Points to Consider When Using CBD With Other Medications
Many people wonder whether it’s it safe to use CBD with other medications. In this respect, important questions regarding CBD require attention: does CBD oil lower blood pressure, is CBD a blood thinner, what are the side effects of edibles, and are they more serious than those of other CBD forms?
In this article, we’ll discuss the most common CBD side effects, as well as CBD drug interactions you should know about if you’re considering taking it.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD), otherwise known as medical marijuana, is generally safe to consume. Not only that, but it’s legal in the United Kingdom. The reason it’s so popular is due its therapeutic and pain-relieving properties. People to whom CBD is usually recommended suffer from chronic pain generated by severe illnesses and medical conditions.
For example, CBD is usually used to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Crohn’s disease, and even cancer. But CBD isn’t only useful for treating physical pain, as it can also help with depression, anxiety, insomnia, inflammation, PTSD, and various skin conditions.
It’s important to note that cannabidiol shouldn’t be mixed up with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as only the latter component is psychoactive. In other words, only by consuming THC can a person get “high.” CBD is extracted from the hemp plant, which is an industrially-grown variant of the Cannabis sativa plant.
CBD Side Effects
As with any type of medication, CBD comes with some side effects. However, as opposed to the majority of pain killers, CBD side effects aren’t too serious or long-lasting. Although CBD is safe to consume, there is a chance you could experience dizziness, nausea, dry mouth, diarrhoea, reduced appetite, fatigue, and similar.
The side effects may also depend on the form of CBD you’re taking. For example, CBD oil is the most effective, since it’s consumed sublingually, by placing the droplets under the tongue. This way, the CBD reaches the bloodstream fastest.
If you’re wondering, “What are the side effects of edibles?” – don’t worry. Since they take effect slowly, they are less likely to cause any side effects. However, if you take more than the recommended dosage, the CBD edibles may be problematic by interacting with other medications. Topical CBD forms, like creams and lotions, are also less likely to cause any issues.
What Medications Can CBD Interfere With?
While CBD comes with various side effects, your body may react to it entirely differently if you’re already taking other medications. CBD drug interactions may just amplify the side effects, or it could cancel out the positive effects of CBD. Even more so, CBD can alter the effects of other drugs. Here are some CBD drug interactions you should take into consideration:
CBD and Antidepressants
If you take CBD and antidepressants at the same time, some of the side effects of CBD might be increased. To be more precise, paroxetine, citalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, vortioxetine, and vilazodone are all antidepressants that might cause this type of issue.
The reason why you shouldn’t mix them is because CBD can interfere with enzymes that are supposed to be broken down in your body. More specifically, CBD can speed up or slow down the breaking down process, altering the effects of the medication.
CBD and Alcohol
It’s also not a good idea to mix CBD and alcohol. In cases of alcohol consumption, there are two enzymes that are activated – ADH and ALDH. If you consume CBD at the same time, it can interact with both of these enzymes, thus amplifying the effects of alcohol and vice versa. This may also cause an increased amount of drowsiness and sedation.
There still hasn’t been enough research conducted on this drug interaction, but it’s generally not recommended to take them at the same time.
CBD and Blood Pressure
CBD oil can help with many symptoms and ailments, but does CBD oil lower blood pressure? The answer is yes. Due to its stress- and anxiety-reducing properties, CBD has the ability to lower blood pressure.
However, is CBD a blood thinner? If you take CBD and blood pressure medication at the same time, it might lower your blood pressure even more than it’s supposed to. Therefore, you should be very careful about using these two medications simultaneously.
CBD and COVID Vaccine Potential Dangers
Since the COVID vaccine has only been recently developed, there hasn’t been much research conducted on the relation between CBD and COVID vaccines and the potential side effects of this combination. However, according to experts, there is no evidence that either alcohol or marijuana can interfere with the vaccine’s effects.
CBD, which has non-steroidal anti-inflammatory properties, also hasn’t been proved to cause any type of drug interaction with the COVID vaccines. Just to be safe, you shouldn’t take more than 70 milligrams of CBD on a daily basis. It’s believed that this dosage can’t do any harm.
Who Definitely Shouldn’t Take CBD?
There are certain groups of people who shouldn’t be taking CBD under any circumstances. This rule mainly applies to pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding. This is potentially dangerous as the CBD you’re taking could contain some ingredients that might be harmful to your baby.