What Medications Interact With Cbd Oil

Although CBD is considered safe, it can react with some of the pharmaceutical drugs you might be taking. This article discusses what CBD is, what medication interacts with it, who is at a higher risk of medication interaction if the type of CBD and dose matter, and the side effects of CBD.

As more people discover the various benefits of CBD, the demand for CBD products keeps increasing. However, CBD might cause a problem if it interacts with other medications prescribed by the doctor. Prescribed pharmaceutical drugs can fight some chronic conditions such as arthritis.When you don't get, the right guidance taking CBD products with these medications can have a negative effect. For some medications, CBD interacts with our immunotherapy or hormone treatments.However, CBD can be used to reduce reliance on some drugs with which it interacts.

What Is CBD?

CBD, or, Cannabidiol, is one of the compounds found in the cannabis plant. There are over 100 compounds that are found in the cannabis plant, including terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids such as CBD and THC. According to Black (2021), the cannabis plant can be traced to about 5000 years ago, being used for therapeutic and recreational benefits. THC is the compound responsible for the 'high' effect that Marijuana smokers experience. CBD is a compound thought to have therapeutic benefits.

CBD can be extracted from the plant and infused into many CBD products, such as topicals, edibles, and oil. However, considering that CBD is broken down by the same enzymes in the body as some of the medications usually used, there is a need to be cautious to avoid any interaction with pharmaceutical medications prescribed by the doctor.

What Medications Interact With CBD Oil?

CBD is broken down in the liver. The enzymes break down other medications. The enzyme family known as CYP450 is responsible for breaking down most medications and CBD. CBD can interact with some of the enzymes in this family to cause them to break down some of the pharmaceutical drugs taken more slowly. This can cause the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs to increase.

CBD can also interact with some of these enzymes to cause a speedy reaction to certain drugs, causing these drugs to be less effective. Unless the dosage of these drugs is increased, CBD can cause these drugs to be less effective. Therefore, talk to your doctor before trying CBD products when on medications.

The sedative effect of CBD can interfere with the sedative effects of other drugs, affecting dopamine receptors, the CNS, or serotonin receptors. The ability of CBD to affect the anti-inflammatory response of the immune system can also interfere with some of the drugs with similar effects.

Some of the drugs CBD interacts with include;-

• Some antidepressants used, such as Prozac
• Immunosuppressives such as Leflunomide can potentially cause a risk of affecting the liver.
• Hormones such as Levothyroxine
• Macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and
• Heart medications such as calcium blockers

According to Melssner & Cascella (2022), CBD might interact with some sedatives. CBD might interact with some of the enzymes that break down medications. However, more research is still underway to know more about the interaction of CBD with some of these medications. Learn more about what is cbd oil good for?

Who Are At A Higher Risk of CBD Drug Reaction?

Older people are at a higher risk of CBD and drug reactions. This is because the liver and kidneys may age, eliminating drugs from the system. This can increase the chances of drugs interacting with CBD. Older people are more likely to take more medications. Therefore, before trying out CBD products, talk to your doctor about the medications you are taking now and your choice of using CBD as another option for your conditions.

Patients with liver damage should be cautious when trying CBD products. Vilela et al. (2015)  suggested that CBD used to protect against seizures was found to induce liver damage. However, CBD topicals can prevent any CBD and drug reaction because Cannabidiol doesn't pass through the liver. It's not absorbed enough to cause any drug interaction. Learn more about why cbd oil is so expensive?

Does the Type of CBD and Dose Matter?

According to Nahler et al.  (2019), all the compounds in the cannabis plant react together to give off a more powerful effect known as the entourage effect. However, because full-spectrum CBD products also contain other cannabinoids, this will increase the chances of those cannabinoids interacting with other medications you are taking. Taking CBD to isolate means only CBD will interact with medications, not other cannabinoids.

CBD in high doses usually has a sedative effect, while when taken in low doses, it can act as a stimulant. Therefore, your dosage might affect how CBD interferes with your medications.

Side Effects of CBD

CBD is considered safe for human consumption; however, several users claim to feel some side effects of CBD. Liu (2019) showed that some side effects usually include diarrhea, dry mouth, and change in appetite. However, most side effects are tolerable and don't happen to everyone.

Conclusion

CBD has properties to help in fighting several diseases, such as arthritis, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. Although CBD is considered safe for consumption, it can react with some of the enzymes in the body that interact with some of the medications you are taking. The enzyme family CYP450 acts to break down some of the medications your doctor might prescribe you. These medications include antidepressants, immunosuppressants, and some heart disease medications. CBD might cause the enzymes to break down the medications faster or slower, affecting how you react to these medications. Talking to your health expert before taking any CBD products will reduce the interactions with these medications.

References

Black, B. (2021). Community College And Industry Collaboration: Creating A Qualified Cannabis Workforce. Innovation, 16(12).

Liu, T. (2019). What Is Cbd Oil? Learn The Facts: Uses, Benefits, And Side Effects.

Meissner, H., &Cascella, M. (2022). Cannabidiol (Cbd). In Statpearls [Internet]. Statpearls Publishing.

Nahler, G., Jones, T. M., & Russo, E. B. (2019). CannabidiolAnd Contributions Of Major Hemp Phytocompounds To The "Entourage Effect"; Possible Mechanisms. J. Altern. Complementary Integr. Med, 5.