Can Marijuana Help Cure Atrial Fibrillation?

Posted on Tue, 30 Jun 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 Answered on

Wed, 22 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Can marijuana stop AFib?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is just not at all likely.

Detailed Answer:
The effects of marijuana are far more likley to (slightly) increase afib and certainly increase irregular (minor) heart beats than to help it.
Marijuana has stress hormone effects. They are small. But as coffee will tend to increase (slightly) irregular beats so will marijuana.
Also, more importantly about 1 in 6 people who smoke marijuana get some lung irritation from it that's significant. (asthma). This will increase risk of afib and irregular beats due to the stress on the heart (well... asthma is pretty stressful generally). It just isn't likely to have the effect on afib that occaisionally is seen with epilepsy

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (38 hours later)

What can I do to stop AFib. I have consistently been AFib for 10 days.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
An emergency

Detailed Answer:
uncontrolled afib is a medical emergency needing immediate treatment.
I cannot diagnose, treat, or prescribe on this service and anyone in afib requires all of these. If not immediately treated it could lead to stroke and/or death.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar