Interaction Between CBD Oil and Prescription Medications

Does CBD conflict with your current medications? If so, are you concerned? Understanding how drugs are metabolized and whether or not CBD may disrupt that process is the focus of this article.

CBD is non-intoxicating, unlike THC; therefore, it will not make you "high." Various ailments, from sleeplessness and hot flashes to chronic pain and seizures, may be alleviated using by-products containing cannabidiol (CBD). The truth is in the middle, with some of these assertions being based on fact and others on marketing hype. Indeed, it may be worth a shot.

But, hold on a second. Biologically active compounds may have huge unforeseen repercussions, and CBD is no exception. Additionally, there may be unintentional interactions with other products, such as over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription drugs.

Understanding the Metabolism of Drugs

This term may apply to two things: how your body utilizes energy for weight loss or how medications are digested. The former is referred to as the basal metabolic rate or BMR, which is the number of calories an individual needs to keep their body functioning normally while resting. As a result, the basal metabolic rate is much different from this.

According to Gibson et al. (2013), drug metabolism refers to the process by which a drug is broken down and used by the body. The liver is primarily responsible for this breakdown. A scientific term for this phenomenon is the "first-pass effect." Therefore, the liver converts the drug's active ingredients into the body's usable form, best described as a breakdown process. A drug's constituents are broken down into carbs and lipids, while proteins are broken down into separate components. Metabolites are formed from these substances by specialized enzymes regulated by the cell's microbiome. Once they've been used up, these metabolites impact many bodily functions before being excreted via the urine.

CBD's Interaction with Drugs and Medication

The most prevalent CBD-drug interactions are discussed in this section. Before purchasing CBD oil, talk to your doctor if you are using any of the following medications or supplements.

Antibiotics and CBD Oil

Antibiotics and CBD have no known interactions; however, the cytochrome P450 enzyme system may be involved if an antibiotic is metabolized. According to research, combining CBD with antibiotics may enhance their respective effectiveness while posing no harmful side effects. To corroborate these results on a bigger scale, additional study is required.

Thyroid Medications and CBD

There have been reports of minor nausea in patients using combined CBD oil and thyroid medicines. It's possible that taking CBD alongside a thyroid medication might induce hyperthyroidism since the CYP450 system metabolizes both chemicals.

Prednisone and CBD

According to Balachandran et al. (2021), simultaneous use of CBD with corticosteroids may enhance the likelihood of systemic adverse effects from corticosteroid treatment owing to reduced glucocorticoid clearance, as both are powerful CYP450 inhibitors. If you're on prednisone or hydrocortisone, don't take CBD.

Interaction between CBD and Ibuprofen

It is one among the NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) that may have comparable effects on inflammation and pain reduction as CBD. There aren't any known interactions between CBD and Ibuprofen, but this does not suggest that they do not exist. According to medical professionals, the dose might affect any interactions' severity. Therefore, combining CBD with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen might cause unexpected and severe neural system damage.

Interaction between Lamictal and CBD

Dizziness, disorientation, sleepiness, and difficulties focusing may be exacerbated if medicinal marijuana and Lamictal are used together. Consumers over the age of 65 may also suffer from diminished judgment. However, these negative effects have not been confirmed to be caused by CBD consumption alone. CBD with Lamictal might positively or negatively impact the medication's effectiveness, depending on the dose.

Omeprazole with CBD Oil

Omeprazole and PPIs (other Proton Pump Inhibitors) target enzymes in the body, but CBD can block those enzymes (PPIs). Diarrhea might occur if you use CBD and drugs to alleviate heartburn.

Contraindications to Taking CBD in Combination with Medications

Because of how it works, CBD is not a chemically inert substance. According to Lucas et al. (2018), CBD has complicated pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics like any other medicine. Since this might affect medicine metabolism, it is a possible risk. CBD has the potential to interfere with any medicinal drug whose metabolism is based on the CYP450 enzyme system. Your prescription may be at risk for a grapefruit interaction if it has this warning on the label, which is the most typical sign. However, this is not a reliable source of information, and you should always consult with your pharmacist or physician before taking the two chemicals together.

Does the Type of CBD Matter?

Absolutely. Within 10 - 15 minutes, inhaled CBD vape oil reaches significant blood concentrations, raising the risk of acute negative effects. Even while edibles may ultimately reach concentrations that cause problems or interact with other drugs, they take longer to absorb and have a lower concentration peak.

According to Miller et al. (2018), CBD creams and lotions may not absorb and reach the blood significantly to interfere with other drugs, while there is little evidence on how much CBD finally reaches the blood. Furthermore, none of these CBD formulations are regulated or tested for purity, concentration, or safety, making the situation much more difficult to deal with.

Conclusion

CBD may interact with various items, including over-the-counter medicines, herbal remedies, and prescription drugs. One should not use some drugs with CBD, and the usage of other pharmaceuticals may need to be changed or decreased to avoid major problems.

The effects of drug interactions are also influenced by other variables, such as the CBD dosage, the underlying health state of the individual, and the dosage of a second medicine. Older adults are especially prone to drug interactions because they often take more drugs and because age-related physiological changes impact how our systems absorb pharmaceuticals.

Avoid CBD products, especially if you have underlying medical disorders, including liver disease, renal illness, serious heart troubles, a weaker immune system, or if you are on medicine that may damage the immune system. A pharmacist is an excellent resource for learning about the possibility of an interaction between a supplement, herbal product, or an over-the-counter or prescription medicine. Don't think that just because something is natural, it's safe and won't harm to test it out.

References

Gibson, G. G., & Skett, P. (2013). Introduction to drug metabolism. Springer.

Millar, S. A., Stone, N. L., Yates, A. S., & O'Sullivan, S. E. (2018). A systematic review on the pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in humans. Frontiers in pharmacology, 9, 1365.

Balachandran, P., Elsohly, M., & Hill, K. P. (2021). Cannabidiol interactions with medications, illicit substances, and alcohol: a comprehensive review. Journal of general internal medicine, 36(7), 2074-2084.

Lucas, C. J., Galettis, P., & Schneider, J. (2018). The pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 84(11), 2477-2482.