Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 7/20/2007

Question
I have ocd and bipolar. i am on welbutrin and paxil. i want to try marinol , just to try, but my psyk dr says no.Is ther any legal way to obtain a prescription online so i can try it. Im a responsible adult. thanks in advance    carol

Answer
Hi, Carol . . .

Marinol is a controlled substance and I know of no legal way that a physician can prescribe it for you, or that you can obtain it online. Even if you were to somehow find it via the internet, you would be committing a felony by obtaining a controlled substance without a prescription.

To make matters worse, there actually is actually a dsuggestion that cannabinoids may reduce some symptoms of bipolar disorder. See:
J Psychopharmacol. 2005 May;19(3):293-300.

   Cannabinoids in bipolar affective disorder: a review and discussion of their therapeutic potential.

   Ashton CH, Moore PB, Gallagher P, Young AH.

   Department of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. c.h.ashton@ncl.ac.uk

   Bipolar affective disorder is often poorly controlled by prescribed drugs. Cannabis use is common in patients with this disorder and anecdotal reports suggest that some patients take it to alleviate symptoms of both mania and depression. We undertook a literature review of cannabis use by patients with bipolar disorder and of the neuropharmacological properties of cannabinoids suggesting possible therapeutic effects in this condition. No systematic studies of cannabinoids in bipolar disorder were found to exist, although some patients claim that cannabis relieves symptoms of mania and/or depression. The cannabinoids Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) may exert sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, antipsychotic and anticonvulsant effects. Pure synthetic cannabinoids, such as dronabinol and nabilone and specific plant extracts containing THC, CBD, or a mixture of the two in known concentrations, are available and can be delivered sublingually. Controlled trials of these cannabinoids as adjunctive medication in bipolar disorder are now indicated.