Some clients who have just discovered our CBD store are interested to know if they can safely try CBD products while taking various prescription medications. As CBD products are increasingly popular among people of all ages and with various health conditions, it is important to discuss the effects of CBD and blood pressure medication, blood thinners, and other drugs people take for chronic conditions.
Although it is a natural supplement derived from a plant, CBD interacts with various medications and can give rise to serious complications. Our best advice to any new client is to talk to their doctor before buying our products.
However, this helpful guide gives you a general idea of what medications should not be taken with CBD. So, let us get started!
Does CBD Interact with Medications?
As we hinted at above, CBD interacts with various medications. As a substance that passes through your bloodstream, it can block or enhance the effect of various drugs, sometimes to dangerous levels.
Older adults are especially at risk of experiencing the negative effects of CBD and statins, and other prescription medications. In our golden years, we tend to develop several health conditions that require different drugs to keep under control. Thus, you should always discuss with your treating physician the potential benefits vs. risks of using hemp-derived products.
Moreover, you must consider the form of using CBD because, as we will explain later in this article, some products will take effect faster and more potent than others.
With these initial warnings in mind, let us proceed.
What Medications Should Not Be Taken with CBD?
Let us begin by stating that the list of medications we will present here is not complete. Moreover, each person can react differently to the combination of CBD and prescription pills of various types.
However, here are some of the most important categories of medications that manifest interaction with hemp-derived CBD.
CBD and Antibiotics
If you are taking antibiotics to fight an infection, you should take a break from CBD or THC products. CBD and antibiotics (pill or injection) negatively affect your body. The active compounds of the hemp plant change the way your body metabolizes the medication.
Thus, you will get a higher level of the drug in your organism, exceeding the recommended dose. This can lead to serious complications, especially in the case of fast acting drugs, whose effects cannot be mitigated quickly with other counter-medications.
CBD and Antidepressants
The first issue here is that CBD and antidepressants can have overlapping effects, thus you should not mix them. Secondly, just like in the case of antibiotics, CBD changes the way your body processes the drug by blocking the actions of the CYP2D6 enzyme.
Thus, you will experience increased side effects of your prescribed antidepressants. The worst negative effect of combining THC or CBD and antidepressants is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and/or behavior.
CBD and Blood Thinner Medication
You should never mix CBD and blood thinner medication, especially Warfarin. Clinical cases have proven that cannabidiol can increase the risk of bleeding. One documented case involved a patient who had to reduce their prescribed dose of Warfarin by one-third after using CBD in order to reduce the risk of bleeding.
CBD and Blood Pressure Medication
CBD and blood pressure medications such as beta blockers, diuretics, and ACE inhibitor drugs do not mix. The issue is that CBD acts as a blood pressure reducing agent. Thus, in combination with prescription medication, your blood pressure can become dangerously low.
CBD and Statins
Many people need medication to reduce their level of cholesterol, called statins. CBD and statins can also lead to increased drug levels in your body. Thus, you may experience more severe side effects, such as:
- Muscle and joint pain
- Dyspepsia
- Hyperglycemia
- Liver dysfunction.
What Medications Does CBD Interfere With?
In terms of commercial and trade names, here are what drugs should not be taken with CBD gummies or other cannabis edibles:
- Warfarin – blood thinner
- Amiodarone – heart rhythm drug
- Levothyroxine – thyroid medication
- Clobazam, Valproate, and other seizure medications.
Does the Form of CBD Matter?
The short answer here is yes. The negative effects of mixing CBD and medicines can take place faster and in a more severe form if you smoke or vape cannabis, as it gets quicker into the bloodstream.
Here is a quick breakdown of other forms of using CBD and medications:
What Drugs Should Not Be Taken with CBD Gummies?
You should stop taking CBD gummies if you are taking any of the drugs we detailed in this article so far. Even if the negative effects are delayed due to the fact that the CBD is processed in the stomach, they will still manifest themselves.
Does CBD Oil Interact with Blood Pressure Medications?
CBD and blood pressure medication interact in any form you use the cannabis extract, including oil.
Can I Take CBD Oil and Sleeping Pills Together?
CBD is already a factor that induces sleep. Combined with sleep medication, it will cause excessive sleepiness, fatigue, and episodes of drowsiness during the day, including while you are driving.
Does CBD Cream Interact with Medication?
Topical CBD may not be absorbed into the bloodstream sufficiently to interact with prescription medication, but you should always err on the side of caution. The truth is that we need more research in this area.
Also, since the market for CBD products is still unregulated, various creams may have different concentrations of CBD and other ingredients. This is why, apart from asking “does CBD interact with medications?” you should also ask for COAs issued by reputable independent labs for the CBD products you want to buy.
TheFightDoctors.Com Recommend Caution When Using CBD and Medication!
Our company, TheFightDoctors.Com, is founded by actual doctors. We know the potential risks of taking CBD and blood pressure medication and other prescription pills. Our advice for all potential clients is to talk to their doctor first.
This is especially true for people taking several medications for multiple health conditions. In their case, there is a heightened risk of experiencing dangerous side effects after using CBD or THC.
Also, elderly people should learn what medications should not be taken with CBD, as they are more likely to use several types of drugs on a daily basis. As we showed in this article, some side effects have the potential to be fatal.
However, if you get the green light from your doctor to try cannabis products, we encourage you to browse our online store, ask our staff about our products, and order high-quality CBD gummies and oil at unbeatable prices!
