There’s scientific evidence that marijuana provides lots of health benefits, from pain relief to improving sleep quality. And so you can use it for alleviating symptoms of various medical conditions. What if you are already taking medications such as antibiotics? Can you mix marijuana with antibiotics?
Antibiotics are known for treating various bacterial infections, but they have certain downsides. For example, overusing these medications can result in developing more resistant bacteria. When mixed with other medications, antibiotics can cause negative effects. Read on to learn how do marijuana and antibiotics interact with each other.
Mixing Marijuana With Antibiotics – Is it Safe?
Marijuana doesn’t have significant interaction with antibiotics. There’s no clinical study available for determining the health benefits of mixing both.
However, researchers have found that cannabis provides adverse effects when mixed with certain drugs such as ibuprofen, morphine, etc. Thus, can you consume marijuana while you are taking antibiotics is a common question. If you are prescribed antibiotics, you should talk to a licensed doctor and seek a medical marijuana card in Los Angeles to use medical marijuana.
What if You Mix Marijuana & Antibiotics?
Many medical experts recommend not to mix cannabis and antibiotics, if you do so, you may experience some negative effects. This is because they work differently by interacting with different systems and organs. If one drug activates a specific system, the other may influence the effects. Thus, it’s difficult to monitor the effects of both.
Terry Roycroft, the President of the Medicinal Cannabis Resource Centre, Inc., studied the effects of marijuana. According to him, mixing marijuana and antibiotics may not be as harmful as one assumes. Roycroft says, “The reality is that there are very little interactions with cannabis. In fact, antibiotics are not on the contraindication list with cannabis.”
Marijuana inhibits the liver’s cytochrome p450 enzymes, which play an important role in the biosynthesis of macrolide antibiotics such as troleandomycin, miocamycin, and erythromycin. In case cannabis use inhibits these enzymes, you are more likely to experience unpleasant side-effects associated with antibiotics. Thus, patients who use erythromycin have higher chances of experiencing common risks such as vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, etc.
If you experience any negative effects after using antibiotics, reduce marijuana dosage to half. In case you notice extreme risks, stop using marijuana completely.
When You Should Not Combine Marijuana With Antibiotics?
If your doctor advises you not to mix marijuana & antibiotics, don’t do so. There are instances that marijuana may worsen your condition instead of improving.
Moreover, if you are taking antibiotics for treating lung infection, avoid smoking or vaping marijuana. This is because smoke or chemicals may influence the effects of antibiotics. Edibles and tinctures are safe methods of marijuana consumption, but you should talk to your doctor before taking any.
Can You Replace Antibiotics With Marijuana?
The marijuana plant contains over 100 cannabinoids, which when delivered to the body provide ultimate relaxing effects and other health benefits. These cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, thus boosting sleep & mood and stimulating appetite.
Some medical researches state cannabis contains various antibacterial properties. A study published in 2018 analyzed the antibacterial effects of THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, and CBN. Researchers concluded that all the cannabinoids are effective for the bacteria.
Cannabinoids help in activating the brain’s CB1 and CB2 receptors, thus impacting several internal functions and immune system.
There’s no strong evidence that says antibiotics can be replaced by marijuana. However, researchers have found that cannabis use doesn’t link to any unpleasant side-effects as prescription medications do. But, everyone’s condition is different experience different marijuana effects. So, talk to a licensed MMJ doctor to seek medical advice for treating your condition.
Marijuana as an Alternative to Antibiotics
If you are thinking of using marijuana for treating your condition, but are concerned about mixing the herb with antibiotics, start taking CBD. This is because CBD is non-psychoactive, and it doesn’t provide the same effects as the whole cannabis plant does. It interacts with the cannabinoid receptors of the body, and regulate them naturally.
If you want to use medical marijuana treatment for pain management, anxiety, nausea, etc. CBD can provide amazing health benefits. Remember, CBD doesn’t deliver the same effects as medications do, so you need to monitor daily CBD dosage carefully. High doses may affect your liver metabolism, and cause various side-effects.
Final Verdict
Marijuana is effective in treating various medical conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, depression, and chronic pain. If you are a regular marijuana consumer who is prescribed antibiotics, it’s necessary to understand the effects of mixing both. This is because it’s quite difficult to monitor the effects of both on the body. Remember, marijuana can increase some side-effects associated with antibiotics, and worsen your condition instead of improving. Reduce or stop marijuana use if it leads to uncomfortable symptoms.
However, it’s good to speak to a licensed doctor to seek professional advice on what’s right for your health.
