Cannabidiol is a chemical compound that naturally occurs in the cannabis plant. It provides potential therapeutic benefits and may be used in various forms such as oils, edibles, and topical products. It has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its potential benefits, but it is important to understand any potential interactions that may occur when supplementing with this compound.
Potential Interactions between CBD and Supplements
While CBD doesn’t have the same intoxicating effects as its infamous cousin THC, it does have the potential to interact with other drugs and supplements. Before trying these nootropics for the first time, it’s important to understand how supplements may interact with CBD and its potential side effects.
It may interact with certain anti-anxiety medicines, sleep medications, and anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol. In addition to prescription medicines, you will want to pay special attention to herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications since many herbs can cause negative reactions when combined with CBD. Supplements like St. John’s wort or Ginkgo biloba can be particularly problematic when taken alongside CBD products so if you are using these try not to take them at the same time.
Possible Side Effects
Some of the possible side effects that you should consider when taking CBD and supplements in combination include:
- Increased anxiety: Taking higher doses of either supplement can increase anxiety levels in some people, so it is important to talk to your doctor about what dosage would be best for you before starting a regimen.
- Altered Blood Pressure: Taking CBD along with another supplement could potentially cause changes in your blood pressure or heart rate due to the influence of both on the same system. Make sure you monitor your blood pressure regularly and speak with your physician if you experience any drastic changes.
- Affected drug metabolism: In some cases, medications can negatively affect the body’s ability to metabolize drugs and therefore potentially increase their potency or the amount that is absorbed into the body.
How to Minimize the Risk
There are various steps you can take in order to minimize the risk of interaction between CBD and supplements:
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplements while using CBD. Your healthcare practitioner should be able to provide advice on any potential interactions or problems that could arise from mixing the two.
- Read the label: If a supplement contains compounds like silymarin or caffeine, make sure you look at the label before taking it as this could lead to dangerous interactions with CBD.
- Do not exceed the suggested dose: For some health conditions, people might need a higher dose of some ingredients like turmeric or vitamins C and E but doing so might increase the chance of experiencing adverse effects from interaction with CBD.
- Monitor your health: Some people may experience fatigue from taking too high an amount of supplements at once so it’s important to monitor your health closely when starting either one for the first time. Remember that some symptoms may take multiple days for them to become apparent so do not hesitate to contact your doctor if anything feels off after starting either a supplement or CBD product.
Conclusion
To avoid any interactions or side effects, it is always best to speak to your doctor first before adding any supplement, including CBD, into your daily routine. There may be underlying factors that could cause the interaction between this and another substance to be contraindicated.
