[AspiringAuthor]

Even at work - from reports to coworkers, and I mean literally, everyone! They do not know I have bipolar, but in general, for everything, for what ails you. Somebody at work just announced that CBD got reclassified by the DEA and is now like Robitussin.

I tried it in a tincture to make me sleep and found it impossible to operate the tincture bottle. I then bought microdose (10 mg per candy) chewable candy at our health store (California!!) and I do not think it makes any difference any which way.

Should I partake and it so, in what form, at what dose, and, how does it interact with psych meds (if at all)?

Isn't that a question for your psychiatrist? If you don't feel comfortable asking him or her, then maybe you shouldn't try CBD.

[AspiringAuthor]

He is completely open to it, but does not have specific recommendations.

[liveforsummer]

I have been considering trying it. From my own research there seems to be a mix of thoughts on its use for bipolar. Of course we are all different how we respond to any medications be it prescription, OTC or any potential mood altering drug.
Did your pdoc address any possible interactions with any medications you are currently taking?

[AspiringAuthor]

I actually talked to him about it when I took a completely different combo, but no, he did not. But we are in general on agreement regarding a clinical approach: say, I drink one serving of alcohol per day (trying to reap cardiovascular prevention and longevity benefits for one and for another, it feels luxurious) and he and I are OK with it since I do not experience drug interactions, but on the label of the drugs there are warnings about interactions with alcohol. So it would make sense to likewise try and see with CBD. The thing is that I did not notice any effect when I try microdosing and I not like the taste of marijuana, but if everybody likes it so much, I want to find a version of it that is palatable to me and does some good.

Ideally I would like to be able to reduce the duration of my sleep - I feel rested, but need so much sleep that between sleep and work and chores I have no time for anything else, including physical exercise. So if I could go down a bit on Zyprexa boosting sleep with CBD and thereby reduce duration of sleep, that would be a blessed intervention for me.

I sleep on average of 11 hours at night. That with working more than FT is a lot of time spent sleeping.

[MickeyCheeky]

The decision is up to you, AspiringAuthor. I've heard both positive and negative things about it. If your psychiatrist agrees with it, then I guess it doesn't hurt to try. Whathever helps you to make you feel better. That's just my opinion, though. The final decision is up to you. Unfortunately I can't help you with what kind or what dosage should you be taking, as I've never tried it. But I hope it will work out for you! Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

Originally Posted by liveforsummer

I have been considering trying it. From my own research there seems to be a mix of thoughts on its use for bipolar. Of course we are all different how we respond to any medications be it prescription, OTC or any potential mood altering drug.
Did your pdoc address any possible interactions with any medications you are currently taking?

Just for clarity's sake, CBD is not psychotropic/psychoactive.
I don't have advice per se.

What did you find challenging with the tincture bottle, AspiringAuthor? (I've never had CBD tincture, but am a fan of echinacea tincture.)

[winter loneliness]

CBD has helped many people. It is an anti-inflammatory so it helps with depression. Depression is an inflammatory condition.

It does not get you high. There are no drug interactions or bad side effects. You can take CBD pills, oils, food and vape pens.

It is definitely worth a try.

Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor

Even at work - from reports to coworkers, and I mean literally, everyone! They do not know I have bipolar, but in general, for everything, for what ails you. Somebody at work just announced that CBD got reclassified by the DEA and is now like Robitussin.

I tried it in a tincture to make me sleep and found it impossible to operate the tincture bottle. I then bought microdose (10 mg per candy) chewable candy at our health store (California!!) and I do not think it makes any difference any which way.

Should I partake and it so, in what form, at what dose, and, how does it interact with psych meds (if at all)?

Just a thought, if your not considering the healing effects than what are you doing with it? Is it the application your interested in?

[AspiringAuthor]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Just for clarity's sake, CBD is not psychotropic/psychoactive.
I don't have advice per se.

What did you find challenging with the tincture bottle, AspiringAuthor? (I've never had CBD tincture, but am a fan of echinacea tincture.)

I could not open it and for a bottle that cost 100 dollars, it was a big obstacle!

[AspiringAuthor]

Originally Posted by winter loneliness

CBD has helped many people. It is an anti-inflammatory so it helps with depression. Depression is an inflammatory condition.

It does not get you high. There are no drug interactions or bad side effects. You can take CBD pills, oils, food and vape pens.

It is definitely worth a try.

I think any preparation that does not have that characteristic taste of marijuana would be welcome. I have a vape pen somewhere but did not realize that one can use it to vaporize CBD. I will inquire at the local dispensary.

[AspiringAuthor]

Originally Posted by AB2371

Just a thought, if your not considering the healing effects than what are you doing with it? Is it the application your interested in?

While not necessarily calling it healing, I would like it to aid as part of my sleep inducing cocktail and I hope to find a sweet spot whereby I would not be sleeping quite so many hours. Ideally I want to sleep 9 hours, not 11-12 hours.

Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor

I could not open it and for a bottle that cost 100 dollars, it was a big obstacle!

That's a bummer --yikes! Did you buy it locally or online? I'd try to return it, or more accurately, to just swap for another bottle. Maybe even try opening it at the store (if that's where you got it) to be sure.

[PsychoPhil]

I don't think CBD would make you sleep shorter if you just added it to your prescriptions unless you had trouble falling asleep. With that it might help, but you would likely need a higher dose than people without prior exposure to psych meds to get any effects.

It should be possible to release oil from unsuitable plastic containers by drilling two small holes with a knife. I would expect $100 pay for a decent dispenser, but then the whole industry is still in its infancy.

[AspiringAuthor]

Yup, industry is in its infancy - so well put.

I have only had one success with it so far, so it is too soon to tell, but what my pdoc and I decided to do and what shortened my sleep from 11-12 hours to 9 was lowering Zyprexa from 7.5 mg and raising Gabapentin - I went from 1200 mg to 2400 mg. Gabapentin improves the quality of sleep so the hope is that I will sleep better and need less of it. PDoc wants me to use Zyprexa strictly for mood and not for sleep and use other medications for sleep. For now we decided to go that route and not try CBD, but I will keep reading what people have to offer on this thread and maybe revisit the CBD option later. It is always good to have options

[jaysmotogp]

CBD is one of those things that works well for some and not at all for others.
I have used on and off for quiet a while now. I'm not entirely sure it does anything for me other than help with mental clarity.
Some one on here mentioned there are no drug interactions, Not true. It is best to use a drug interaction checker, i like Medscapes, as it lists Cannabidiol .
It interacts heavily with certain meds by way of its metabolism in the liver. It can raise or decrease levels or other meds your taking.
Once i took it orally a few hours after taking Remeron and it nearly put me in serotonin syndrome
Lately i have been vaping it as to avoid that( only oral metabolizes in the liver, vaping does not, straight into the bloodstream).
Hope that helps