Medical researchers have by and large determined that CBD doesn’t put anyone at any serious risk of major side effects, and due to the nontoxic nature of hemp, people can take large doses daily without risk of overdose or dependency issues. This is a relief to those who want to try a more natural approach to maintaining their wellness, as we know that even many natural products can be potentially dangerous if misused.
However, just because CBD is by itself nontoxic doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t play it safe when mixing CBD with other substances. Any compounds that produce effects within the body have the potential to produce interactions when combined with other compounds.
As you’ll see, you should always take into account the medications that you’re taking prior to starting a CBD routine. And, as always, consult your physician when combining CBD into your prescription drug routine.
CBD and Your Meds: Is it Safe to Combine Them?
Many people who take prescription medications for a particular ailment are interested in giving CBD a try, and we can certainly understand why. A lot of people who are on medications wish to try a more natural approach to their health, and CBD is one of the most prominent natural products out there right now. The large majority of them are primarily looking for something that’s potentially less harmful to take long-term, as a lot of prescriptions out there are not intended to be used for indefinite periods of time on a daily basis.
The thing is that there is still a lot about CBD that we don’t know. The amazing wave of clinical studies on CBD that have come out over the last decade mostly focus on the independent properties of CBD and how they can be useful to the human body. Few studies actually test interactions between CBD and other compounds, such as the compounds found in prescription medications of all kinds.
What this means is that we really can’t break down the risk of interaction between CBD a particular drug that you may be on. What we can say, however, is that there’s a chance that the effect that CBD has on other medications is similar to the effect of grapefruit.
For those who may not be aware, many prescription medications come with a warning against consuming grapefruit along with each dose. The reason is because grapefruit contains a unique enzyme that interferes with the metabolization of compounds found in certain drugs. What this means is that if you consume grapefruit after taking a medication, it can take longer for that medication to clear out of your body, which means that its effects can last for a longer period of time, and that the next dose you take can cause a stronger potency because of an overlap of activation between two consecutive doses. Basically, when you take the next dose, the last dose is still in the system because the grapefruit prevented it from completely clearing out.
Some researchers suspect that CBD has similar effects on the enzyme that breaks down these compounds found in certain prescription drugs. That does not mean that they are claiming that taking CBD along with a medication can cause serious side effects, but that it may merely extend the period of time during which an individual dose remains active within the system.
What to Do if You Want to Take CBD Along with a Prescription Medication
We at CBD LUXE do not have nearly as much insight into your particular health needs and medical history as your doctor. But, what we can do is provide a general guide to taking CBD along with a medication in a way that’s the least likely to produce potentially negative effects.
Ask Your Doctor
The first thing that you absolutely have to do is have a conversation with your doctor. Before you incorporate CBD into your routine, remind them of the medications you’re on and your medical history. Your doctor can tell you whether or not it’s safe to combine CBD with the meds you’re on and might be able to help you go about it in the safest way. This applies to those who are avid CBD users who have been prescribed a medication, as well.
Keep the Amount of CBD Low at First
It’s a good idea to start out with a low dose of CBD in the beginning. This decreases the potential for a negative interaction. Go with a product that has a lower-than-average milligram strength, and stick to the suggested dose that’s clearly printed on the product’s label.
Monitor Yourself
For the first two weeks, it’s important to pay attention to how you feel as a result of taking both CBD and a prescription medication. It’s important to note that if you feel like the interaction is negative, you should not stop taking your medication unless your doctor clearly states that it’s safe and recommended to do so.
Only Adjust Your Routine if Your Doctor Approves
After two weeks, your body will have had enough time to get used to CBD and its effects, and so you’ll have a more accurate picture of what happens when you combine it with your meds. At this point, you may decide to make a change to your CBD routine, such as a higher potency level or a new delivery method. Again, before you do this, get your doctor’s approval.
What We Currently Know
As of now, we don’t have any proof that CBD and a prescription medication could cause a negative interaction. Still, it’s always best to be on the safe side, which is why we suggest that you follow all of the steps above before combining the two. This way, you’ll greatly reduce the risk of a negative interaction occurring. First and foremost, it’s crucial that you speak with your doctor, as he or she will know much more about a potential interaction than we do, based on the medication that you’re on as well as the dosage level that you take