Dr. Rosado

August 13, 2020

Does CBD interact adversely or negatively with conventional medications? Does CBD interact adversely or negatively with conventional medications like blood pressure medications, antiepileptic medications or medications for heart disease or cholesterol? This is a question I get quite frequently at seminars, in my private practice, as well as through the internet via emails, etc.

The short answer is yes, there can be an interaction between CBD medical cannabis and your conventional medications. Depending on where the medication is metabolized. For example, Keppra, which is a medication that's used for epilepsy, is metabolized in the kidneys and not in the liver. Therefore there is minimal to no interaction between that medication and the CBD or the medical candidates.

However, the majority of the other medications are metabolized in the liver as is CBD and medical cannabis when taken orally. Therefore, to avoid or minimize any negative interaction between the CBD, medical cannabis, and the regular medications, you want to space it between an hour and a half one between them. For example, you can do the CBD:THC or medical cannabis an hour and a half before your regular medications or an hour and a half after the regular medications. Again, remember that's only if you take it orally.

If you are inhaling it, the probability of an adverse reaction is minimal to none. Why? Because the absorption when inhaled is in the lungs and not in the liver. It is metabolized in the liver a week to two weeks later, and the interaction is minimal at best.

So remember there can be negative interactions between CBD medical cannabis and conventional medications only if they are taken simultaneously. So make sure that there's an hour and a half difference between one and the other when taken orally. When taking in via inhalation, it doesn't matter.

Should you have any other questions, reach out to me and my website josephrosado.com or an email at info@josephrosadomd.com.

Until next time, peace