisherley, may I ask how you found a doctor who will give you tramadol? Is he/she your PCP or a Pain Mgt. Dr.? My PCP has stopped giving it because of the "opiod crisis". It works really well for my back pain. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. @cognac

My family Doctor prescribes it for me been on it for at least 4 to 5 yrs. at first he only let me have 3 a day I wanted something stronger he said no , so I went to pain clinic and they let me have 3.75 hydrocodone ( this was years ago ) but that didn’t help me any better plus it made me weird in the head so I went back to tramadol 4 times a day . But it is 37.5 with some Tylenol in it , if it were 50 they probably would only allow me 3 a day . So while I was going to pain clinic I went through all the shots and they would only last about a month and then I’d be right back to burning pain so gave up on that . Stop going and when I was back in my Doctors office I told him I took 4 of tramadol a day and he wrote me new prescription. I have a friend that has back pain and her Doctor is still letting her have 2 hydrocodone 7.25 a day so there is still Doctors out there that will do something for y’all, I guess it just depends on how much pain your in hope this helps

@cognac
I've been put on oxy and hydro for pain. Then, I was given Tramadol, by my dentist, when I had a tooth infection. Out of the three meds, only Tramadol helps. My pain doc does not prescribe pain meds except if he does an exceptionally painful procedure. In 4 years, he only prescribed pain meds once. I've gotten my meds from a variety of docs for a variety of issues. I use them very sparingly.
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

That’s usually that a pain Dr doesn’t prescribe pain pills guess all Dr’s have their on ideas of what they want or will do . Tramadol helps me some but I’m still in a lot of pain as for as I’m concerned. I’m also very sensitive to meds so I probably couldn’t do any but what I’m doing.

From the info I have CBD oil is legal in IN. Could be wrong and if so many are selling/buying illegally in the Hoosier state.