What Medication Should Not Be Taken With CBD?

Cannabidiol is a gentle, natural alternative to the wide variety of supplements and products available on the market. Still, this organic compound has a unique influence on the physiological system, which may cause interactions with other drugs and medications.

This article will review which medications are known to be contraindicated with cannabidiol while discussing the properties of CBD that cause these interactions.

What Medications Does CBD Interfere With?

Cannabidiol interacts with the CYP 450 enzymes of our liver cells. These enzymes are crucial to the metabolization of a variety of active compounds. After the ingestion of CBD, the CYP450 enzymes are inhibited, meaning that they can not perform optimally.

So what meds should not be taken with CBD oil? Taking CBD in combination with any of medications that are broken down by these enzymes could result in unexpected side effects. While the CYP enzymes are inhibited, these meds are broken down at a slower pace, leading to an increased impact on the mind and body.

This enzymatic system breaks down many substances. For a complete list, please reference this resource. You may notice some everyday household products on this list. For example, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and caffeine interact with this system and are primarily metabolized by CYP450 enzymes.

This does not mean that you can’t enjoy caffeine with non-psychoactive cannabis products, but it does mean that the subjective effects from your cup of coffee and the impact it has on the body may be slightly altered. Bear this in mind when taking over-the-counter products with CBD. If you are currently prescribed medications, then it is best to speak with a medical practitioner before adding cannabidiol into your regimen.

Certain medications for severe medical conditions can backfire when taken with cannabidiol. These potent meds may not be adequately metabolized, resulting in a powerful impact on the physiological system. This can result in life-threatening symptoms if not addressed immediately.

If you are already experiencing symptoms, diagnosed or otherwise, it is best to speak with a doctor before ingesting CBD. When you are already diagnosed and on pharmaceuticals, it becomes even more paramount to work with medical supervision when introducing new herbal medications.

Dangerous CBD Hemp Oil Drug Interactions

What Drugs Should Not Be Taken With CBD?
All products containing CBD (oils, edibles, vape juices, etc.) could produce profound complications when taken with the following substances: 

• Warfarin
• Clobazam/Norclobazam
• Etoposide/Teniposide

Each of these medications has a unique action on the body, but they are each broken down by the CYP450 system. Warfarin is an anticoagulant or blood thinner. When CBD inhibits the CYP enzymes in question, warfarin has a significantly more substantial impact on the body, which can rapidly lead to excessive bleeding.

Clobazam and norclobazam are used as anti-epilepsy medications. When the CYP450 enzymes are restricted, these two drugs are not metabolized as usual. As their levels build up in the body, they can cause more of the epileptic symptoms which they seek to treat.

Etoposide and teniposide are anti-cancer medications. Both of them are epipodophyllotoxins, which are managed by the same liver cell enzyme system. As circulating levels of these drugs grow due to inhibited metabolism, all of the drug’s side effects can surface. These effects include a greater risk of infection, easy bruising, loss of breath, tiredness, hair loss, and nausea.

It is interesting to note that prescription cannabidiol has been used to combat epilepsy, but the combination of CBD with other antiepileptics causes severe complications. This is one example of why consumers should never assume that a natural or alternative product will perfectly synergize with their current pharmaceutical regimen.

One can easily make an oversight and combine CBD thinking that it will be a useful adjunct, but really, it could cause more harm. When consuming cannabidiol with caffeine and other over-the-counters, adverse reactions are unlikely. One should simply watch their own physical response and speak to a practitioner as needed.

Sedatives And CBD

Cannabidiol may have interactions with a variety of sedative substances. The common ones to watch for are as follows:

• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines
• Barbiturates
• Gabapentin
• Opiates

CBD can produce mild, subjective sedation. Some consumers report that this is more like a relaxed focus, while others would prefer a nap with their evening dose. It is believed that cannabidiol’s minor sedative qualities may stack on top of the use of other sedative substances, attenuating their psychoactivity.

The good news is that CBD has not been shown to create any dangerous interactions with the substances above. The sedation caused by cannabidiol should not synergize with the activity generated by these medications. While it may add an additional feeling of ease to an evening, CBD should not multiply the intoxicating properties of these drugs.

However, most of the sedatives mentioned above are at least partially broken down by the CYP450 enzymes. This means that sufficient inhibition of these factors could cause an unusual reaction to these substances. While no dangerous CBD + sedative interactions have been documented yet, one should always examine their reasons for taking CBD alongside these medications.

Even though cannabidiol is likely innocuous in many of these combinations, you should approach the use of these medications with care and preparation. None of the information on this page is meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease symptoms. 

As stated by the FSA, healthy adults can enjoy the use of cannabidiol every day. If you are wondering if CBD is right for you, take a look at our extensive inventory, and reach out to one of our expert customer service representatives. We can swiftly help guide you to the ideal product. Your new holistic regimen starts with CBD Guru! Order now and enjoy our premium delivery deals and special discounted prices.