CBD &Drug Interactions

Cannabidiol (CBD) offers great relief for a wide range of health issues, including insomnia, anxiety, seizures, chronic pain, gut health, and much more. Additionally, CBD is a completely natural extract that is extremely safe to use. We frequently like to point out that in spite of how safe and effective using CBD can be, it does carry a small amount of risk and this is especially true if the person using CBD is also taking prescription medications or certain herbal products. For those who are new to CBD or are still figuring out their proper regular dosage, some normal and perhaps less than satisfactory side effects may also occur.

Common side effects

It is not uncommon for people who have just started taking CBD to experience a bit of lightheadedness or drowsiness, diarrhea or dry mouth especially if they regularly use too much CBD while their bodies try to adjust to it. These side effects will more likely occur as secondary side effects to people taking over-the-counter and prescription medications used to treat or cause sleepiness, like Aanax, Ativan, Benadryl, antipsychotics, and antidepressants. If CBD is used in conjunction with alcohol, or herbal supplements like kava or melatonin, heavy fatigue and increased sedation are more likely to occur as well. On the contrary, CBD used in conjunction with stimulants like Adderall can lead to a decreased appetite. Diabetes and heartburn drugs can carry the risk of persistent diarrhea.

Effects of using CBD with other drugs

Drugs work by being broken down by enzymes in our liver. Depending on the drug, CBD will block or interfere with those enzymes, thereby altering the desired effect of the drug and instead creating a different (and probably undesirable) one. In other cases the drug or medication simply may not work at all, as it has been essentially “cancelled out” by the CBD or the CBD causes the drugs to break down more slowly or quickly. People taking antidepressants, antibiotics, heart medication, or other medications that may induce drowsiness are all susceptible to interference from CBD.

Who is most at risk of CBD drug interactions?

Typically the oldest among us are most likely to experience CBD drug interactions. As our bodies age, the liver and kidneys work slower and less efficiently, so it is not uncommon for the elderly to experience CBD drug interactions. Because of this, it is very dangerous for older people to use CBD in conjunction with prescription medication, but everyone should be aware of the risk and should absolutely not use CBD if already prescribed medication. If you are taking medication and are interested in using CBD, do not use it before discussing the matter with your physician or healthcare provider.