Anorexia and THC

[Father Dagon]

They say that THC stimulates the appetite.

Has there been any serious studies if something as simple as pot can cure anorexia? I mean, the disease anorexia is pretty easy - too little food.

 

[Fiona]

Er....what makes you think an anorexic person would agree to take something that worked?

 

[godless dave]

They say that THC stimulates the appetite.

Has there been any serious studies if something as simple as pot can cure anorexia? I mean, the disease anorexia is pretty easy - too little food.

Anorexia isn't "too little food" intake; that's a symptom. Anorexia is refusing to eat even with access to food. It's not that anorexics don't have an appetite, it's that they don't want to eat.

I would be curious if THC would stimulate the appetites of anorexics enough to get them to eat. However, I suspect most would refuse to take it, and forcing drugs on people isn't generally ethical (with some exceptions).

 

[juniper_ann]

They say that THC stimulates the appetite.

Has there been any serious studies if something as simple as pot can cure anorexia? I mean, the disease anorexia is pretty easy - too little food.

Pot and its active chemicals do help with cancer anorexia, which is caused by a variety of factors, including nausea from chemotherapy, mouth sores, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, lack of smell or taste, etc.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/marijuana

Anorexia nervosa, on the other hand, is not a simple disease, and not eating is a symptom rather than the underlying cause. The underlying cause is complicated, and may involve body dysmorphia, fear of growing up, perfectionism and/or a fear of lack of control over one's life, depression and desire to commit suicide, fear of one's sexuality, problems in familial relationships, etc.

It seems unlikely that pot will have a long-term effect on these psychological problems.

 

[BenBurch]

Actually, weed might help.

IF the person can be induced to try it, the reduction in anxiety might change their desire not to eat. I know that various tranquilizers have been used with some success in that way.

 

[Father Dagon]

Er....what makes you think an anorexic person would agree to take something that worked?

Well, a patient can have an intellectual insight in the problems. THC provides the right emotion.

Anorexia isn't "too little food" intake; that's a symptom. Anorexia is refusing to eat even with access to food. It's not that anorexics don't have an appetite, it's that they don't want to eat.

So the anorexics are fighting their appetite? Doesn't make sense, beacuse after only a few days with not adequate food, the body adapts and the appetite diminishes.

And in the 1800's there was a doctor (the name escapes me) that was down to earth in his treatment of anorexia patients.

He concluded that they ate too little food and was too energetic. So he ordered them to occupy themselves with stitching, gave them nutritional food and plenty of rest under warm quilts.

He had a higher sucess ratio than the treatments of today. And since a lot of the psychological treatments are (or at least has been) not down to earth, but are instead wallowing in self-pity etc, it's easy to understand why they suceeded better then.

I would be curious if THC would stimulate the appetites of anorexics enough to get them to eat. However, I suspect most would refuse to take it, and forcing drugs on people isn't generally ethical (with some exceptions).

Well, there's cancer medicine that would be classified as chemical weapons if they would be used in war. And that medicine is taken for granted. Why would it be wrong to use a

 

[Drudgewire]

I'm normally the last person to say the words "gateway drug," but introducing pot to anorexics is just BEGGING them to start doing coke.

 

[blutoski]

Well, a patient can have an intellectual insight in the problems. THC provides the right emotion.

Seems like a roundabout way to achieve a direct result. Either you're forcing them to take drugs with the hope it might change their mind and eat... or you force them to eat.

So the anorexics are fighting their appetite?

Pretty much the definition of this eating disorder.

Doesn't make sense, beacuse after only a few days with not adequate food, the body adapts and the appetite diminishes.

It peaks at a certain point, but does not dissappear. A lot of the mental effort of these patients is involved in distracting their attention from the daily physical discomfort caused by malnutrition. Go read their community forums for the latest tips and tricks.

And in the 1800's there was a doctor (the name escapes me) that was down to earth in his treatment of anorexia patients.

He concluded that they ate too little food and was too energetic. So he ordered them to occupy themselves with stitching, gave them nutritional food and plenty of rest under warm quilts.

He had a higher sucess ratio than the treatments of today. And since a lot of the psychological treatments are (or at least has been) not down to earth, but are instead wallowing in self-pity etc, it's easy to understand why they suceeded better then.Well, there's cancer medicine that would be classified as chemical weapons if they would be used in war. And that medicine is taken for granted. Why would it be wrong to use a

Please. Hearsay about an anonymous doctor a centry or two ago?

The diagnosis changed dramatically in the last twenty years, much less in the last two centuries. My guess is that if nothing else, we're not even dealing with the same type of patients.

AN is a psychiatric disorder, where patients are intentionally altering their body appearance. Reasons vary, so there are different treatments for different patients.

While short-term strategies toward avoiding acute malnutrition such as force-feeding, or appetite-enhancing medications are worth exploring, these are merely bandaids. The best long-term approach is to resolve the underlying problem, if possible.

The long-term problem is cognitive, and it's almost always a situation where the caregiver is fighting the will of an adult patient.

I'm not sure what you mean by the modern psychiatric treatments for NA as 'wallowing in self-pity'.

As BenBirch points out: the antianxiety effect may have benefit for those whose underlying cause is relevant, but we already have meds for that.

 

[andyandy]

Just to add what others have said, I don't think it is helpful to talk about anorexia just in terms of "not enough food." the not eating food bit is just a manifestation of some underlying cause, either biochemical (eg some form of mental illness) or environmental (e.g. a need to gain "control").... or maybe both in some measure.

People with anorexia don't want to eat, so they are hardly likely to willingly take THC. And if it's going to be administered without their consent, well, we already have a food drip for use in extreme cases......

 

[Dancing David]

They say that THC stimulates the appetite.

Has there been any serious studies if something as simple as pot can cure anorexia? I mean, the disease anorexia is pretty easy - too little food.

I can see that on the surface it might work, except for one thing, paradoxical anxiety.

My belief is that anorexia is a subset of anxiety and depression that just through OCD as well, marijuana is not good for that. people with anxiety can often get more anxious after using and it can make obbsession worse.

the other issue is that most anorexic purge as well, they might eat more but they will also purge more.

 

[Dancing David]

Er....what makes you think an anorexic person would agree to take something that worked?

Certainly there is a problem in the treatment community as well, where anti depressants are avoided for some reason.

The phrase 'pathology of feminimity' comes to mind. (sorry, I just think that there is a lot of feminist narcissisim in some anorexia treatment). Personal bias, I am a man who is a feminist, actualy I am a humanist and I just hate people who come up with reasons to avoid treating depression and anxiety with medications.

 

[Dancing David]

Well, a patient can have an intellectual insight in the problems. THC provides the right emotion.So the anorexics are fighting their appetite? Doesn't make sense, beacuse after only a few days with not adequate food, the body adapts and the appetite diminishes.

And in the 1800's there was a doctor (the name escapes me) that was down to earth in his treatment of anorexia patients.

He concluded that they ate too little food and was too energetic. So he ordered them to occupy themselves with stitching, gave them nutritional food and plenty of rest under warm quilts.

He had a higher sucess ratio than the treatments of today.

Isn't that just a cute little bit of folklore, why not cite the data and the sample and what controls there were?

And since a lot of the psychological treatments are (or at least has been) not down to earth

Wow, that is just peachy, you know a lot about research based psychology , don't you? Do you get you information from Psychology Today? Look up 'cognitive behavioral therapy', 'rational emotive therapy'(ook I don't like jansen) and reasearch based treatment of mental disorders.

, but are instead wallowing in self-pity etc

Gosh, do you kick cripples too?

You are full of what people call

stigma

so why noy educate yourself out of your ignorance. You may not mean to be demeaning, but you might as well say that same thing about other people with depression and anxiety.

Go kick a diabetic while you are at it and tell them to stop wallowing in self pity.

, it's easy to understand why they suceeded better then.Well, there's cancer medicine that would be classified as chemical weapons if they would be used in war. And that medicine is taken for granted. Why would it be wrong to use a

Use a what, a folk medicine that will make the anxiety, depression and obsession worse in some people?

gee, why not just try homeopathy?

 

[dann]

Just to add what others have said, I don't think it is helpful to talk about anorexia just in terms of "not enough food."

Right! It's anorexia, an eating disorder, not malnutrition!
The "need to gain "control"" is probably the point of this disorder, which is why they are often extremely competitive, straight-A students. (Perfectionism was mentioned earlier in this thread. And, of course, in competitive society you are not in control) unless you are superior: the highest grades, the thinnest body etc.
I've experienced a couple of high-school students who managed to stay straight-A students in spite of their frequent hospital admissions (and visits to the bathroom when in shool).
In my opinion there is a direct connection between the increased competitiveness of the education system and anorexia/bulimia.
Some anorectics want to control their surroundings as well, which will make them very unpleasant lovers.

 

[blutoski]

Just to add what others have said, I don't think it is helpful to talk about anorexia just in terms of "not enough food." the not eating food bit is just a manifestation of some underlying cause, either biochemical (eg some form of mental illness) or environmental (e.g. a need to gain "control").... or maybe both in some measure.

People with anorexia don't want to eat, so they are hardly likely to willingly take THC. And if it's going to be administered without their consent, well, we already have a food drip for use in extreme cases......

That's 100% in agreement with my interpretation. Force feed them or force them to take drugs. Either way: it's against their will and doesn't change their attitude. As soon as you stop, they're back at it unless you actually treat the underlying problem.

I had thought I'd heard about problems with AN patients using mj, I did some research on medline: yup. It's actually contraindicated for these patients. The key risk factor is that not only does it not increase calorie intake, but its disinhibiting effect increases the likelihood of self-mutilation and miscellaneous borderline-ish impulsive behavior. A lot of these patients are comorbid with borderline pd, and should be as far from disinhibiting drugs as possible.

I followed up with my wife - she a psychiatrist at SPH in Vancouver with about 300 AN patients in her portfolio right now - and she confirmed the above, adding that appetite enhancers are proven to have zero effect. These people are very proud of ignoring their body's natural signals, and they would consider being forced to take meds just one more challenge to their right to control their body.