Mixing Cannabis With Prescriptions Or Over-The-Counter Medications

With more individuals turning to cannabis for its therapeutic benefits, it’s essential to understand how it can interact with common over-the-counter medications.

Some mixes are okay, while others aren’t so much.

This article dives into what happens when cannabis meets over-the-counter (OTC) meds, looking at the risks, what the latest studies show, and how to stay safe if you’re blending the two.

OTC Medications Vs Prescriptions

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are readily available without a prescription and can be purchased directly off the shelf at your local pharmacy or grocery store. These medications are typically used to manage common ailments such as colds, allergies, pain, and digestive issues. Examples include ibuprofen for pain relief, loratadine for allergies, and antacids for heartburn.

On the other hand, prescription medications require a doctor’s approval and are prescribed for specific illnesses or conditions that require medical supervision to ensure safe and effective use. These drugs are often stronger or have a higher potential for side effects and interactions, necessitating control by a healthcare professional.

Mixing Cannabis And Medications May Overload Your Liver

Cannabis can interact with OTC medications or prescriptions in ways that are neutral, harmful, or completely unpredictable.

The complexity of these interactions largely stems from how cannabis affects the liver, the body’s primary site for drug metabolism. When you consume a medication or substance, your body needs to break it down, with the liver playing a central role in this process.

Cannabinoids like THC and CBD are metabolized by a group of liver enzymes known as cytochrome P450 (CYP450). A 2021 study discovered that the THC metabolite, THC-COO-Gluc, can inhibit several CYP450 enzymes, slowing down the metabolism of various drugs.

This can cause medications to remain in the body longer, increasing the risk of side effects. The same was found for CBD, outlined in a comprehensive Frontiers Psychiatry review.

What Medications Does Cannabis Interact With?

Here’s a closer look at some common medication categories that cannabis may influence:

Painkillers And Weed

Ibuprofen, Aspirin And Weed

There generally aren’t severe reactions when mixing aspirin and cannabis.

However, it’s important to be aware of some potential cardiovascular effects. Both aspirin and THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis, can affect the cardiovascular system. Using them together might result in an elevated heart rate and blood pressure due to their combined blood-thinning properties.

The same goes for other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen and weed (which also means Advil and weed, since Ibuprofen is the main ingredient in that medication).

Although not OTC medications, combining weed and painkillers like opioids can introduce several risks, some of which may affect your mental and physical health.

Using these substances together could heighten the likelihood of experiencing:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Increased sedation
• Dizziness
• Slower breathing or respiratory depression
• Potential substance misuse issues.

Weed And Antidepressants

Cannabis can interact with some antidepressants, including SSRIs like Prozac (Fluoxetine), Zoloft (Setraline), and Escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex).

The main concern when mixing cannabis and antidepressants includes side effects like:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Worsened depression, anxiety, or paranoia

Antipsychotics And Weed

Weed and antipsychotics typically shouldn’t be mixed.

Common antipsychotic prescriptions include Clozapine (Clozaril), Olanzapine (Zyprexa), and Risperidone (Risperdal).

Mixing cannabis with these kinds of prescription medications could induce the following symptoms:

• Sedation
• Dizziness
• Increased heart rate
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty concentrating
• Worsening psychiatric symptoms

Anticonvulsants And Weed

Mixing cannabis with anticonvulsant medications, which are used to prevent seizures, can lead to complex interactions that may affect the effectiveness of the medications and increase side effects.

Common anticonvulsants include Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Valproate (Depakote), and Topiramate (Topamax).

Some common symptoms associated with mixing these types of prescription medications with cannabis include:

• Increased seizure frequency with high THC strains
• Excessive drowsiness
• Confusion, impaired memory
• Mood instability

Safe Practices For Combining Cannabis With Medications

When it comes to mixing cannabis with medications, caution is the name of the game.

Consider discussing your plans with a healthcare provider, especially if you have existing health conditions or take prescribed medications. They can offer the best and most personalized advice based on your health history.

Refrain from combining cannabis with medications if you know you’ll be driving, operating heavy machinery, or performing tasks that require full attention and coordination.

Pay close attention to the active ingredients and warnings on OTC or prescription medication labels.