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How Does One Differentiate Between Marijuana Abuse And Kleine–Levin Syndrome?

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Posted on Tue, 28 Jun 2016
Question: How does one differentiate between marijuana abuse and Kliene Levin Syndrome?
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
By biochemical tests and hstory

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

I think differentiating between marijhuna abuse and Kliene levine syndrome is very easy as both of them have different clinical different clinical presentation. For example KL syndrome presents with hyperphagia, hypersexuality and hypersomnia while cannabis abuse rarely presents in this way.

In addition urine as well as blood can be subjected for THC level which will be totally absent in KL syndrome while it is definitely present in Marijhuana abuse.

Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
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http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (54 minutes later)
He smokes weed all the time and yet 2 or 3 times a year falls into a sleep coma like state for 7 to 10 days at a time. Looks like KLS to me but everytime I take him to doctors or ER they ask if he smokes pot. He says yes and that is the diagnosis. To me his normal pot use looks very very different from the sleep episodes which include, confusion, altered mental status, memory issues Extreme exhaustion, unable to focus or keep track of stuff. Nauseous and vomitting. Passive and child like behavior and sleep up to 20 hours a day for up to 2 weeks. Unable to go to work, not interested in driving, too dizzy and does not trust himself. Now when he is just smoking pot he is hanging with friends going places, going to work, and functionally pretty normally So why all of a sudden pot would lead to these much more severe symptoms I can't understand. I don't approve of pot use and I am not a user but I have seen a lot of people who use it and no one EVER acted like this from smoking. I am upset the doctors don't look past the pot use to see if there is a more serious problem that I should be getting him treatment for. Am I naive and is it just pot abuse?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
I think KLS should only be considered if there are other components

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.

Considering these discrete two episodes I think KLS should be considered if there is associated hypersexuality and hyperphagia. In case those two components are not present it can well explained on the basis of cannabis abuse as this is common in many of individuals who abuse cannabis.

I hope this clarifies.
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 3355 Questions

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How Does One Differentiate Between Marijuana Abuse And Kleine–Levin Syndrome?

Brief Answer: By biochemical tests and hstory Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for using Healthcaremagic. I think differentiating between marijhuna abuse and Kliene levine syndrome is very easy as both of them have different clinical different clinical presentation. For example KL syndrome presents with hyperphagia, hypersexuality and hypersomnia while cannabis abuse rarely presents in this way. In addition urine as well as blood can be subjected for THC level which will be totally absent in KL syndrome while it is definitely present in Marijhuana abuse. Hope I am able to answer your concerns. If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you. If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients. In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386 Thanks and regards.