How Cannabis Interacts With Other Drugs And Medications

Cannabis is an extremely complex plant that we still don’t completely understand because of decades of prohibition. It has been difficult to study cannabis compounds and how they interact with other substances, we don’t yet know how processes in our bodies could be interrupted by these compounds. If you’re thinking about mixing cannabis and other recreational substances or prescription medication it might be important for you to continue reading on to find out how cannabis interacts with other drugs and medications.

Drug Interactions Explained

Drug interactions occur when there is a prescription medicine or recreational substance that interacts with other food or drink. These interactions can often alter the way that the drugs work and their overall efficacy. When you take two or more substances together there can be a series of outcomes that occur including:

The chance for addiction: sometimes substances are placed into the system together, there is a combined added addiction rather than the fairly harmless use that you would experience if the drugs were taken on their own.

Synergistic effect: when substances are combined they can often produce an effect that is far greater than they would when they are taken separately.

Antagonistic effects: this can occur when several substances are taken together and they will become less effective than if they were taken on their own.

Drug Interactions Can Become Much More Apparent 

Is a decrease or increase in drug absorption through the digestive tract, there’s an alternating drug metabolism in the liver, is an increased rate in which the body secretes drugs to the kidneys or there are a series of competing factions of the body that occur from the drug interaction.You can increase your risk for drug interaction with some of these factors as well:

If you have poor nutrition

If you have an underlying medical condition

If you are taking multiple medications at a time

You are over or underweight

You are very old or very young

Or you’re dehydrated.

How Cannabis Gets Broken Down In The Body

Cannabis contains over 100 compounds that interact with the body. The ones we know about the most are THC and CBD and research suggests that both of these compounds are metabolized by the cytochrome p450. This is a group of enzymes that is largely responsible for metabolizing the compounds in cannabis. When CBD and THC are present in the body, this will lead to the chance that you might experience some type of result by combining cannabis and other substances.Cannabis is very unique when compared to other drugs because of its chemical composition. Cannabis does not contain just one single active ingredient. Even though THC and CBD are some of the most widely known components of cannabis, the plant contains over 400 compounds including terpenes, cannabinoids, and more. Cannabis strains also have a great deal of variety so it can be difficult to predict results at all times.

Why Cannabis Is Unique To Other Substances

Cannabis is very unique when compared to other drugs because of its chemical composition. Cannabis does not contain just one single active ingredient. Even though THC and CBD are some of the most widely known components of cannabis, the plant contains over 400 compounds including terpenes, cannabinoids, and more. Cannabis strains also have a great deal of variety so it can be difficult to predict results at all times.

Some Of The Basic Drug Interactions That We Know

Cannabis interacts with recreational drugs like alcohol, amphetamines, codeine, blood pressure medication, blood sugar medication, antidepressants, sedatives, and more.

If you are on any type of medication or you are planning on mixing cannabis with other recreational medications, it can be wise to consider the effects that each may have. Underestimating cannabis in the way that it can interact with other properties in the body is not a good idea. If you are considering trying cannabis, it is best to enjoy it on its own. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about cannabis and your health.