Patients should look up the specific medication they’re consuming to see if it uses the metabolic pathway CYP450. If it does utilize CYP450, then there is a risk of cannabis drug interactions.
Fortunately, most people do not experience a significant interaction when even when combining cannabis with macrolide antibiotics. Additionally, interactions are usually dose dependent, so the higher dose of cannabis you consume, the greater the risk.
Still because interactions are possible, consumers should be aware of what could happen…
New to Medical Marijuana? READ THIS: Cannabis 101.
Interactions Between Marijuana & Antibiotics
As far as we know, cannabis does not reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics. (Incidentally, cannabis actually has antibacterial properties as well.)
However, because cannabis can increase the blood levels of some medicines, it can also increase the risk of side-effects. For most people this increase is not significant, but for some it can be.
It has a genetic component and so effects vary from person-to-person. Maybe your best friend, Sue, didn’t have an issue, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the same will hold true for you.
The thing is, Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) differs genetically, so you and Sue might have different genetic expressions. Which means medications might be processed differently and thus result in different reactions.
Cytochrome CYP450
Cytochrome P450 is the metabolic pathway in the liver that metabolizes cannabinoids. This is the same metabolic pathway many medications (including some some antibiotics).
Taking More Than One Medication Can Cause the Same Issue
It should be noted that medication interactions due to the CYP450 pathway are common. Every day, patients are prescribed numerous medications that all utilize the same pathway without consideration of overtaxing the system. The use of multiple prescription medications can present the same issues as combining marijuana with prescription medication.
Conclusion
Yes, cannabis can interact with some antibiotics, but usually, it’s insignificant. There’s no documented evidence of a dangerous drug interaction. However using cannabis may increase the risk of side effects from some medications (and that can be unpleasant and theoretically dangerous). As far as we know, cannabis does not decrease the effectiveness of antibiotics and research suggests it may act as an antibiotic itself.
Patients who choose to combine marijuana and antibiotics should be aware of the potential side-effects of all medications prescribed. As always, medication use, including medical marijuana, should be discussed with your licensed healthcare provider.
I’m in love with this pretty bong, so I’m selling it in my pipe shop.