Cannabinol, popularly known as CBD, has taken the world by storm in recent years. CBD is the non-psychoactive ingredient in hemp and marijuana, and has been a proven aid in treating many ailments, such as insomnia, anxiety, arthritis, and more. With this natural remedy, there are many benefits users can experience without having to think about adding another pharmaceutical drug to their pill case. However, there is one thing to consider-  potential CBD drug interactions with the other pills in that case.  

While today’s research suggests CBD to be quite safe with minimal side effects, the one catch is that it can interact with some medications. While researchers are looking to uncover better understandings of CBD drug interactions, here’s what we know so far.

Prescription Medications

When it comes to CBD drug interactions, evidence in its relationship with prescription medications is the most established. Although we still have more to discover, the potential risks of combining CBD and prescriptions is something to consider (and talk to your doctor about).  

So far, we know that, yes, CBD does cause some drugs to work differently. The prescription drugs listed below are ones you should pay close attention to, as they have the most evidence stacked against them.

Medications that interact negatively with CBD:

• Warfarin (blood thinner)
• Amiodarone (heart rhythm medication)
• Levothyroxine (thyroid medication)
• Clobazam, Lamotrigine, Valproate (seizure medication)

All of these drugs treat serious illnesses and patients should not stop taking them in order to use CBD. There are alternative prescription medications available to treat these health issues that haven’t shown any adverse reactions when taken alongside CBD.

If you are adamant about trying CBD and are on one of the medications listed above, it’s important to find a healthcare professional who is able to walk you through proper treatment options.   

Over the Counter Medications and Supplements

There is currently no evidence that suggests CBD use interacts with common over the counter medications, like Tylenol or Ibuprofen. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean there is no future possibility of discovering adverse interactions. If you use over the counter medications regularly, we suggest speaking with your doctor first. 

Why Do These Interactions Occur?

When we take oral medications, it gets absorbed into our bloodstream and our bodies begin to process them so we can use its benefits. In order to process them, our blood travels through the stomach and into the small intestines. It then gets sent to the liver where it’s metabolized (broken down). 

In order to metabolize drug chemicals, the liver uses enzymes- specifically, cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) enzymes. Various foods and drugs can affect CYP450’s ability to break a drug down which can increase a drug’s effects (and side effects). The opposite is true as well, where if a substance increases the enzyme’s ability to break a drug down, it will decrease the effects of said drug.

What does this have to do with CBD, you ask? CBD is metabolized by CYP450 enzymes, as well as another enzyme in its family, CYP34A, which directly interacts with CBD. Additionally, CYP3A4 is responsible for metabolizing 60% of pharmaceutical drugs. This dual interference can increase or decrease the effectiveness of other medications to not work as well or to work too much. These relationships can also affect how CBD is processed and used in our bodies. 

The main concern with these CBD drug interactions is the hindrance to the intended performance of a medication. If a prescribed medication you are taking helps treat a serious health disorder, you want your medication to be working properly. Otherwise, it could create more serious health issues without you realizing it. 

While we work to understand these relationships better, researchers at Penn State have recently released a list of 57 medications that could potentially interact with CBD. On this list, you can see which enzymes play a part in specific drug metabolization, with many mentioning CYP3A4.

Note: Some medications on this list only interact with THC, the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana.

What do CBD and Grapefruits have in Common?

Interestingly enough, grapefruit has been found to interact with certain medications, so much so that their prescription bottles come with a warning.

This is because, through research, grapefruit has proven to interact with the CYP450 enzymes. Yep, those same enzymes the liver uses to break down medications in our bodies. And that warning label really is no joke as its interaction with some medications can be quite risky.

Data on CBD drug interactions have yet to pull the same significant results grapefruit interactions have. But some research does suggest it, and considering that the same enzymes are at play, you can never be too careful. That’s why it’s always important to talk to your doctor when deciding to add any new remedies (supplements too) to existing prescriptions.  

CBD Liver Safety 

With all this talk about the liver, you may be wondering if any research suggests the safety of CBD use on the liver. While there is currently no research that suggests CBD has any damaging effects on the liver when taken properly, it is always important to stay within recommended dosing limits to be sure. 

Other CBD Products to Consider

You can still obtain the benefits of CBD without having to take oral remedies- like oils, edibles, drinks, or vapes. Consider using something topical, like a lotion or a roll-on gel. Since these types of products are applied to the outer layer of skin, they aren’t designed to enter the bloodstream, meaning they won’t interact with any medications. 

In Conclusion

 While research is breaking ground in understanding CBD drug interactions, further studies need to be conducted to draw more precise findings. With what we do know, some prescriptions do react negatively with CBD (and grapefruit). There is no current research that points to any risks with using CBD and over the counter medications.

And once again, it’s always important to consult a healthcare professional before trying CBD. They will not only help you figure out any potential CBD drug interactions, but they can also aid in determining the best dose of CBD for you.

Lastly, since the FDA currently does not regulate CBD products it’s important to make sure the products you use are safe and don’t include poor quality ingredients. By researching the quality of your CBD products, it will further limit the potential of unknown drug interactions from occurring.  

Written by Alyssa Motheral

Being a workaholic is oftentimes glamorized in American culture, but it can lead to serious long-term effects that are rarely talked about. Putting in the extra hours at work comes at the cost of less sleep, additional stress, and your overall physical well being. Overworked people are also at a higher risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Taking care of your mental and physical health is extremely important in order to have the best quality of life, so what are the benefits of CBD oil for those suffering from the endless grind?

What Are the Benefits of CBD Oil? 

CBD (cannabidioil) is a cannabis-derived compound that is non-psychoactive. This quality makes CBD an appealing option for medical use because it doesn’t have any mind-altering effects like its compound cousin THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) does. The cannabis plant has been used medicinally for thousands of years, but with the recent legalization of CBD, there have been numerous health benefits introduced to consumers. These benefits include treatments for 

• Pain relief
• Anxiety and depression
• Sleep disorders
• Acne 
• Substance abuse 

A Better Night’s Sleep

The recommended 7-9 hours of sleep is rarely ever achieved by adults, especially if they’re being overworked or working long hours. In a 2012 study, it was reported that 30% of employed U.S adults receive less than 6 hours of sleep per day, and those who work night shifts, have more than 1 job, or work over 40 hours a week experience a higher prevalence of short sleep duration. We tend to only think of the short-term effects of not getting enough sleep at night, such as feeling grumpy, tired, and irritable the next day. However, the long-term effects are much worse. Sleep deprivation can lead to memory issues, mood changes, high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain. 

Using CBD to get a good night’s sleep is a much healthier approach than other over-the-counter sleep aids that have sedative effects. CBD has an effect on a neurotransmitter called adenosine, a key mediator of sleep homeostasis. “Extracellular adenosine concentrations increase during wakefulness, especially during prolonged wakefulness and lead to increased sleep pressure and subsequent rebound sleep.” CBD can help relax the adenosine receptors and produce a more natural transition into sleep.

Working long hours and being active during the day can get in the way of getting a good night’s sleep. But, with the help of CBD and its calming effects, it can make falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night a possibility for overworked people. 

CBD for Anxiety and Depression 

1 in 5 adults in America are affected by a mental illness in their lifetime, the most common being anxiety and depression disorders. The National Network of Depression Centers reports that depression ranks among the top 3 workplace issues in the United States. Overworked people are at a higher risk of getting diagnosed with mental disorders because of the stress it causes, the physical toll it takes on the body, and the lack of sleep they get because of it. So what are the benefits of CBD oil for this chunk of the populace.

The most widely used treatments for anxiety and depression are therapy and pharmaceuticals. CBD as an alternative treatment has been growing in popularity as the stigma of it has slowly been fading. There are many benefits to using CBD in the place of pharmaceutical drugs to treat anxiety and depression disorders such as there being far less side effects and it working instantly. The list of possible side effects from taking antidepressants is long and varies from person to person. Some of the most common are nausea, sexual dysfunction, and fatigue. CBD as a remedy of treatment is beneficial because of its less serious side effects. Another benefit to using CBD is that it doesn’t take weeks to start working like how most antidepressants do. A 2019 animal study found that CBD has a fast and sustained antidepressant-like effect. 

People who experience depression often also experience anxiety because the two commonly occur together. CBD can be used to treat both disorders with the effect it has on serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates our mood and happiness. CBD has the ability to affect how the brain responds to the serotonin that’s already in your system. 

Pain Relief 

Working long hours can put physical stressors on the body and make everyday life seem like a challenge. Overworking can also lead to more serious physical problems such as increased weight, heart problems, and a lack of energy on a daily basis. 

Overworked people can benefit the most from applying CBD topically with lotions, creams, and gels. Our iCBD 500mg CBD Topical Roll-on Gel soothes, calms, and repairs sore muscles with a convenient roll-on application and cooling sensation. CBD topicals have pain-relieving effects that work to manage the body’s discomfort and help relieve arthritis pain, nerve pain, jaw pain, and more. 

CBD oil, initially becoming popular because of its anti-seizure properties, is growing in its usage as more benefits are being discovered. CBD is not new; researchers traced back CBD usage to 2900 BC used as an ailment for pain. So, what does CBD oil treat? Studies today are being released showing all different types of things CBD oil can treat. Not only can CBD be used for a vast number of physical treatments, but also has a plethora of mental benefits. 

Physical Health

CBD oil has been most commonly used for bodily pain and is used medically in some forms for patients with high levels of pain post-surgery or with chronic issues. Some other ways CBD oil treats physical conditions are: 

• Muscle or joint pain
• Acne
• Acne scarring
• Arthritis
• Epilepsy

Pain relief has many attempted solutions whether it is investing in a chiropractor, getting weekly massages, rubbing on a topical cream, or taking medication to mask the pain. In recent years, more and more individuals are seeking CBD products to get pain relief. Marijuana has been a common ailment for pain for decades, but researchers have discovered that CBD is one of the main components within marijuana that helps with pain relief. CBD is able to aid pain by communicating with neurotransmitters and the endocannabinoid receptor activity to decrease inflammation in the body.

CBD has been known for aiding with epilepsy for quite some time. Commercially sold CBD is not the same as the CBD prescribed to patients through the health care system to treat conditions. The CBD prescribed to patients to help with epilepsy is called Epidiolex. It is the only epilepsy medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although doctors can prescribe these different forms of FDA-approved CBD to patients, there are still many products available on the market that may provide relief to such physical issues. 

Another new common usage of CBD for physical conditions is for acne or acne scarring. CBD is also helpful when trying to cure skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis. CBD can help with overall skin wellness because it:

• Is anti-inflammatory
• Has antioxidant properties
• Is moisturizing
• Regulates oil production
• Reduces breakouts 

Not only is CBD a great topical or internal skincare product, but it also can be used in combination with other products and ingredients like ceramides, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. CBD is incredibly great at reducing sebum production and therefore directly aids in helping stop acne, scarring, eczema, and other skin conditions. 

For more information on how CBD is beneficial for overall skin health, read here. 

Mental Health

CBD can aid in mental benefits as well because of its therapeutic components. It is most commonly taken for depression and anxiety but has additional mental conditions that it aids with. A few of these mental conditions CBD treats and helps with are: 

• Depression 
• Anxiety
• Recovering from addiction
• PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• OCD
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar Disorder
• Insomnia

CBD has helped immensely in treating both physical and mental problems for years, especially with use for childhood epilepsy and anxiety. The public is becoming more aware of these mental benefits of CBD and it is gaining increasing amounts of popularity because of the benefits people are speaking out on. 

CBD is so commonly reached for to aid with mental health both personally and now within the healthcare system. Statistics are proving why CBD treatment is becoming so popular. Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. in which they affect 40 million adults in the U.S. Although anxiety disorders are highly treatable, only 36.9% of those 40 million adults seek treatment. 

With the number of people struggling with a mental illness like depression or anxiety, it is necessary to seek natural ways to stimulate positive mental health. CBD treatment is the perfect solution for this. With its natural properties, its high popularity and usage, and the number of products out on the market today, it is making it easier for people to see if CBD is the right treatment for them. CBD can be beneficial in treating depression due to its ability to interact with the brain's receptors for serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that stabilizes social behavior, mood, and impacts overall happiness. 

CBD oil treats an extensive list of both mental and physical conditions that ultimately the healthcare system can’t always help with. CBD’s natural ability to aid with chronic conditions showcases the power it has to change many people’s health and life. With new studies coming out about the different benefits it has to overall health, anyone with a desire to improve their health should consider CBD products. If you are seeking alternative help for any of the listed physical and mental conditions listed above, it may be beneficial to research what does CBD oil treat for your body.