How Does Alcohol Interacts with CBD?

Do you mix alcohol and CBD? If yes. You would like to know how alcohol interacts with CBD. This article explains how alcohol interacts with CBD, the combined effects of CBD and alcohol, and if it is okay to mix CBD with alcohol.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has become prominent in supplement and natural health aisles and natural health retailers. Among the wide range of CBD-infused products on the market are oils, lotions, lip balms, bath salts, and protein bars. Alcohol makers have produced CBD-infused beers, shots, and other alcoholic drinks to get in on the CBD action. Many individuals have questioned the safety of mixing alcohol with CBD. Here, it will be explained what happens to your body when CBD and alcohol are consumed together, as well as the potential health risks and findings from the study.

Combined Effects of CBD and Alcohol

Marijuana plants contain the most potent active component, CBD (cannabidiol). It does not affect sobriety since it is not psychoactive. According to Schoedel et al. (2018), there are no amount of CBD products that will make you feel euphoric. Chronic pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, and other conditions may all be helped by using CBD oil, capsules, gummies, and other vaping products. Also, the most prevalent cause for combining CBD and alcohol is not directly related to the substance. It is possible to take CBD to alleviate symptoms and then go out for a couple of drinks without realizing that you are ingesting both substances. Some individuals intentionally combine CBD with alcohol to alleviate some of the negative effects of drinking, such as headaches or nausea. CBD may lower blood alcohol levels, but it is speculation.

Using CBD and Alcohol Together Might Make You Sleepy

Like alcohol, cannabidiol (CBD) has many comparable effects. Central nervous system relaxants cause the nervous system and the brain to calm down. It can cause negative effects such as drowsiness or exhaustion by inducing too much calmness. As a result, combining CBD with alcohol or other relaxants may have a greater effect on the body. An excellent idea for individuals who want to increase their sleep quality.

Cannabidiol (CBD) with Alcohol Can Lower Blood Pressure

In the same way that CBD and alcohol combine to make one weary, blood pressure can also decrease. CBD and alcohol are vasodilators that relax and dilate blood vessels. Imagine a yard hose with water pouring through it. To increase the power of the water, put your thumb over the hose's end to restrict the aperture (pressure). A constricting or tightening of the blood vessels results in this phenomenon. To expand the aperture, you must withdraw your thumb. The dilation of the blood vessels caused by CBD and alcohol lowers blood pressure. According to Williamson et al. (2000), combining alcohol with CBD has synergistic effects, resulting in an even greater blood pressure lowering. Pressure may fall too low if this impact is too powerful, making it tough for the heart to pump enough blood and oxygen into the brain. It is dangerous as it causes dizziness and lightheadedness. You may faint if the attack gets too intense. Learn more about how does cbd work in the body?

Taking CBD May Protect Against Alcohol's Negative Effects

In addition to relieving nausea and headaches brought on by drinking alcohol, using CBD oil with alcohol may have other advantages. Evidence shows that CBD may be able to lower blood-alcohol levels when one is drinking. As a precaution, it is advised against combining these two products. Reduces Nausea and the Desire to Vomit with CBD Oil. Full-spectrum CBD oil may be an effective anti-nausea treatment in the right dosage. Many cannabinoids in hemp may be used to treat nausea, but THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) - the psychoactive component in marijuana — has the biggest impact. Traces of THC should be present in a good full-spectrum CBD oil without having any psychotropic side effects. CBD oil with a modest amount of THC is the best way to alleviate the effects of alcohol-induced nausea. CBD and THC activate neuronal CB1 receptors in the brainstem, and these receptors govern nausea responses. There is an increase in the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that reduces the desire to vomit.

How Effective Is Cannabidiol (CBD) in Treating Alcohol Dependence?

CBD helps in the treatment of alcoholism. According to Turna et al. (2019), the addiction area in the brain is targeted; therefore, it helps with withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Addiction to alcohol and cocaine was reduced in rats treated with CBD. CBD might be an effective relapse prevention strategy for alcoholics in recovery. Benzodiazepines, opioids, and stimulants have all demonstrated comparable anti-addictive properties to CBD. The most frequent adverse symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, such as sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression, have all been found in other trials to be reduced or even eliminated by CBD.

Is it Okay to Mix CBD with Alcoholic Beverages?

There is insufficient evidence to support using CBD and alcohol in combination. CBD has been shown to lessen some of the negative effects of alcohol in both people and animals. However, there is a lack of evidence to suggest that mixing CBD with alcohol harms one's health. Furthermore, since CBD's effects vary from person to person, it's impossible to say if combining CBD with alcohol will have the same impact on everyone. Much attention is also being paid to the dangers of ingesting large volumes of alcohol in conjunction with CBD instead of a few drinks. Individuals don't know as much about the consequences of infrequent or moderate drinking. It is why it's not recommended to combine CBD with alcohol, particularly if you are unclear about how either may affect you. If you combine CBD with alcohol, consume small quantities of either to avoid any negative consequences. Keep your doctor in mind if you have any questions or concerns.

Conclusion

Because alcohol and CBD both help you relax and decrease your inhibitions, the benefits you get from combining the two might be exceptionally potent and long-lasting. As a result, no one recommends using the two together. As the dosages of any or both of these substances grow, you find yourself in a greater predicament. The potentiated impact you receive by drinking more and taking more CBD is larger than the effect of either substance alone. The effects of drunkenness will be worse, including higher loss of self-control, inhibition, and motor coordination. Depending on your level of intoxication, this combo might have various effects. Learn more about how to take cbd products?

References

Schoedel, K. A., Szeto, I., Setnik, B., Sellers, E. M., Levy-Cooperman, N., Mills, C., ... & Sommerville, K. (2018). Abuse potential assessment of cannabidiol (CBD) in recreational polydrug users: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Epilepsy & Behavior, 88, 162-171.

Williamson, E. M., & Evans, F. J. (2000). Cannabinoids in clinical practice. Drugs, 60(6), 1303-1314.

Peng, H., & Shahidi, F. (2021). Cannabis and cannabis edibles: A review. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69(6), 1751-1774.

Turna, J., Syan, S. K., Frey, B. N., Rush, B., Costello, M. J., Weiss, M., & MacKillop, J. (2019). Cannabidiol as a novel candidate alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapy: a systematic review. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 43(4), 550-563.