CBD oil has become a common household supplement that many people swear by, and for good reason.
In fact, it’s been studied to do the following:
And that’s not all…
You see, CBD oil, a phytocannabinoid found in the cannabis (or hemp) plant, is known to reset and reintroduce balance within the human body. Which means it helps to reinstate our homeostasis –– keeping everything as it should be in and throughout our body.
This means the body’s functions that we often take for granted can all be influenced and affected by CBD oil. Things like:
-
Pain perception
-
Sleep
-
Immunity
-
Mood
-
Emotions
-
Appetite
-
Digestion
-
And so much
Pretty cool, right?
And according to multiple studies, CBD oil is relatively safe among its users. In fact, very little side effects have been reported. Those that have been reported, fade rather quickly when discontinuing CBD. But we’ll explain that a little later in this article.
But even with CBD’s relatively safe profile, there’s something we feel we should address. Something that most people don’t know about and almost all non-reputable companies don’t talk about.
We’re talking about how....
CBD interacts with prescription medications
While we know CBD has a relatively safe profile, combining any two medications, drugs, or compounds could intensify their effects in the body, and this has even been shown to intensify their side effects.
This includes over-the-counter medications as well.
And it’s all thanks to something called drug metabolism.
You see, anytime you take a medication or medicinal substance, your body has to metabolize it in order for it do what its designed to do.
But drug metabolism is a little different than the way we metabolize food. This is because our liver has a huge role in how we metabolize prescription medications and other foreign substances.
Here’s why…
CYP450 Enzymes and drug metabolism
This family of enzymes helps break down substances like prescription medications and other medicinals, so the body can easily use and then eliminate them when they’re done doing their job.
But here’s where things get tricky.
Some substances can actually manipulate the speed at which your liver metabolizes and filters them. In other words, they can change how your body processes certain supplements or medications. Especially if you're taking more than one kind of medication.
For example: Medication A is known to help reduce anxiety and depression, whereas medication B is known to address pain and mood. Both medications use CYP450 liver enzymes, but medication A has the ability to slow down how quickly your liver metabolizes it and the other medications you have in your system, like medication B.
But let’s say you consume both medication A and medication B close together. Before you know it, you’re popping another medication B as recommended by your doctor, not knowing that medication A has slowed down the metabolization of the first dose of medication B you took early.
Now you have twice the amount of medication B in your system. This causes your liver to work overtime, which may even cause liver damage in the long run. It’s even been shown to cause overdose.
Not to mention, it could cause a higher tolerance to these medications, which then requires you to increase the dosage levels.
But the real issue is that now you’ve developed a dependence to these medications, and in the process, your liver is taking a major hit.
Thankfully, not all medications do this.
In fact, there’s something doctors recommend asking before you think about adding a new supplement or medication to your daily regimen.
It’s called…
The grapefruit test or grapefruit warning
Strangely enough, certain foods like grapefruit or black pepper can affect how well we absorb certain drugs and medications.
Anytime you see a grapefruit warning, it’s best to refrain from combining other drugs with that medication.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), combining grapefruit with certain medications can actually lead to a much higher concentration of those medications in the bloodstream. This can worsen and increase side effects and may even cause an overdose.
There over 85 drugs that have been shown to interact with grapefruit. These drugs include the following:
-
Anticancer medications
-
Antibiotics
-
Antimicrobials
-
Antihistamines
-
Blood pressure medications
-
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)
-
Blood thinner medications
-
Cholesterol medications
-
Corticosteroids
-
Erectile dysfunction medications and supplements
-
Heart rhythm medications
-
Immunosuppressants
-
Antidepressants
-
Anti-anxiety medications
-
Mood medications
-
Pain medications
-
Prostate medications
-
And certain GI medications that treat nausea and GERD
And according to some scientific research, other certain citrus juices can alter drug metabolism as well. These citrus juices include:
-
Seville oranges
-
Tangelos
-
Pomelos
But not all medications or supplements that have the ability to slow or speed up drug metabolism contain a grapefruit warning.
For this reason, it’s imperative that you consult with your doctor before consuming a new medication or supplement in addition to your current medications.
So what does this mean for those who want to consume CBD and are taking prescription medications?
CBD and drug metabolism (CYP450 Enzymes)
Now we know that certain foods like grapefruit influence our drug metabolism. Likewise, CBD can influence your body’s response to some meds.
According to a few studies, it seems that high doses of CBD could increase the blood levels of epileptic patients who take the following prescription medications:
-
Clobazam
-
Eslicarbazepine
-
Rufinamide
-
Topiramate
-
Valproate
-
Zonisamide
In fact, patients taking Clobazam and CBD have experienced an increase of sedative-like side effects.
Other patients on Valproate and CBD have experienced an increase of liver functioning that doctors believe could be damaging over time.
It’s also important to note that CBD can speed up your drug metabolism. Which means, if you're on a certain medication that addresses a specific health condition, CBD could speed up how quickly that medication is metabolized, thus preventing it from doing what it was meant to do in the first place.
For example, one patient who was taking Warfarin (a blood-thinning medication) was found to have thinner blood than expected after also taking CBD.
In cases like this, some people find themselves taking more of that certain medication, assuming their tolerance has been increased, and as a result they may increase the risk of overdose or drug dependence.
However, we feel it’s worth mentioning that the cases mentioned above are pretty isolated and seem minor.
There is some good news, however…
In one study with 25 children who had hard-to-treat epilepsy, 13 out of the 25 children were given Clobazam and CBD.
While Clobazam was elevated in these children, researchers believe that taking CBD with Clobazam together is actually safe. But it does require monitoring from a doctor who can check medication levels during treatment.
So...
Why does CBD interact with certain medications?
Without using too much medical jargon, CBD is metabolized by the same enzyme system as prescription medications and supplements. And because of its many therapeutic properties, CBD could potentially affect how medications are normally metabolized.
Simply put, poorly metabolized medications could potentially stay in your system much longer than they need to, thus increasing their negative side effects and complications.
In fact, there’s a specific enzyme (CYP3A4) found within the CYP450 family, that’s responsible for metabolizing around 60% of prescription pharmaceutical drugs. And as luck would have it, this enzyme can be interfered by CBD.
But there is a light at the end of this tunnel: The fact that CBD interacts with certain medications isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
In fact, many CBD advocates found that because CBD increases the effects of certain medications, they were able to reduce the dosage of their prescription drugs, thus decreasing the side effects from prolonged use.
Some CBD consumers were able to get off their prescription medications all together, with the help of CBD and the monitoring of their physician.
Amazing, right?
Ask your doctor about CBD
Still, it’s imperative that you consult with your doctor before adding CBD to your daily regimen, especially if you’re currently taking any of the prescription medications listed above.
Now, if you’re unsure whether CBD will interact with your prescription medications, you can always do the “grapefruit test”.
Ask your doctor, “Do I need to avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit with my medications?”
If they say yes, then you know that you’ll need to use extra caution with CBD.
A doctor can help monitor your blood levels and liver function, and they can advise you to take CBD at a time apart from your medication, so that it won’t disrupt how they’re metabolized.
That said, there are a few side effects to be on the lookout for when consuming CBD along with prescription medications and/or supplements.
These side effects include:
-
Drowsiness
-
Sedation
-
Nausea
-
Fatigue
-
Diarrhea
-
Changes in appetite
-
Changes in weight
-
And something called breakthrough seizures –– ”epileptic seizure which occurs despite the use of antiepileptic drugs that have otherwise successfully prevented seizures in the patient.” Immediately contact your doctor if you experience a breakthrough seizure.
If you notice any of the above side effects, tell your doctor and discontinue your CBD supplement.
This brings us to our next point…
The quality of your CBD oil matters when it comes to its efficacy.
Quality of CBD oil
We’re not going to sugar coat it: Certain CBD oils and other CBD products can be a bit pricey. But as the saying goes, “You get what you pay for…”
There’s a huge difference between poorly formulated CBD oils and high-quality CBD oils.
The key is to look for CBD oils and CBD products that are sourced from high-quality hemp. This hemp should be grown in nutrient-dense soil and needs to be free from all pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides.
You also want to look at the other ingredients that the hemp company uses in addition to their CBD, like the quality of their MCT oil (coconut oil, which is a carrier oil), flavors, and more.
The more you stick to organic ingredients, the higher quality your CBD products will be.
And finally, it’s imperative that you seek out reputable hemp companies that have all of their products tested by accredited, independent third parties. This ensures the CBD products you’ve purchased are in fact safe to consume.
It also shows that the company is trustworthy, transparent, and has their customers' health in their best interest.
High-quality CBD oil is of course the most popular CBD product on the market today. However, there are an array of other high-quality CBD products in addition to oil.
These products include:
Just be sure you look for a company that takes the therapeutic properties of CBD seriously and encourages their customers to use caution when consuming CBD while also taking prescription medications.
CBD drug interactions: the bottom line
Every person is different—meaning what works for one person, may not work for another person.
So different doses of CBD can affect two people completely differently.
Yes, CBD does interact with the same liver enzymes that help break down other prescription medications, but it's not nearly enough to cause any significant changes.
According to multiple CBD advocates, you would have to consume a significant amount of CBD, like almost an entire bottle of CBD oil, for it to interact with your medications.
And it should be noted that the problematic cases mentioned above are rare.
But we feel that because no two people are biologically alike, it’s best to use extra caution when consuming CBD.
Additionally, in order for CBD to be effective, we believe that you have to know the details: the good, the bad, and all the possibilities of CBD.
If you’re currently on any prescription medications, especially the ones listed above, don’t fret… This doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from the therapeutic effects of high-quality, organic CBD. It simply means you need to take extra caution before doing so.
And always consult with your doctor before consuming CBD, especially if you're currently on any prescription medications like blood thinners, seizure medications, and/or certain types of supplements.
