While cannabis undoubtedly has a wide range of potential benefits, including relief from pain and anxiety, there are some prescription medications that you should avoid using in combination with weed, even if you are sick with marijuana. Cannabis may interact negatively with your medications or dull the effect of a medication, which can lead to a host of health risks.
If you have been currently prescribed any of the following medications, you should consider this Abstain from using cannabis So you’ll have an opportunity to discuss possible outcomes and best options with your doctor.
Prescription opioids
Although both prescription opioids and medical cannabis can be used For the treatment of chronic or long-term painthe two They should not be used together.
One opioid drug worth mentioning is oxycodone. An opioid like oxycodone can be incredibly addictive all by herself. Some doctors may be able to help moderate the use of oxycodone and ensure that its use is as safe as possible. When you mix oxycodone with other drugs, such as cannabis, the risks only increase. I found one study The combination of oxycodone and cannabis increases the risk of depression and anxiety and unintentionally depresses the patient’s central nervous system to a dangerous degree.
However, there is a positive side: medical cannabis can be used decrease Taking prescription opioids, which ultimately reduces the chances of negative side effects such as dependence and overdose. Those intending to use medical cannabis to reduce their opioid intake should speak with a qualified healthcare professional to obtain appropriate taper and support programs, which improve chances of overcoming dependence.
blood thinners
Blood thinners, which regulate the ease of blood flow throughout the body, require very precise dosing in the first place, and adding cannabis to the mix can be risky. Some blood thinners are greatly affected by cannabis use. I found one study The use of blood thinners and cannabis at the same time can lead to an increase in the effectiveness of some blood-thinning drugs.
Doctors prescribe medications to people in certain doses for a reason. With some blood thinners, there is the possibility, in practice, of people taking an amount of medication that is much higher than what the doctor wants. If you take blood thinners and actively use cannabis, your doctor may recommend that you lower the prescribed dose of your medication or suggest that you reduce or stop using cannabis.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, have a lot of potential uses, but they are most commonly used as antidepressants to treat conditions such as: depressionAnd anxiety or Obsessive-compulsive disorder. More research is needed to determine whether patients need to avoid cannabis altogether when taking a prescribed SSRI. However, until then, patients should be aware of potential problems, be careful, and seek their doctor’s advice.
some initial Warning signs indicate The effectiveness of antidepressants may be diminished by combined use with cannabis. Some studies also show that cannabinoids such as CBD can prevent your body from Eliminate antidepressants such as escitalopram and sertraline, which can lead to an overload of antidepressants in the body. This, in turn, can lead to an increased risk of side effects such as panic attacks.
On the other hand, some Patients on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors You may benefit from the medical use of certain marijuana products, as cannabis can have antidepressant qualities when taken in appropriate doses. Moreover, cannabis may be helpful in reducing Take antidepressants. As always, open and honest communication with your healthcare provider is the best course of action when combining SSRIs with cannabis.
benzodiazepines;
Some studies suggest that there can be potential benefits to using cannabis to help in withdrawal of benzodiazepines, although more research is needed. Those with forms of epilepsy such as Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome may also find that CBD reduces their need For antiepileptic drugs, many of which are sedative and benzodiazepine-based (eg, lorazepam, midazolam, diazepam, and clonazepam).
However, combining cannabis use with active benzodiazepine use may be a different story. Benzodiazepines are depressant and sedative-like drugs known for their general efficacy. Like blood thinners, cannabis use can effectively increase the amount of benzodiazepines in the body. In other words, using cannabis can increase the potency of a drug like Xanax, which is already very powerful on its own.
Those who wish to use cannabis to reduce their benzodiazepine intake should do so under medical supervision, especially since benzodiazepine withdrawal can be Dangerous, even life threatening.
Ritalin
Ritalin is a stimulant often used to treat conditions such as ADHD. while CBD Or a low dose of THC It might help Managing some of the side effects of Ritalin, some studies have found that cannabis use can lead to: Limited effectiveness Ritalin.
Because of its potential to weaken the effectiveness of Ritalin, those prescribed Ritalin should work with their physicians to determine if they should continue to use cannabis.
bottom line
Many prescription medications should not be combined with cannabis use, or at the very least, it should be done under medical supervision. With that said, it’s important to remember that cannabis is not the only potentially problematic agent for adverse medical interactions. All potential negative drug interactions should be taken seriously, whether or not cannabis is involved in any way.
Even grapefruit has been shown to interact negatively with some forms of medication, leading to the term “grapefruit effect.” This is because grapefruit can inhibit a liver enzyme, cytochrome P450 (CYP 450), which metabolizes many drugs and medications. CBD has a similar effect.
As always, you should be open and honest with your doctor so that, together, you can make informed and responsible decisions about which medications are best for your health. medical cannabis It can be a great tool for managing chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and many other conditions, but it, like everything, requires careful consideration and is Not for everyone.
