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What Causes Intense Pressure In Brain Followed By Panic Attacks While Smoking?

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Posted on Thu, 21 Jul 2016
Question: Hi im 20 years old and i have been smoking weed for 3 years every day. The last time i smoked weed was last thursday and since then i have an intense pressure in my brain behind my forehead. and because of that i get panick attacks and feel very sick. its been a week now but the felling didnt go.. i even stoped smoking cigarettes i dont drink caffeine anymore and stoped with alcohol. i started doing alot of sports and eating healthy but nothing helps.. the feeling stays. its really annoying and i cant think of anything else that this pressure in my head. please help im really scared that i fucked my brain up...
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Please provide more details

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Health care magic.

I read your query and understand your concerns.
Before we proceed for finding solution we need to identify cause. I have few questions so I request you to answer them.
1. Do you think you had change of pattern in smoking weed in last few months? If yes describe in possible detail.
2. Do you use any other substance of abuse? If yes details.
3 Have you experienced similar problem in past?
4. If yes how long it was lasted?
5. Do you have any other symptoms in addition to what is described in query?
6. Do you have any history of medical or psychiatric illness in past? If yes describe in possible detail.

I look forward to seeing above details.
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (29 minutes later)
1. yeah i had this pressure like 3 to 4 times in the last month but it always occurd when i ate thc infused cake. but there was never a problem with smoking until last tuesday. the pressure was always followed with panic attacks where i completly lost orientation and paranoia. sometimes even derealization. i also had to throw up those times but after like 5 hours everything was back to normal. it wasnt diffrent last tuesday but the pressure never went away since then.
2. No i only use cannabis
3. yes as i said in the past moth 3 times but it always went back to normal.
4. Like 4 to 5 hours
5. intense pressure behind forehead, sickness, paranoia, anxiety, derealization and loss of orientation.
6. i once had depression because of some medication i had to use for my acne. but thas 2 years in the past.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It is cannabis induced

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for reverting back to me with appropriate information.

From the additional details it appears that there is casual association between current symptoms and cannabis abuse. This observation is based on the temporal association between symptoms and THC intake in past and smoking for the current episode.

Having said this I feel it will be appropriate to get antipsychotic medication after consulting a local doctor. If you have been my patient I would prefer tab Zyprexa 7.5 to be taken at night. Since it needs prescription and every doctor have different experiences with each medication your doctor may chose another antipsychotic from the same category of medication. This is likely to show improvement in next few days.

The another option is wait and watch. This advice is based on the fact that most of the patients with cannabis induced psychiatric disorder remit spontaneously between one to four weeks. Since you already crossed four days I guess this will be better alternative.


If you decide not to go for medication following can be done to expedite recovery process.
1. Meditation or yoga. I have seen good results in many of my patients and I think you should try if facilities are available.
2. Deep breathing exercises
3. To continue the positive strategies which you started in last couple of days.

Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 3350 Questions

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What Causes Intense Pressure In Brain Followed By Panic Attacks While Smoking?

Brief Answer: Please provide more details Detailed Answer: Dear XXXXXXX Thanks for using Health care magic. I read your query and understand your concerns. Before we proceed for finding solution we need to identify cause. I have few questions so I request you to answer them. 1. Do you think you had change of pattern in smoking weed in last few months? If yes describe in possible detail. 2. Do you use any other substance of abuse? If yes details. 3 Have you experienced similar problem in past? 4. If yes how long it was lasted? 5. Do you have any other symptoms in addition to what is described in query? 6. Do you have any history of medical or psychiatric illness in past? If yes describe in possible detail. I look forward to seeing above details. Thanks and regards