CBD DRUG INTERACTIONS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Before you start taking CBD, you need to be aware of interactions with drugs you take on a regularly basis. Even though CBD is 100% natural, it can interact with medication you use.
This interaction can sometimes lead also to negative side effects in your body. Once in the human body, CBD can affect our body’s capability of processing medication.
Let explore the CBD drugs interactions depended on the cytochrome P-450.
What is Cytochrome P-450? Cytochrome P-450 is a hemeprotein that plays a key role in the metabolism of drugs (prescription medicine).
Important! Every time you take a new supplement or medication, please consult your medical doctor.
Processed CBD in the body
First, the CYP enzymes metabolize the CBD in the body, after that the CBD is processed by the body’s P-450 system. Preoccupying the cytochrome P-450 system lowers the processing of some medication.
Busy metabolizing the CBD, our bodies P-450 system lowers metabolizing potential medication. This can result in chemicals accumulating in our body, sometime to potentially toxic level.
CBD drug interactions with heart medication
Because CBD is associated with sinking blood pressure, it can have adverse interactions with beta-blockers (β-blockers) and other blood pressure drugs if taken simultaneously. CBD products can affect the body’s ability to process β-blockers, what can cause adverse side effects.
Another medication where caution is needed are statin drugs. Statins belong to medications to lower cholesterol. CBD can affect the body’s system for transforming some medication inside our body. This can lead to a dangerous build-up of medication in our system.
If you use any medication for any heart related disease, consult your health professional before taking any CBD product.
CBD and antidepressants
Most of the antidepressants do not interact with CBD, but some do. Anxiety disorder medication BUSPAR is widely prescribed for depression. The liver processes the Buspirone. Because it is processed by cytochrome P450, it can have inetarctions with CBD.
Another brand of antidepressants with strong interactions is Clomipramine (Anafranil).
Always remember: lowering your prescription drug (antidepressant) without professional healthcare supervision is not advisable.
CBD and grapefruit
Did you noticed “grapefruit warnings” on your prescribed medication?
This warning is made because grapefruit contains the compound called furanocoumarin.
Furanocoumarin can interact with certain enzymes in humans digestive system and neutralize them.
The most common enzyme the body use, is Cytochrome P-450 (CYP450).
CYP450 is responsible for braking down the medicine we use and removing it from our system.
Without the presence of Cytochrome P-450 dangerous levels of chemicals can accumulate in the body and potentially hitting the circulatory system in a harmful way.
Because of this, it is advisable not to consume CBD products together with a grapefruit.
Same recommendation is advisable for all medication you take.
If there is a warning like this on your current medications, it is a sign that they also may affect with use of CBD products.
CBD and sedative medications (benzos)
Benzodiazepines (‘benzos’) are widely used for treating anxiety, insomnia, depression, panic attacks and other mental backed diseases. CBD eventually can slow down the body’s ability of processing some benzodiazepines, namely the widely used alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium). Result are in higher blood concentrations of the drug, causing some side effects. Other known benzodiazepines who may interact with CBD:
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Quazepam (Doral)
Triazolam (Halcion)
Diazepam (Valium)
Pitavastatin (Pravachol
Midazolam (Versed)
CBD and antibiotics
Some antibiotics, especially Fluoroquinolone can react with CBD. This type of antibiotics are widely used for treating urinary or respiratory tract infections. Some examples of the brand names:
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Gemifloxacin(Factive)
Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
Moxifloxacin(Avelox)
Norfloxacin (Noroxin)
Ofloxacin (Floxin)
CBD and alcohol
Because the liver processes both substances, caution is advisable. There are not many negative reports about the combination of alcohol and CBD. As we know, excessive alcohol consume in general is not healthy.
CBD actually reduces the content of alcohol in blood, study shows. “The combination of alcohol plus CBD resulted in significantly lower blood alcohol levels compared to alcohol given alone”.
Because this interaction, alleviation of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawals, CBD can be used as support for patients with alcoholic addiction.
Forget the “two hour rule”
It is risky to listen advices in forums. Many times user looking to help newbies advice the two hour rule, where you have to avoid using CBD in the span of two hours before or after taking any other medication.
The so-called “two hour gap”?
Advice given in good will, better than without any gap, the advice can be risky. Not everyone is the same and not everyone is taking the same medications. The best advice for new CBD users is, to consult your physician before taking any CBD supplementation. In many cases, the two-hour option is not enough to exclude inetarctions between CBD and other medication.