Can CBD Be Unsafe?

CBD is becoming well known as a natural product that can provide several benefits in the body. But just like any other medication, it can bring about unwanted side effects. Although these effects tend to be noncritical and minimal in nature, they are worth looking into. To that end, this article will be answering the question, “Can CBD be unsafe?”.

CBD Side Effects

When taking CBD it is possible to experience the following side effects:

Dry Mouth: We’ve all heard of cottonmouth, which is a common side effect of smoking marijuana. It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as dry mouth can occur when taking CBD. This could be a result of the way the CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which can cause an inhibition of salivary secretion. Luckily this condition is easily treated by drinking plenty of water before and during CBD consumption.

A Drop in Blood Pressure: CBD provides a calming effect that can also cause a slight drop in blood pressure. While this is harmless for most people, it can be potentially dangerous for those with low pressure or those who are taking medications to treat low blood pressure. It’s important to note that drops in blood pressure can also lead to light-headedness. If you do experience lightheadedness caused by low blood pressure while taking CBD, you can counteract its effects by consuming a caffeinated beverage as well as drinking water. However, if you’ve been diagnosed with low blood pressure, it is best to consult a doctor before using CBD.

Fatigue: CBD is known for helping people stay awake during the day and inducing sleep at night. The reason it is effective in both capacities is because it works as an adaptogen adjusting to the body’s needs.

However, CBD can work in unpredictable ways. It can make you tired at inopportune times. This can especially be the case if you’ve taken a relatively high dose. To avoid fatigue while taking CBD, start with lower doses until you determine how it will affect you. And if you do start feeling fatigued, avoid operating heavy machinery and/or driving a vehicle.

Decreased Appetite: Decreased appetite is another common side effect associated with CBD. Although this makes CBD efficient for weight loss, it is not recommended for those with eating disorders or those who are looking to gain weight.

On the other hand, CBD has been known to decrease nausea and vomiting in cancer patients which can make them more likely to eat the food they need.

Diarrhea: Diarrhea is another side effect that some experience while taking CBD. Although many people have experienced diarrhea while taking CBD, it is believed that this may not be due to the oil itself but rather by the ingredients used to deliver the CBD oil to the body or flaws during production.

Many companies include other carrier oils in their CBD products including grapeseed oil, emu oil, coconut oil, olive oil or hemp seed oil. Coconut oil, in particular, is known to cause diarrhea.

Diarrhea can also be due to low quality cannabis. If cannabis or hemp is grown in poor soil, undergoes harsh extraction processes or is sourced from multiple locations, it can result in gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea.

In other cases, where CBD is pure and high quality, it can actually be beneficial in treating gastrointestinal issues and is even known for treating symptoms of IBS.

If you are experiencing diarrhea while taking CBD, stop taking it for a day. Then start again using half the dose you were originally using. If you are still experiencing problems, try getting your product from another source.

Other Possible Side Effects: Research has been conducted specifically to determine the side effects of CBD showed that these could also include euphoria, hunger and red eyes. These symptoms are commonly related to THC, but not CBD.

The study pointed out that they did not discriminate between hemp derived CBD and marijuana derived CBD and that this may have made a difference when considering the symptoms that were produced.

Interaction with Other Medications

Now we can see the possible side effects CBD can produce when used on its own. But how does it interact with other medications? Is it safe to mix medications with CBD?

CBD can reduce or increase the effects of certain prescribed medications by interacting with receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, specifically by inhibiting the activity of cytochrome P450.

Cytochrome P450 is a group of liver enzymes that work to break down drugs and toxins that enter the body. CBD inhibits the activity of this enzyme and temporarily deactivates its activity, which can affect the way other compounds are metabolized.

Blood Thinners: CBD can increase the effects of drugs used for blood thinning (warfarin) or drugs with a risk of blood thinning (ibuprofen). It slows down how the body metabolizes these drugs in a way the prolongs their presence in the body. This can lead to an increased risk of bleeding.

Sedatives: Because CBD already causes a calming effect, using it with sedatives may not be the best idea. Although there is no scientific evidence of how it can affect the user, it is best to use caution or completely refrain from using the two together.

Anti-Seizure Medication: Most know CBD to be effective as an anti-seizure treatment. However, a 1992 study found that a low dosage of CBD would not be beneficial, but could actually inhibit the cytochrome P450 enzymes to prolong the concentrations of clobazam and norclobazam which can result in more aggressive seizures.

Chemotherapy Drugs: In a situation that is similar to that of anti-seizure drugs, when using CBD with chemotherapy drugs, the dosage is very important. Many chemotherapy drugs are formulated with the understanding that they will be metabolized at a certain rate. CBD inhibits metabolism, allowing higher concentrations of the drug to enter the bloodstream than intended.

CBD has been shown to be effective in treating cancer-related pain and slow the growth of cancer. However, if it combined with a chemotherapy treatment, the amount and type of cancer medication administered must account for the presence of CBD.

CBD and Other Medications: When thinking of how CBD works in the system, it is similar to the way grapefruit juice works as both are cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibitors. In fact, when looking at certain medical labels, you may see warnings that the medication should not be taken with grapefruit juice (CBD is rarely referenced).

Drugs.com has released a list of drugs that should not be combined with grapefruit juice and hence, may not be best off when combined with CBD. These include the following:

• alprazolam
• amiodarone
• atorvastatin
• carbamazepine
• cilostazol
• clarithromycin
• colchicine
• dronedarone
• erythromycin
• felodipine
• fentanyl
• fentanyl transdermal system
• fexofenadine
• indinavir
• loratadine
• losartan
• lovastatin
• nilotinib
• pazopanib
• pimozide
• ranolazine
• saquinavir
• sildenafil
• simvastatin
• tadalafil
• vardenafil
• verapamil

However, it is important to note that this is not a complete list of all drugs that could be ineffective when used with CBD and/or grapefruit juice. It is always suggested to consult a physician before combining the two in any case.

Quality of CBD

Even though CBD is becoming more widely accepted, it’s still associated with THC which is illegal in many states and countries due to its mind-altering effects.

Since it carries this stigma, the market is still highly unregulated. This means that there are many companies making false claims about their products. CBD could be mixed with questionable ingredients and may not be as pure and high quality as companies claim.

Because the CBD you are buying may not be pure, it may contain ingredients that bring on unpleasant side effects. To prevent this, make sure you are buying CBD from a trusted supplier that’s been in the business for a few years, sells lab tested products and is backed by customer reviews.

The Broad Spectrum Effect

CBD can come in isolate form or it can be mixed with other cannabinoids or ingredients to provide what is known as a broad-spectrum effect. This means that the other ingredients in the product can enhance the benefits CBD provides.

Often, broad-spectrum CBD is mixed with THC. THC is often present in trace amounts, so it will not cause any mind-altering effects that the cannabinoid is often associated with. However, if you are drug tested often, it may cause your results to show up positive. This is another negative effect of taking CBD that all users should be aware of.

All Things Considered…

While it’s true that CBD is not perfect and could bring on adverse side effects, these side effects tend to be non-serious in nature. This makes it a preferred treatment compared to many other medications. Keeping that in mind, it is always best to talk to a doctor before taking CBD, especially if you have a pre-existing condition that could be affected by taking the compound. Here’s wishing you good luck and safe dosing!