Does Marinol Work for Treating Depression?

By Mark Thursday, March 13, 2008

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I've gone through a whole series of drugs for treating my depression, including Effexor and Wellbutrin but all that they ever did for me was make me more depressed and gain lots of weight (which greatly added to my chronic depression).

Since I also have chronic pain, my psychiatrist suggested having the doctor treating my pain prescribe Marinol instead of the opioids that I was taking. Marinol (which is pure THC) has lessened my depression while also treating my chronic pain [Migraines, Osteo-arthritis, and herniated discs (L2 thru L5)]. I find that I'm less depressed when I take Marinol instead of Morphine or Oxycontin for pain.

My concern is that the psychiatric community is not taking advantage of the FDA's re-scheduling of Marinol from being a Schedule II Rx drug to a Schedule III Rx Drug. The purpose of re-scheduling Marinol to a Class III drug was to encourage the use of Marinol as a legal form of medical marijuana for "off-label" use.

So far, the only type of Medical doctors that prescribe Marinol for off-label use are the same doctors who treat patients with chronic pain. I cannot see why the Psychiatric community has turned a blind eye to the tremendous potential of Marinol for treating depression.

Every time that I go to my psychiatrist, I see that the big Pharmaceutical sales people pushing samples of Wellbutrin, Effexor, and the rest of these drugs BUT Big Pharmaceutical companies are overlooking the marketing of something (such as Marinol) which has a bright future already for treating chronic pain patients.

If anyone knows of any current studies into using a Marinol (or any other prescribed THC) meds for treating depression, please let me know.

Thanks in advance (for any helpful information re: this topic).

Mark

Comments (11) | Add comment

Anonymous

11/11/08 5:02am

Tell us your Drs name and address and phone number

Dan

12/17/08 10:39am

I have depression, but also mania. I have been abusing street marijuana to ease the continous cycling of my illness. I recently quit out of fear that someone would catch me and take my son from my custody. I can share personal experience that THC not only causes increased seritonin production (the same thing SSRI anti-depression drugs like paxil prozac and zoloft do) and keeps my depression bearable instead of leaning towards my current suicidal ideations - but it also has the sedative effect that stops mania and irrational angry outbursts. I'm currently looking for a precedent to see if my doctor will prescribe me marinol, but hope is small until all the conservatives wake up and see the real problems out there lie in stimulants and opiates and psychadelics not used for counseling therapy.

C4RLO

3/13/09 12:50am

I have never felt better in my life. I have had my psychatrist prescribing Marinol and Xanax for me for a few months now and it has been amazing. I have been on everything from SSRI's to Tricyclics, to Amphetamines for treatment with Depression/ADHD. Marinol has been beyond great. I take 10mg 2x a day. I am so glad I was able to find a phychiatric practice with an open mind and a sense of compassion.

I think more people need to be honest with their doctor and express interest. Marinol is not a wonderdrug, but it's pretty damn close. It's not marijuana, but while thats illegal, it's the next best thing if your the type of person who has experienced first hand the massive potential marijuana has in the medicine.

Herald

3/26/09 1:14am

I too have been prescribed Marinol for Depression. It sure beats the Zoloft and Adderal. For once in my life I don't feel like crap everyday knowing that I have medication that works.

Anonymous

11/ 9/09 6:03pm

i have a psychatrist that will not go with marinol after all the med s i tried did not work

Sandy

11/ 3/10 2:00pm

Please provide me with the dr's name and number

goonybird

8/ 7/09 11:06pm

I have gone through a chronic pain program for my MFPS (its fibromyalgia with out the requisite number of tender points (<12)), and I am in accordence with CA law 11362.5 for going on 4 years. That being said, I have found that although THC is great for pain relief, and it doesn't leave me as fogged on the opiods I have tried, it does have its contaminating factors.

1) It can be addicting, just like any other powerful pain relief. This is especially dangerous when one uses it for psychological pain relief.

2) There is co-depression relief when taking it for pain. Which makes factor number one that much worse.

upanddown

4/24/10 10:05pm

I have Bipolar II disorder. I was diagnosed with it when I was 23. I am now 61. I have been on lithium, tegretol, depakote, lamictal, and now lamictal and topamax together. I've also had to take seroquel and anti-depressants along with these. The only time that I was stable was the 2 1/2 year period that I smoked cannabis, about 4 years ago. My psychiatrist and therapist couldn't help but recognize and comment on my stability during that period. I rapid cycle and that period lasted so long that when I stopped smoking and the cycles started again even I had forgotten what it was like to have my life become unmanageable again. The ups and downs, not functioning and never knowing who I was going to turn into all returned.

I can't smoke cannabis. My lungs can't take it and unfortunately I have that addictive nature. I also become nonproductive. So I made my choice and stopped. However, if I could have the opportunity to try a small medicinal dose of marinol, I would in a minute, just as long as I don't get high. Maybe it would be enough to control my symptoms. My life as it is, is not pleasant at all. I'm finding that I'm swinging way too often. I'm down for weeks at a time and then I'm going up and not pleasantly. I can't sleep, get too irritable, explosive, and I put people off. Only once in a while I am level.

Not everyone is prone to addiction. I've been reading on other sites and I know that cannabis is helpful to people with bipolar, depression and other psychiatric disorders. Since I know the problems that individuals can get into with addiction, I would much prefer to see marinol marketed to help with these disorders than promote the use of medical marijuana that can lead to further substance abuse. I personally do not advocate the use of medical marijuana because I know that it can be addicting to those people who have addictive brains and it opens the portal to other substances. But I do recognize that there is one strong argument for its use when a person is undergoing chemo and can't keep a pill down to stop the nauseau.

The drug manufacturer cautions the use of marinol for people with bipolar, depression and other disorders. They need to do some research on this. If it works as well as cannabis does on people with bipolar or bipolar II, depression and other disorders they could have a drug that might drastically change the lives of many people suffering with these disorders.

educate yourself

5/ 6/10 1:40pm

These people make their incomes from others misfortune whether mental instability, physical or physiological pain or illness, etc. Marijuana (Marinol) is the biggest cash crop in America utilized against us for fines, prison time, etc to medicinal treatments of cancers, pains, mental emotional instability to even now in few states where competent people recognize it as a safer alternative for enjoyment recreationw. So, rationally it makes sense greedy or uneducated physicians and doctors alike would refrain from prescribing a medication herbal supplement that will actually HELP their patients. That's money they would lose if one is or gets better from it.

10/ 5/10 11:06pm

There is a terrible habit in the drugs industry of patent chasing depression drugs.

As its one of the biggest markets for them.

I've been diagnosed with depression and many of the drugs available are useless

diabetes / obesity causing rubbish.

Olazepein is a marvelous 'chill pill' according the the psych i saw. They push it because all the reaserch mis informs them that the drug which is patented at the time is best ... as soon as the patent expires it will be a carcinogen or something. I found it loathsome that the Drs would happily presbribe a drug that causes diabetes and obesity, plus clear links to further mental illness, when Marinol could do the same thing with no toxicity. It should be available for depression, I find cannabis helps me manage it very well. I think there is a section of cannabis users who are basically self medicating for depression. One of the counselours i saw confirmed this and said it could be effective. Marinol is a clean way to do this. and i think it could be a lot of benefit to other people who find themselves trawling through the various antidepressants there are around.

the psych profession don't presceibe it because they inundated with reaserch around patented drugs, funded by the companies who make them, even if these drugs are blatantly not in the patients best interest.

My top tip for depression is buy some ear plugs, serious, get a good nights sleep totally interupted. i only found this after going through useless pills for the same thing.

lalalala

4/26/11 11:32pm

I've had depression and social anxiety problems for years relating to my family situations and low self-esteem problems. So far, in the course of taking

1. Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Effexor, Buspar, Abilify and Seroquel for "bipolar"

smoking marijuana is the ONLY thing that has lowered my inhibitions around other people, helped me feel a true connection to those around me and helped me react calmly and peacably. It also helped me RELEASE pent-up emotions when in therapy, overall, it's a miracle drug for me.

My family (very religious) hates marijuana because "it's a drug". If only they knew the BEST times they've seen me, I've been high on weed, not some crazy mood stabilizer! Now I'm just waiting until I'm 18 and I'm getting a medical license, until then I have to sneak it before psychiatry appointments and with friends. Unfortunate, but I love mary jane!

I hope Marinol produces the same effects because I would really like to stop SMOKING as it hurts my lungs :/

Does Marinol Work for Treating Depression?

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