Marijuana & CP

[thetruejedi]

it seems whenever I smoke marijuna, my CP symptoms become worse. I wonder if pot has anything to do with causing it.

[J Dimitrakov]

it seems whenever I smoke marijuana, my CP symptoms become worse. I wonder if pot has anything to do with causing it.

Pot causes contraction of the smooth muscles of the prostate increasing prostatic pressure and causes difficulty urinating (is this what you are experiencing)? A specific cannabinoid receptor has recently been described in the prostate:

Prostate 2003 Feb 1;54(2):95-102

Expression of functionally active cannabinoid receptor CB1 in the human prostate gland.

Ruiz-Llorente L, Sanchez MG, Carmena MJ, Prieto JC, Sanchez-Chapado M, Izquierdo A, Diaz-Laviada I.
Departmento de Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Cannabinoids exert a wide spectrum of effects in men including alterations in the reproductive system. To date, two types of cannabinoid receptors have been cloned in humans, namely CB(1) and CB(2) belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Although cannabinoids have functional and morphologic effects in the prostate gland, the expression of cannabinoid receptors in this tissue has never been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of cannabinoid receptors in the human prostate gland and their regulatory effects on adenylyl cyclase activity.

METHODS: To investigate the existence of cannabinoid receptors in prostate, we used various methods, including reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Adenylyl cyclase activity was analyzed by measuring the cAMP produced by means of a competitive assay by using PKA.

RESULTS: Both mRNA for CB(1) and the corresponding protein are expressed in the human prostate gland at a level comparable with the receptor expressed in cerebellum. The molecular mass of the protein estimated from Western blot analysis was 58 kDa, which is in concordance with previous data for CB(1) in other tissues. Immunohistochemical studies show that CB(1) is preferentially expressed in the epithelia of the prostate. The cannabinoid receptor expressed in the prostate negatively regulates adenylyl cyclase activity through a pertussis toxin-sensitive protein.

[jd]

I ALWAYS seemed to have difficulty urinating after I smoked it, so it's one of the things I gave up after I came down with this. That article seems to explain some of that.

Not to mention I think it made me concentrate on my CPPS/ic symptoms a lot more. On one occasion early in my chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome it gave me some sort of panic attack, possibly since it elevated my heart rate. Plus I think it might have made me involuntarily clench the muscles of that region because of anxiety, increasing my symptoms. I firmly believe in a muscular/pfd component of this.

But like everything else in CPPS/IC, everything seems to be relative to the person. People seem to react positively/negatively to different things.

[thetruejedi]

When I first came down CP I had a few of those panic attacks when I smoked. ie. I would start to the chills and shake a bit. Not cool. But what you said jd is exactly what I feel do. It seems that the muscles clench down. I've noticed that when I get erections (which I don't have a problem getting, in fact I get them way more frequently) I can feel my penis pulse. I can really notice a difference in the morning when am able to concenate in that region I could stop the involuntarily muscle movemnts and everything feels so much better.

Dimitrakov, do you beleive that smoking a large amount of marijuna could bring on CPPS? As in appox 3 grams a week for 2-3 years?

[J Dimitrakov]

Dimitrakov, do you beleive that smoking a large amount of marijuna could bring on CPPS? As in appox 3 grams a week for 2-3 years?

Preliminary experimental evidence shows this is the case.

[kcnola]

wow - i've been a habitual smoker for nearly 5 years now. (2-3 grams per week) I have had mixed feelings about pot and CP since developing the disease nearly 3 years ago. I have recently used pot as relief to the stress of IC flares. I have read the posts here, and agree with them. I intend to discontinue smoking pot. However, smoking being something I truely enjoy, I would like to see more information about maurijuana's effects on CP.

thanks! -kc

[MastCells]

=====Pot causes contraction of the smooth muscles of the prostate increasing prostatic pressure and causes difficulty urinatiing (is this what you are experiencing)? A specific cannabinoid receptor has recently been described in the prostate:

RESULTS: Both mRNA for CB(1) and the corresponding protein are expressed in the human prostate gland at a level comparable with the receptor expressed in cerebellum. The molecular mass of the protein estimated from Western blot analysis was 58 kDa, which is in concordance with previous data for CB(1) in other tissues. Immunohistochemical studies show that CB(1) is preferentially expressed in the epithelia of the prostate. The cannabinoid receptor expressed in the prostate negatively regulates adenylyl cyclase activity through a pertussis toxin-sensitive protein.

Very interesting! I had no idea this study existed. As always, thank you Dr. JD. This may explain my own experiences with pot. I've smoked it twice in my life, once in high school (before I had prostatitis) and once in college (after I had developed prostatitis). The first time was pleasurable, but the second was horrible. I felt this sensation of pressure in the prostate/bladder area, and I could not urinate for hours after smoking it (even though I felt a strong urge to go to the bathroom).

[kcnola]

this is good - but I still am not seeing any particular cases where marijuana has been the cause of prostatitis. I am very interested in this topic -- being an avid supporter of marijuana. anyone else has an experiences?

-kc

[J Dimitrakov]

this is good - but I still am not seeing any particular cases where marijuana has been the cause of prostatitis. I am very interested in this topic -- being an avid supporter of marijuana. anyone else has an experiences?

-kc

Well, you cannot implicate it directly since we do not actively ask for it in the patient history and patients are not required to disclose it.

[J Dimitrakov]

this is good - but I still am not seeing any particular cases where marijuana has been the cause of prostatitis. I am very interested in this topic -- being an avid supporter of marijuana. anyone else has an experiences?

-kc

The best way to go would be to measure the levels in EPS/post prostatic massage urine and correlate with pain and/or other symptoms. Any volunteers?

[Marc]

There is no doubt in my mind that pot caused my prostatitis and then affected its development into CP when I continued to smoke it while on antibiotics.

Afer graduating college, I lived at home and was miserable depressed, pot was my way out of my lonely isolation. I would drive around everyday after work and smoke. While it calmed my nerves, it hurt my prostate.

During treatment I stopped for a few days while laid up in bed, but resumed soon afterwards. I could feel the pot nicely working my head, but pain would shoot straight to my bladder, but I continued because it was the only thing to stop my depression and offer me an outlet to a different world, but now I am still suffering two years later. But, not smoking pot these days.

No question in my mind--pot will trigger prostatitis in those who are pre-disposed to the condition. Be warned.

Just don't smoke it everyday. I haven't smoked for months, but I would still like to fire one up on the beach or while hiking this summer, but for special occasions only, pot like any stimulant should be taken in extreme moderation.

[thetruejedi]

I have to agree wit thatt. I really think there is a link between the two. It would be interesting to find out how much people with CP have smoked. Moderation is definatly key, but I can really live without it at all. I'm over it. I love pot, and it has a lot of great uses. I've had my fun, now thats in the past. I know whenever I smoke, its the only thing that will make me feel like crap. Kinda weird, I wish the medical community could better explain this. CP would be a way better anti-drug commerical. The anti-marijuana commerical's are just plain sorry these days Thanks Dimitrakov for the insight. Could you direct to me to any where I could find more research about it?

[kcnola]

Hmm. My feelings are that pot aggrivates the problem, but I dont believe that smokin pot is the cause of prostatitis. My female friends with IC that smoke pot believe the same as I do.

It does aggrivate the symptoms (at times -- relief for me sometimes as well) -- but I dont believe it causes prostastitis.

There have been many studies on the long term affects of smoking pot -- and those studies have revealed emphasema, lung cancer, respitatory etc.

I think it would have come up that prostastitis was noticed amoung the test subjects.

Many men are here with prostastitis -- and havent even touched pot.

After I told my doctor that I smoked pot for the pain -- he simply said "At least your not trying to use narcotics."

I've been around extremely habitual smokers for many many years. They certainly are showing signs of prostastitis.

Again -- I hate to be the hippie here, but I dont think that prostastitis can be caused by smoking pot.

And I do not agree that smoking pot will help you with depression, I have noticed in my personal experience that pot and depression are not a good mix.

-kc

[thetruejedi]

I just wanted to update people that were interested. After completely not smoking for a month, I feel much better. The pot definitaly had something to do with my symptoms as it they were extremely aggervated when I smoked. If this is a problem for you, DONT SMOKE WEED EVER AGAIN. its not worth it.

[thetruejedi]

Serouisly, IF you smoke pot, stop right now, cuz this has a major part to do with it, at least for me. Its crazy, I love pot and all, it was fun while it lasted(5 years), but take what you;ve learned and leave it behind, pot has a big thing to do with my symptoms, man... just don't smoke and you'll feel soo much better. d