Surprisingly, more and more people are turning to cannabis for their medical needs. People come up with several questions and wonder if smoking weed is good for health while on antibiotics. Unfortunately, there is little evidence and very less reliable information on the same topic. This brings us to the conclusion that it is not wise to smoke cannabis while you are on antibiotics. Just like it is always advised by the doctors to not consume alcohol and other drugs along with an antibiotic.
In this post, we will learn about the usage of marijuana on antibiotics and dissect a few scientific researches. We will also familiarize ourselves with the effects of CBD on antibiotics. However, it is advised that you seek medical marijuana doctors and then decide whether or not you should be consuming cannabis while taking antibiotics.
So, first, let us begin with how cannabis will interact with your prescription medications.
How Does Cannabis (CBD) Interact With Medicines?
CBD is not FDA approved yet people use it to treat a large no of medical conditions. Perhaps the legalization of medical marijuana and the side effects related to opioids have encouraged people to switch to a safer alternative. However, there are plenty of other reasons too. Like some of the CBD-rich strains have been successful in treating the symptoms of epilepsy and other medical conditions too.
Hemp-derived CBD has the tendency to interact with several substances. Perhaps it is the nature of chemical compounds yet you might have heard that cannabidiol is a non-intoxicating compound of the marijuana plant. It is known for interacting with the entire endocannabinoid system, especially the receptors (CB1, CB2). But there is one thing that you might not have heard.
CBD also hinders the activities of certain liver enzymes known as cytochrome P450. Cytochrome is an enzyme that breaks down the drugs and toxins in the body. So the role of CBD is such that it metabolizes other compounds and prevents the enzyme from functioning. As a result of this reaction, the body will find it hard to process any kind of medication. Also if a medicine remains unmetabolized in the human body for a long time it will lead to unknown adverse effects.
So, Should You Be Smoking Weed On Antibiotics?
After a clear explanation given on the chemical nature of CBD, it is perhaps easier to say that CBD can hinder the process of antibiotics by inactivating cytochrome P540. So, it is a good idea if you avoid smoking marijuana while on antibiotics. And like I said earlier if you wish to treat your condition with the help of medical marijuana, consult a doctor first.
Your doctor might suggest you to not consume medical marijuana while some doctors are in favor of cannabis use. This is why we have seen a constant rise in the use of medical marijuana. So, what about the research studies that say medical marijuana is good for human health? Definitely, it can simmer down the symptoms of conditions like PTSD, chronic pain, inflammation, and epilepsy but due to fewer research, cannabis is still surrounded by uncertainties.
Antibacterial Properties Of Cannabinoids And Antibiotics
Interestingly, cannabis is known to have antibacterial properties. But it is noteworthy that antibacterial properties are different from antibiotics properties. So make sure you don’t mix the two. Let us take a deeper look into the concept of medical marijuana and its antibacterial properties in relation to antibiotics.
First and foremost when we smoke cannabis, it directly hits the internal organs of the body. This, in turn, leads to irritability in the respiratory tracts eventually leading to bacterial formation. As a result of this formation, the doctor will advise you to use antibiotics. But hypothetically if you continue smoking cannabis, the effect of antibiotics will diminish and the chemical reaction will worsen the situation. So, here is another example stating that marijuana use debilitates the effect of antibiotics despite having antibacterial properties.
In fact, to enhance the antibacterial effects of the cannabis plant you can use it in the form of tinctures, CBD oil, or patches. This will help you treat the condition without being worried about the after-effects of the chemical reaction in the ECS.
The Final Verdict
Having talked about the effects of medical marijuana on the human body and the chemical nature of CBD. It can be easily concluded that smoking weed on antibiotics is not a safe option. But there are no reports claiming that an individual died because he or she mixed CBD with antibiotics. Yes, CBD will hinder the process of metabolization but the side effects will not be adverse. So, if you are suffering from a medical condition and you are also a thorough user of cannabis. Make sure you openly talk about the use of cannabis with your doctor and then consider all the aspects of available scientific research. Only after thorough guidance and research will you be able to draw a conclusion on smoking cannabis while on antibiotics.