marijuana chest pain and panic attacks

OH MY GOD. I CANT BELIEVE IVE FOUND SOMEONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME. Im 18 and used to take lots of party drugs. but I've been smoking weed since 15, more heavily from 17-18. I've always been fine until a few months again, I became christian and stopped all drugs apart from weed. Out of nowhere I started feeling faint most days, I just ignored it for weeks, untill my hands would go freeezing cold but be sweating, id go cold, then hot, my heart would beat so fast and hurt i almost had to call 999. I get tingling in my arms too. I really dunno what this is, My friend said he thinks its from taking lots of mephedrone in the recent months. I barely go out now cause I constantly think its gunna happen : I had to come home from college today because of it.

Glad i found this post, im 20 years old and been smokin poppers (weed mixed with tobacco) all day everyday for the last 3 years never had any problem whatsoever then all of the sudden starting last week ive gotten this same feeling every day when i smoke weed or a cig even i seriously thought there was something definately wrong with my heart and been obsessed with checking my pulse lol feel like that as we speak i just smoked and its so shitty feeling ugh might never smoke again :( 

Thank god i found this post i thought i was the only one. I have the same thing too when i smoke weed i get panick attacks, twitches, dry mouth, and chest discomfort, heart beats fast, knott in throat, sore neck. 

Ive been having the same problems lately, im 17 and have been smoking for about 3 years but only heavily for about 1 and a half years, Ive decided to quit smoking weed until an adult since weed DOES increases heart rate and always having a rapid heart beat can cause heart attacks, also there is cases of young stoners dying of heart attacks, today was my first day sober and yes i miss it, especially since I used it to help with my OCD therefore to help me with schooling so quitting is going to completely change my life, like I even cried once I found out it was my only option, but I believe it will be worth it in the end because I rather not have a heart attack before even graduating

I had one so bad my chest has been sore for a week. It was getting better but I sneezed and now it hurts again. Might be time to go see a doc. My heart rate was like 160-200 BPM for like 10-15 minutes...now that's not healthy. I hung up my weed hat after 14 years and recently started again...might be time to let go. I'd rather have my health.

Also, I had a 4 yr break and recently started smoking daily again. Also I had the panic attack after a big bong Dab of butane hash oil. That stuff is no joke. THC increases heart rate with a temporary spike in blood pressure...add that with a panic attack and that is ALOT of stress on my heart. Think about it...

Hi, i Started smoking about two years ago then stopped smoking for a year and just picked it up again about a year ago, id smoke about 2 joints a day everyday for the past year, in the last month or so ive been experiencing bad pains in my chest it feels as if someone is pulling the skin off my ribs and chest and rubbing my ribs together, its all mental but will freak you out, if you repeatdly say to your self that "its all in your head" it will go away in about 5 mins breathe through your nose and out your mouth, eat food during an anxiety attack

 

Reading all this stuff is making me crazy.  I am 75 years old and have been smoking weed for about 50 years almost without interruption; I've recently had a physical and was told by my doctor that I'll probably live to 100.  I also smoke cigarettes for about 25 years and stopped  cold in 1982 after one hypnotherapy session  The hypnotherapist implanted the suggestion that "Every time you feel the urge to smoke, you won't do it and you will feel wonderful."  It sounds so simplistic, but it definitely worked and I have never smoked another cigarette since.  I even stopped smoking weed for about 6 months, with no withdrawal symptoms at all.  I really missed the weed and have been partaking ever since.  I'm looking forward to being able to use medical marijuana,if I can get a prescription.  I have really bad lower back pain caused by spondylothesis in L-1 - L5.  I have been told that I need 10 screws and 5 rods to completely rebuild my lower back and I have no intention of doing this.  The weed really helps the pain issue and when I can't stand it, I take a Vicodin or some equivalent pain killer and the weed amplifies the effect of the drug and I can function normally. 

Reading the various stories about the effects of the weed, simply confirms my assessment that it's all different and it's al the same. Yes, you feel paranoid and perhaps a panic attack, if you are in a situation that creates a stressful condition; the weed amplifies that feeling.  I also do not drink hard liquor, ever.  I am a red wine drinker and always have a glass or three with dinner; I don't smoke too much; I find that the wine/weed combination is debilitating.  I never do it when I am out and about; only at home and rarely.

So,I am looking forward to the legalization of the innocuous weed and my ability to grow it in my back yard some day, without getting busted.

Good luck to all of you kids...it may be legal one of these days.

 

I'm a regular cannabis user (19y old), or atleast I used to be. I have been smoking cannabis for 2-3 years now and started doing it almost everyday the past 6 months. Okay now to the story, I "quit" smoking for like 1 month ago and have only smoked 3 times past 3 weeks. Yesterday me and by buddies got hold on some weed, we all smoked, pipes, in rizzlas and bongs. 

I started loading the new bong that my friend got ( never smoked bong before ), took one hit and felt it right away, was feeling great and high as hell until 1hr after my high I started feeling cramps in my heart, can't really explain how hard the cramps were. It felt like you had ridden a bike for 10000 miles and your legs are cramping but you still cant stop cycling because it would lead to your death. My heart rate was easily around 200, felt like it would give up on me any second, couldnt take any deep breaths, all I could see was white and blurry. This was going on for atleast 40 minutes before it got down a bit. The whole time I was trying to tell them I didn't feel well but they didn't seem to take it seriously. So after my "heart attack" we got some food to eat, I started feeling better but my heart was still hurting and feeling really tired. After eating we sat down to watch TV, I was kind of dreaming the whole time, really hallucinating and feeling like I'm falling asleep, under my eyelids water and colors was all I was seeing, it felt really really good when my eyelids closed by themselves but the whole time it felt like if I was going to fall asleep I would not wake up again... 

Anyway, today, 2 days after I still have chest pains and trouble breathing.

Any comments on this guys? Really dont feel like smoking the last bit of my weed anymore...

I'm 28. I started smoking when I was 14 and heavily from 18 to 25. My first panic attack came at 25 after not being able to find weed for two weeks. Then the first time I got high I freaked out. Literally thought I was having a heart attack. I even got like this weird full body sensation of like a warming sensation and and a feeling of faintness that was in tune with my heart beat. Got hooked up to EKG a week later. Everything's good. I tried to smoke a few times after that. Less intense than the first but still intense. I quit for 3 yrs. I think I just realised that it may had been a low point for me and I was more depressed than I knew. I have one of those minds that don't stop. I internalize and over think everything. I'm in my own head a lot. Beating myself up for mistakes. I recently started working out. Quit cigs and have been eating really healthy. I'm in a healthy state of mind and happy and I've been smoking for the last 9 months. I gave it up for 3 yrs but I missed it. Decided I'd try it again. The rule for me is only dank. No more than one hit off a bowl and don't inhale quite as deep or hold in as long. I do that once or twice a day. Sometimes take a few days or a week off. I've had panic attacks. But its like I see me doing it to myself and I can defuse it before it happens. I have noticed tho that its about not getting high and totally vegging out and internalizing or going into your own world. Keep yourself entertained. Smoke to watch a movie or play games or listen to music. I've just noticed for me its like the minute I get high and let one negative thought get im my mind I'm on my way to a panic attack or trying to anyway. And of course those muscle glitches and physical symptoms never help. You just have to realise your doing it to yourself. Its usually brought on by depression or stress.

thats why you dont smoke mexican brick weed :)

I've been smoking weed for about 6 years.... HELL I'm high now! Never the less I also have had horrible pains all in my chest and head. Due to my brain surgery in January of 2012 . I've started having What feel like someone punching me in the head migraines; to feeling like someone is squashing my head from the inside out. I've had several MRI's gotta love being one of those Americans with no health insurance. I'm in and out of the hospital on a regular and always being given blood pressure medicine due to my hypertension. It's horrible; so it's like weed is the only thing I can take to calm my nerves. HELL I went 6 weeks and today was the day I broke my sobriety. I feel bad about it.....But at the same time things were just caving in so I had to get some trees. I pray my sobriety returns.

I'm sooo glad I came accross this thread! Here's my story; it's a little lengthy, but it will be worth it. I'm a 38 father of two and took my first toke when I was eleven. From the very first hit I had the same symptoms of mild panic attacks and HEAVY heart beats with vision issues. Because I was having some serious home issues (bad family life) I really didn't care if it killed me or not, so I kept smoking off and on for 9 years; always with the same effects.

Then one day when I was around 20, I met a new guy and went to his house to "sample" some product. After smoking and having the most serious issue of "feeling like I'm about to die" I decided to just quit smoking altogether. 

After a year I found myself in a situation wanting to impress a girl, so I smoked with her and BAM! I was just high with NO bad side effects! I didn't even realize I was enjoying the high without the "panicky" feeling until about 2 hours later. I continued to smoke without any problems for 4 years. 

I' have serious ADHD and weed was the only stabilizer that ever really worked for me. It seriously changed my life. Then one day I had an issue like I used to have (and all the other people above) and it was a bit more intense that the previous times in the past. It scared me so I quit and haven't smoked in well over a decade. 

Now here I am, a father of 2 small children and I am having MAJOR bouts of getting mad over the littlest things. I'm not at all abusive, but this isn't like me at all and I'm having marital problems from acting poorly. So, I bought some good green from a co-worker and I'm going to really try and get over this. The way I see it is; I smoked WITH the "Panic attacks" and racing heart issues for over a decade and never died from it; and now I'm at a point where I'm willing to do anything for my children, so here I go!

I'm going to be smoking everyday over the next 4 weeks. Everyday I'm going to smoke starting in very small amounts until I can hopefully work my way up to where I can use this as a mood stabilizer for the future of my family. I'm willing to die for my kids and I don't want them to grow up with a penis for a Dad; so if I'm really willing to die, then I can deal with some panic attacks. Honestly, I'm really a nice guy, but I just haven't been able to calm down and I PRAY this will help. 

I'll write back in 4 weeks and let everyone know what happens. 

You just gotta chill out man. Just know you are NOT dying and your JUST REALLY HIGH and the EVERYTHING is going to be fine and then you will be able to come down with the HIGH from the weed(not anxiety).  HAVE AN EASY GOING MIND AND THAT'S HOW YOUR HIGH WILL BE. If your finding reasons to be scared and playing the victim you will have a scary anxiety filled trip or high.  ITS ALL IN YOUR HEAD. Keep in mind that your body may need a break to balance back out if you are a regular user

To those who question the validity of the sufferers; the believers of anxiety being "only in the mind," you advice is like an expired coupon -- pointless and outdated.  To the rest of you, I've lived the problems you're facing, and can confidently say there is a medical explanation that hasn't been fully realized yet.

I'm a 29yo male, and 15 years ago I'd smoke weed with my friends, as they laughed about my paranoia and labeled me a hypochondriac.  I shared many of the same symptoms you all described -- chest pain, numbness and tingling, panic, rapid heart rate, confusion, visual distortions, hand claw (aka ulnar claw), blistering headaches, pain behind the eyes, neck or ears, paleness, etc...  The symptoms are very real.

Disappointing to most of you, I'm sure, I've found no way to curb the symptoms other than quitting weed.  But, today, I deal with a much larger, undiagnosed problem.  I can attribute this bigger problem, at least a small part, to not giving up weed and punishing my nervous system while it was already shouting out it's inability to handle the green bush.  While I wish I had more clues to share, I can only speculate what I've drawn close to connecting.

My issues are related to autonomic nervous system dysfunction and hormone disruption.  Disregarding reports about marijuana's safety, it can mess with your hormones.  Which is why I developed b***h tits (Google: gynecomastia) from smoking weed at the ripe age of 14, and can easily connect this to the larger issue on my plate.  I also have low testosterone and LH hormone as well.

The question of pursuit is where the issue stems from in the case of marijuana.  It's proven we have more receptors in are guts that are targets for these drugs, than we have in our brains.  The enteric nervous system is a complicated and misunderstood system of biology at the moment.  I'm certainly curious marijuana could affect receptors in the enteric nervous system that would produce long-lasting and mass changes to the nervous and hormonal systems.

That is all I have for today, kids.