CBD Drug Interactions

Some of these conditions are physical, such as one study published in Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management which indicates that this hemp oil extract can offer pain relief for those struggling with major medical conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and peripheral neuropathic pain, and it does it with minimal side effects. Other users find that the cannabinoids within CBD products help ease mental health conditions. For instance, a case series in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine shares that CBD has been found helpful in reducing the severity of symptoms commonly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD , one of which is frequent nightmares. The reason for this is because it could create potential interactions. When talking about CBD drug interactions, MedlinePlus says that these can be broken down into two basic categories.

CBD Drug Interactions Explained: What Drugs Should Not Be Taken With CBD

Cannabidiol is a safe, non-intoxicating, and non-addictive cannabis compound with significant therapeutic attributes, but CBD -drug interactions may be problematic in some cases. CBD and other plant cannabinoids can potentially interact with many pharmaceuticals by inhibiting the activity of cytochrome P , a family of liver enzymes.

This key enzyme group metabolizes most of the drugs we consume, including more than 60 percent of marketed meds. At sufficient dosages, CBD will temporarily deactivate cytochrome P enzymes, thereby altering how we metabolize a wide range of compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol THC , which causes the high that cannabis is famous for.

When THC or any other foreign compound enters the body, it is metabolized. This process is generally very complicated.

Metabolizing something properly can involve multiple molecular pathways and various enzymes that enable the body to get rid of the compound often done by adding something to the original compound. Or metabolism can entail breaking down a compound into a more basic molecule that the body then uses. These metabolites can have very different properties than the initial drug.

Ethanol, for example, owes some of its effects, including much of the hangover, to its two-step metabolism. THC metabolites contribute significantly to the effects of cannabis consumption. Oxidation will usually make a compound more water soluble and therefore easier for the kidneys to filter out.

Both steps in the metabolism of ethanol, mentioned above, and the conversion of THC into OH - THC involve oxidation though ethanol is not oxidized specifically by cytochrome P Different routes of cannabinoid administration have different effects. Inhaled THC enters capillaries in the lungs, passes into general circulation through the pulmonary arteries, and quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier.

But there has been relatively little research into the properties of these CBD metabolites. The way CBD interacts with cytochrome P is pivotal; in essence, they deactivate each other.

By occupying the site of enzymatic activity, CBD displaces its chemical competitors and prevents cytochrome P from metabolizing other compounds. The extent to which cannabidiol behaves as a competitive inhibitor of cytochrome P depends on how tightly CBD binds to the active site of the metabolic enzyme before and after oxidation. This can change greatly, depending on how—and how much— CBD is administered, the unique attributes of the individual taking this medication, and whether isolated CBD or a whole plant remedy is used.

If the dosage of cannabidiol is low enough, it will have no noticeable effect on CYP activity, but CBD may still exert other effects. There is no clearly established cut-off dose, below which CBD does not interact with other drugs. A subsequent clinical trial, however, found that 25mg of orally administered CBD significantly blocked the metabolism of an anti-epileptic drug.

Consequently, THC remains active for a longer duration, but the peak of the extended buzz is blunted somewhat under the influence of cannabidiol. Lester Bornheim, a research pharmacologist at the University of California in San Francisco, was among the first scientists to study the metabolism of CBD.

In , he was awarded a NIDA grant to investigate the effects of phytocannabinoids on cytochrome P enzymes. A year earlier, a team of Canadian scientists identified certain compounds in grapefruit that inhibit the expression of some cytochrome P enzymes—which is why physicians often warn patients not to eat grapefruit before taking their meds. CBD , it turns out, is a more potent inhibitor of cytochrome P enzymes than the grapefruit compound Bergapten the strongest of several grapefruit components that inhibit CYP s.

What does this mean in practical terms for a medical marijuana patient on a CBD -rich treatment regimen who takes a prescription blood-thinner like warfarin, for example?

CBD reduces the enzymatic degradation of warfarin, thereby increasing its duration of action and effect. A person taking a CBD -rich product should pay close attention to changes in blood levels of warfarin, and adjust dosage accordingly as instructed by their doctor. In cancer treatment, the precise dosing of chemotherapy is extremely important; doctors often struggle to find the maximum dose that will not be catastrophically toxic.

Many chemotherapy agents are oxidized by CYP s before their inactivation or excretion. This means that for patients using CBD , the same dose of chemotherapy may produce higher blood concentrations. By and large, however, there have been few reported adverse cannabinoid-drug interactions among the many cancer patients who use cannabis to cope with the wrenching side effects of chemotherapy.

It is possible that whole plant cannabis, with its rich compensatory synergies, interacts differently than the isolated CBD that is administered in most research settings. As well, the cytoprotective effects of the cannabinoids may mitigate some of the chemotherapeutic toxicity.

Some epileptic patients have encountered issues with how CBD interacts with their anti-seizure medication. A small clinical study at Massachusetts General Hospital involving children with refractory epilepsy found that CBD elevated the plasma levels and increased the long-term blood concentrations of clobazam, an anticonvulsant, and norclobazam, an active metabolite of this medication.

A majority of these children needed to have their dose of clobazam reduced due to side effects. Given that both clobazam and CBD are metabolized by cytochrome P enzymes, a drug-drug interaction is not surprising. A review by Lester Bornheim and his colleagues indicated that CBD inhibits some cytochrome P enzymes at smaller doses than what is required for CBD to exert an anti-epileptic effect.

This means that a certain dose of CBD could alter the processing of an anti-epileptic drug taken by the patient, but this amount of CBD might not be enough to provide any anti-epileptic relief itself. The advice some physicians offer in this situation may seem counterintuitive: Increase the dose of CBD —perhaps even add a little more THC or THCA , the raw, unheated, non-psychoactive version of THC — and this may be more effective for seizure control.

But why would preventing the breakdown of an anti-epileptic drug reduce its effect? There are a number of possible answers, depending on the drug in question. The active component of the drug the chemical that exerts an anti-epileptic effect may be a breakdown product of the actual drug taken.

So, by slowing the metabolism of the original drug, CBD would make that drug less active. Other explanations are conceivable. Or perhaps the inhibition of CYP s is not the predominant way that CBD interacts with certain anti-epileptic medications.

To complicate matters even further, a presentation by Dr. Induction of a protein involves increasing the transcription of its corresponding mRNA, which leads to greater synthesis of the protein. This suggests that CBD can either increase or decrease the breakdown of other drugs.

Again, it depends on the drug in question and the dosages used. Any pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or green rush scheme to exploit the therapeutic potential of CBD must reckon with the fact that cannabidiol can both inactivate and enhance various cytochrome P enzymes in the liver—and this can potentially impact a wide range of medications.

Drug interactions are especially important to consider when using life-saving or sense-saving drugs, drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, or medications with major adverse side effects.

In particular, those who utilize high doses of CBD concentrates and isolates should keep this in mind when mixing remedies. Copyright, Project CBD. CBD is a very safe substance, but it can interact with many common pharmaceuticals. At sufficient dosages, CBD will deactivate cytochrome P enzymes, thereby altering how we metabolize painkillers, statins, blood thinners, insulin, and other drugs.

This report details potential interactions between CBD and common treatments for a number of conditions. While smoking cannabis appears to be helpful for diabetics managing weight and insulin levels, synthetic cannabinoids could be dangerous. Spanish researchers recently documented a case where a diabetic man expressed dangerously high blood sugar levels after smoking an herbal blend treated with unknown synthetic cannabinoids.

In compiling a list of conditions that CBD may help, we examined hundreds of peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals. Skip to main content. Byline: Adrian Devitt-Lee. By Adrian Devitt-Lee on September 08, Related story.

New Cannabinoid-Drug Interactions. Revision date:. Sep 8, Recommended reading. Synthetic Cannabinoids: Dangerous for Diabetics?

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Studies have shown that CBD and other plant cannabinoids can increase the effects of drugs used for blood-thinning (e.g. warfarin) or drugs with. Cannabidiol (CBD): learn about effectiveness, usual dosage, and drug interactions on MedlinePlus.

Show all medications in the database that may interact with cannabis. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records.

Cannabidiol is a safe, non-intoxicating, and non-addictive cannabis compound with significant therapeutic attributes, but CBD -drug interactions may be problematic in some cases.

Prescribed drugs are commonplace in modern society, and the acceptance of cannabis is on the rise. Cannabinoids are the primary group of compounds in cannabis that provide rich health benefits.

CBD May Possibly Interfere With Your Daily Medication

It has made its way into our shampoos and lotions. There are CBD-infused smoothies, bath bombs and beer. There are even holiday treats looking at you, CBD jelly beans. But while CBD has been advertised as an effective way to treat a wide mix of maladies, the compound is still largely unregulated and unstudied. Still, Hurd suspects the substance could very well negatively interact with most medications that are taken orally.

CBD drug interactions: Is CBD safe to take with prescription medications?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of over a different types of a specific kind of compound called phytocannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. CBD is has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its wide range of therapeutic effects as well as its ability to relieve a host of symptoms effectively , but also to do so safely and with few side effects. And unlike tetrahydrocannabinol THC , the other most abundant phytocannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, CBD is non-intoxicating and non-psychoactive - something that for many people is an undesirable yet unavoidable part of taking a high-THC containing cannabis extract. CBD is most widely known and has been popularized as being used for seizure disorders such as epilepsy but has also proven to be effective in helping to relieve the symptoms of other conditions. However, despite the fact that the vast majority of the science indicates CBD oil is safe to use on its own, CBD is a powerful compound that interacts with a variety of systems within the body. And as such, CBD not only shows potential as a powerful therapeutic agent, but can become less benign when taken together with other substances such as pharmaceutical drugs. In scientific terms, this is what is known as the basal metabolic rate , or the amount of calories an individual requires in order to sustain normal body functions while at rest. Explained very simplistically, when food is eaten, it is broken down by the liver into its individual compounds in order for it to be used by the body. So for example, carbohydrates are broken down into sugars, fats into triglycerides, and proteins into amino acids. From there, the metabolism, under the control of chemicals called enzymes , transforms these compounds into metabolites that can then be used by the body, for instance as fuel for cellular processes or as building blocks for various systems and tissues.

CBD oil interacts with certain prescription medications, which is why you should always consult your doctor before using cannabidiol.

To learn more about how this article was written, please see the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database methodology. Cannabidiol CBD.

CBD-Drug Interactions: Role of Cytochrome P450

CBD inhibits the cytochrome P enzyme, which is involved in metabolizing many drugs. Compounds in grapefruit inhibit the same enzyme group, which is why physicians advice patients not to eat grapefruit shortly before or after taking a medication. By inhibiting cytochrome P , CBD can either reduce or increase the effects of other drugs. In compiling a list of conditions that CBD may help, we examined hundreds of peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals. Skip to main content. Does CBD interact with other medications? Do chemical pollutants wreak havoc by impairing the endocannabinoid system? Satchmo Visits Africa. The Many Gifts of Cultivating Cannabis. A Victory Garden for Healing. Women Pioneers in Cannabinoid Science. Synthetic Cannabinoids: Dangerous for Diabetics?

Does CBD interact with other medications?

Oil, chocolate, supplements, even carbonated beverages, are filling up shelves—enticing shoppers with claims that using one of these products will cure insomnia, alleviate anxiety, reduce inflammation, or treat PTSD. But what exactly is CBD, and is it safe for people who are using prescription medications? CBD is really just a molecule within the hemp variety of the cannabis plant, and there is at least some anecdotal evidence and preliminary research suggesting that the extraction created from this molecule has some health benefits. CBD is thought to act on certain receptors in your brain and other parts of the body, in ways that could relieve pain, or help certain health conditions, like childhood seizure disorders. For some people, particularly those taking certain prescription medications, using CBD is risky. It has anticoagulant effects that can thin blood; it can also modestly lower blood pressure. These effects could be dangerous for people with certain medical conditions. Case in point: tacrolimus , an immunosuppressive medication used to prevent organ rejection in patients who have had heart, liver, or kidney transplants. CBD interferes with the metabolism of tacrolimus, according to research conducted by Dr. Alloway , who specializes in post-transplant immunosuppression.