Life With ALS.com
+ Diagnosed Aug 2005
+ Bipap March 2007
+ PEG July 2007
+ Trache and Vent July 2008
Still Living, Loving & Laughing
This a very touchy topic and all to common for many people affected by ALS. Few can deal with this properly and a lot of people need medication to control their emotions. Having said that, here is how I have coped with anxiety. If you are struggling with this I recommend seeing your doctor and getting him/her to prescribe an anti-depressant. There are many good ones available.
There is also a growing community of PALS recommending the use of marijuana.
Although this is only legal (in some locations) for people who actually have ALS, not for family, friends and/or caregivers.
In the case of someone who has ALS, anxiety needs to be differentiated from Emotional Lability. They are two distinctly different conditions.
Survey of cannabis use in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by
Amtmann D,
Weydt P, Johnson KL, Jensen MP, Carter GT.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,
University
of Washington School of Medicine,
Seattle, Washington, USA.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care.
2004 Mar-Apr;21(2):95-104
ABSTRACT
Cannabis (marijuana) has been proposed as treatment for a widening spectrum of medical conditions and has many properties that may be applicable to the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study is the first, anonymous survey of persons with ALS regarding the use of cannabis. There were 131 respondents, 13 of whom reported using cannabis in the last 12 months. Although the small number of people with ALS that reported using cannabis limits the interpretation of the survey findings, the results indicate that cannabis may be moderately effective at reducing symptoms of appetite loss, depression, pain, spasticity, and drooling. Cannabis was reported ineffective in reducing difficulties with speech and swallowing, and sexual dysfunction. The longest relief was reported for depression (approximately two to three hours). http://www.cannabis.net/als/index.html
