Does CBD Interact with Other Pharmaceutical Drugs?
Most compounds tend to interact with other compounds. The use of cannabis in the treatment of various health conditions and its legality in major states has made it possible for patients to take advantage of the phenomenon. However, it is not clear as to how CBD oil will be effective if it is taken in conjunction with other medications. There is a wide range of CBD oil benefits and there is a possibility that it interacts positively with other drugs.
Before we dive into the interaction between cannabis and other pharmaceutical drugs, it is vital to understand the difference between the synergistic and the additive effect. The synergistic effect refers to a greater effect when two or more drugs interact while an additive effect means the sum of the effect is equal. For example, an additive effect can be equated to (1+1=2), while the synergistic effect can be represented by (1+1=3).
Research has shown that CBD oil is effective in treating a wide range of diseases. CBD oil manipulates the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and treats various medical conditions.
There is evidence which suggests that the interaction between CBD oil with other drugs may improve metabolic processes and decrease the resistance of insulin. For instance, when CBD oil for anxiety interacts with other medication, it improves blood sugar control. Several studies have also found out that users of cannabis exhibited lower rates of diabetes and obesity when compared to non-users. This shows that cannabis may effectively work with other drugs and the interaction exhibit positive results.
CBD and opioids addiction
Dr. Donald Abrams an Oncologist from San Francisco published a study on CBD in 2011. The study found out that subjects exposed to cannabis exhibited no significant change in opioid blood level concentrations. Following the cannabis administration, the patients reported a 27% decrease in pain. This shows that the interaction between opioids and CBD for anxiety safely augment the pain-relieving effects of opioids. Furthermore, the study found out that the combination of opioids and CBD was effective in treating patients with lower opioids levels and reduced the side effects and dependency risks.
CBD and Cytochrome P450
Cytochrome P450 is an essential enzyme which plays a significant role in the interaction of drugs with the body. One of CBD oil benefits is that it is non-addictive, safe, and well-tolerated. However, it may interact synergistically with other drugs in some patients. When it comes to anti-seizure medications and epilepsy, there is a positive interplay between CBD and cytochrome P450.
A study that was published in 2015 found out that CBD oil administered in children elevated the blood concentrations of clobazam, thereby reducing the dose. This study was done on children with active metabolite of clobazam. According to the study, the remedy was quite straightforward. The participants also exhibited a 50% reduction in seizures which resulted in the conclusion that CBD oil is both a safe and effective treatment of refractory epilepsy when combined with clobazam.
CBD and alcohol
It is never a good idea to mix alcohol with any type of drug. In fact, it may be fatal if you mix alcohol with certain drugs like opioids and sleep medications. Cannabis and alcohol are one of the most common combinations. However, what does research say about the combination? Depending on your perspective, you may interpret the research positively or negatively. Some studies have suggested that people tend to consume less alcohol when they use CBD.
The combination of CBD for anxiety and alcohol may help reduce alcohol consumption or addiction. In a study published by the National Institute on Drugs Abuse on alcohol and marijuana, it was found that 14 out of the 16 participants drunk less alcohol when cannabis was present. Moreover, 12 out of the 16 participants consumed more cannabis when both cannabis and alcohol were present.
Although there are a few mentioned CBD oil benefits when combined with other medication, more studies need to be done to ascertain if CBD oil is more effective or if the combination has any side effects. For most patients, CBD oil is safe and carries fewer risks with other drugs interactions.
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