system
How can anxiety be managed while suffering form mitral valve prolapse?
human
I was recently diagnosed with Mitral Valve prolapse and Lown Ganong Levine syndrome. I was placed on a very low dose of a beta blocker (12.5mg Atenolol). I also have anxiety and depression and a little over a year ago, I was placed on buspirone 15mg once daily and clonazapam as needed (usually take .5mg-1mg). My question is, is it safe for me to smoke marijuana considering my heart ‘condition’ AND with the medicines I’m currently taking? I used to smoke every day, several times a day for a little over a year, but stopped due to a tachycardic episode about 5 weeks ago. However, I was put on the beta blocker AFTER I stopped smoking. Since I’m on the beta blocker now, is it safe for me to continue smoking marijuana since the beta blocker has significantly lowered my heart rate and blood pressure? If not consumable by smoking, is it safe perhaps to consume an edible? I’m asking because marijuana does help with my anxiety and is a much safer and less addictive alternative to any benzodiazepine.
gpt
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. Avoid marijuana in smoking and oral forms to avoid cardiac risk as marijuana increases blood pressure and increases the risk of arrhythmia palpitation. You can take SSRI's like sertraline, etc. after consulting a doctor to deal your problem more effectively. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Awadhesh P. Singh Solanki