Can CBD affect Prescription Medication?
A very short answer to this is yes, CBD can affect some that you may be taking.
CBD is also currently classed as a ‘food supplement’ and there is lots of research going into fully understanding the potential of cannabinoids.
The issue is that like many other natural substances, CBD may alter the way in which some medications are processed by the liver.
*The general advice is to not take CBD while on prescribed medication. If you are considering CBD it is imperative that you talk to a trusted medical professional before adding any food supplements to your diet.*
What is the Cytochrome P450 System?
Almost substances enter your body after being metablized into the bloodstream by the Liver. This is a fundamental process to understand when producing or administering medications; so that doctors can work out an appropriate dosage of any drug, they need to work out how the drug is broken down in the liver.
Every drug is broken down by enzymes and there are over 50 enzymes in the liver, but we are going to focus on one very important one; the cytochrome p450.
The body produces CYP450 to break down drugs into the blood stream however, there are some substances which affect the production and enzyme effectiveness. There are many ‘normal’ every day ingredients and natural remedies which can have an impact on this system, including St Johns Wort, Watercress, Grapefruit and Cannabidiol!
These ingredients cause the Enzyme to react in unexpected ways so some drugs may be absorbed much quicker and remain in the blood stream for longer (making the medications more potent and risking overdose/blood toxicity) or could slow, or completely inhibit the absorption of a drug meaning that they will no longer be effective (potentially making your health conditions worse!).
This poses an issue for doctors as a dosage of medication is carefully calculated for your needs – if anything were to stop the drug working, or make it work too well, it could have a long term impact on your health and well being.
So if you are on prescribed medication, you are advised not to take any CBD products. If you are considering going against the advice, always speak to your doctor as an open dialogue with them is essential to ensure that you are getting a healthy dose of your current medication.
It is always best to be safe than sorry so if you are in doubt – do not take a CBD supplement.
Medications which may be impacted by CBD
- Steroids
- HMG CoA reductase inhibitors
- Calcium channel blockers
- Antihistamines
- Prokinetics
- HIV antivirals
- Immune modulators
- Benzodiazepines
- Antiarrythmics
- Antibiotics
- Anesthetics
- Antipsychotics
- Antidepressants
- Anti-epileptics
- Beta blockers
- PPIs
- NSAIDs
- Angiotension II blockers
- Oral hypoglycemic agents
- Sulfonylureas
CBD and the Contraceptive Pill
Uh oh! Are you taking CBD and on the pill? Well, you may need to exercise caution here. Particularly for pills which are oestrogen-based, CBD can limit the absorption of the pill in the liver and could potentially make them less effective. Be very careful if you are using the pill alongside St. John Wort, cigarettes and alcohol as each decrease the effectiveness further.
It may be best to use other forms of contraception, like condoms, to make sure that there are no unexpected surprises!
In conclusion…
We at CBDiablo are not medically trained or medical professionals. It is important that you seek trusted medical advice if you are considering CBD as a natural alternative. It is essential that you do not stop taking any medications and replace them with CBD.
It is better to be safe so if you are in doubt do not take CBD…. otherwise we have some amazing CBD oils and CBD pastes for you!