Is it a good or bad idea to take CBD along with medication?

Not all medications are the same. Some are part of our daily lives, while others are high-intensity treatments. Mixing them with another active substance is always a sensitive issue, whether it’s alcohol, CBD, or even just another medication. Every substance we ingest has its own effects on our bodies, which is why it’s crucial to remain vigilant when combining different substances. And this is especially true when it comes to CBD and medications.

Unlike its cousin THC, which is primarily known for its psychotropic effects, CBD is not considered a narcotic. On the contrary, it is fully legal in France and in many European countries.

Its therapeutic health benefits are, in fact, the reason for its success. Anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anti-stress effects; relief from osteoarthritis and chronic pain; improved digestion; and an enhanced sense of well-being—the list is apparently long. All of this is made possible by CBD’s ability to interact directly with the receptors in our endocannabinoid system. These receptors are distributed throughout our body and are responsible for various sensations, such as pain and happiness.

It’s important to note that all of CBD’s benefits come with no health risks. In other words, there are no side effects associated with it, nor is there any risk of addiction. Let’s take a closer look at how our bodies react when we consume CBD. More details to follow.

Our bodies have a finely tuned mechanism that kicks in as soon as a substance is ingested, regardless of its nature. Thus, when we consume CBD, it is first metabolized by our liver. Only then is it distributed throughout our entire body via the bloodstream. An enzyme called cytochrome P450 is responsible for breaking down any ingested substance into smaller molecules, which allows it to be distributed throughout the body.

When CBD and medications are taken at the same time, this natural process works differently. Our body will then tend to focus on the components specific to CBD. Instead of fully processing the ingested medications, the liver will sort them, prioritizing CBD and pushing the medications to the background. This is not without consequences. While CBD will still exert its effects on the body, the effects of the medications will be significantly inhibited. Such a reduction in efficacy can have serious repercussions, particularly if the medications are being taken to treat a serious medical condition or relatively debilitating symptoms.

Another potentially dangerous consequence: some medications are designed to be rapidly absorbed by the body. Taking CBD at the same time as medications prevents the medications from breaking down properly and, therefore, from being absorbed. However, when these medications are not properly absorbed, various harmful side effects—such as headaches or nausea—may occur. In fact, a U.S.study conducted in 2020 listed more than fifty medications that may be affected by CBD use.

Now that the potential risks have been identified, there are still a few tips that will help you minimize them.

Of course, the first thing to note is that it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor before taking any CBD. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the compatibility or risks of taking CBD with the medications you’re already taking.

In addition, here are some helpful tips for safely using CBD and medications:

• Space out your CBD and medication doses as much as possible,
• Opt for low doses or products with a low CBD concentration, such as Elixir 5% CBD oil,
• Carefully select high-quality CBD products, ensuring the traceability and quality of the ingredients,
• If you have any doubts, be sure to consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking CBD, as it may interact with other medications.

Antidepressants—those well-known, very powerful, and useful medications, but with equally well-known side effects on health. Their use alone is already heavily regulated.

It is believed that CBD has a high risk of interacting negatively with antidepressants. There are several reasons for this. First, CBD and antidepressants are thought to target the same areas of the brain, which could cause their effects to cancel each other out.

On the other hand, even though CBD has nothing to do with THC and its psychoactive effects, CBD still has a number of effects on the body. Among other things, it appears to affect our metabolism and liver function. Given this, it’s easy to see that the metabolism of antidepressants will be significantly altered by CBD use.

Finally, it is important to highlight certain types of antidepressants: tricyclics and MAOIs. These specific categories of antidepressants are the oldest on the market—known as first-generation antidepressants. As such, they have far more potentially risky side effects than the latest-generation antidepressants. Newer antidepressants have a much longer track record of scientific research than first-generation ones and are therefore much safer and more reliable in terms of their use.

So-called tricyclics—first-generation antidepressants—and MAOIs, which are more recent but quite unstable, are two types of medications considered particularly dangerous when combined with CBD. To work, they block the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. However, CBD acts on precisely these same neurotransmitters.

Another, even more telling example is Xanax. Xanax is primarily used to reduce anxiety. In small doses, it can be beneficial. However, it is common to see numerous harmful side effects in people who abuse Xanax. The most common side effects include paranoia, drowsiness, and tachycardia. Combining Xanax and CBD is therefore yet another example of a drug interaction that should be avoided at all costs.