Cannabis Interaction with Other Drugs
1. Drugs containing propoxyphene
Back in 2010, the opioid painkiller propoxyphene was withdrawn from the
U.S. market. The compound is known to be toxic to the heart, even in doses
formerly considered therapeutic.However, if you happen to have any
leftover propoxyphene medications, it is best to not use them. It’s also
unwise to mix them with cannabis.
Drugs that contain propoxyphene include:
Balacet
Darvon (Compound 32, Compound 65, N)
Darvoset (N 100, A500, N 50)
PC-Cap
PP-Cap
Propacet 100
Propoxyphene Compound 65
Trycet
Wygesic
Symptoms to watch for:
Oversedation
Dizziness
Confusion
Difficulty concentrating
Impaired judgement
Impaired motor skills
Impaired thinking
These symptoms may be worse in the elderly.
2. Drugs that contain buprenorphine
Ironically, buprenorphine is an opioid pain medication that is also used
to treat opioid addiction. As an opioid, this drug is also thought to have
a high potential for addiction.In high doses, this drug can also cause
respiratory distress, coma, and death. When combined with cannabis, the
risk of these things increases, since both substances depress the central
nervous system. Both buprenorphine and cannabis are sedatives which means
the chance of being overly sedated with this combination is high.
Common drugs that contain buprenorphine include:
Butrans
Belbuca
Bunavail
Buprenex
Probuphine
Suboxone
Subutex
Zubslov
Some symptoms to watch for include:
Excessive sedation
Respiratory problems
Inability to stay awake
Difficulty controlling motor function
Slowed speech
Inability to perform cognitive tasks
Slowed or irregular heartbeat
If you have mixed buprenorphine and cannabis and are experiencing these
symptoms, call for emergency help.
3. Drugs that contain levomethadyl acetate
Levomethadyl acetate is synthetic opioid painkiller similar to methadone.
This drug is sold under the brand name Orlaam. Like other painkillers,
this drug can cause some sedation. Mixing Orlaam with cannabis can be so
sedative that it is uncomfortable and may even be physically dangerous.
Symptoms to watch for include:
Drowsiness or oversedation
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Confusion
Depression
Slow, shallow breathing
Poor motor coordination
Impaired thinking
Impaired judgement
4. Beta blockers
It’s generally thought that those with heart conditions should be
extremely cautious with cannabis. Cannabis can cause blood pressure levels
to fluctuate and heart rate, meaning that it might make some more
sensitive to a heart attack. This is especially true for novice consumers.
In regulars, cannabis may slow heart rate.Those taking beta blockers or
other blood pressure medications should be particularly cautious, as both
substances can have opposite effects on heart rate. Beta blockers reduce
blood pressure but slow heart rate. In regular consumers, there’s a chance
that cannabis may amplify the effects of beta blockers by having an
additive effect on slowing heartbeat. Either way, it’s a tricky mix.
Common beta blockers include:
Sectral
Tenormin
Zebeta
Lopressor
Toprol-XL
Corgard
Bystolic
Inderal LA
InnoPran XL
Some symptoms to watch for include:
Feeling faint, fainting
Dizziness
Nausea
Irregular heartbeat
Shallow breathing
Fatigue
Confusion
5. Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are powerful sedatives in their own right. While there are
certainly a lot of people out there who mix benzos with cannabis, this can
make for a powerful and uncomfortable experience. Common benzodiazepines
include:
Ativan
Klonopin
Xanax
Both cannabis and benzodiazepine medications can have strong sedative
effects on the brain, putting patients at risk of oversedation. Both
compounds can have an effect on GABA, a calming neurotransmitter that
dampens excitability in the brain. In general, mixing cannabis and
benzodiazepines should be closely monitored. Similarly, patients may want
to avoid mixing cannabis with other sedative medications like sleeping
pills.
Symptoms to watch for include:
Oversedation
Slowed or slurred speech
Slowed motor skills
Driving impairment
Cognitive impairment
Constipation
6. SSRIs
Thus far, only minor interactions are noted for mixing cannabis with some
of the most common SSRIs. Some evidence suggests that cannabis compounds
may increase the effect of some SSRIs, like Prozac. Those with manic
depression (bipolar disorder) or at risk for manic depression have reason
to be more mindful of potential mood alterations when mixing these two
types of medications.Both cannabis and SSRIs also increase serotonin.
There is a potential risk developing sudden serotonin syndrome when
combining these two drugs, but firm research on the subject is needed.
Some common SSRIs include,
Lexapro
Prozac
Zoloft
Paxil
Symptoms to watch for:
Difficulty sleeping
Symptoms of mania
Agitation
Anxiety
Excessive paranoia
Rapid heart rate
Headache
Gastrointestinal distress
Mood variability and mood swings
7. SNRIs
Those taking another class of antidepressant drugs, SNRIs, may need to be
mindful of cannabis consumption. Both SNRIs and cannabis can cause
serotonin fluctuations, which may make you more likely to develop sudden
serotonin syndrome or have other unwanted mood side effects. Further, some
cannabis compounds may increase blood concentrations of antidepressant
drugs. Though, there is little research on this topic. SNRI’s are also
used to treat nerve pain.Some common SNRIs include:
Effexor
Cymbalta
Pristiq
Symptoms to watch for include:
Memory impairment
Confusion
Agitation
Paranoia
Rapid heart rate
Changes in blood pressure
Headache
Muscle twitching
Gastrointestinal distress
8. Antipsychotic medications
There is some evidence to suggest that cannabis may heighten the effect of
certain antipsychotic drugs, like Seroquel and Abilify. Though, the
significance of this is unknown. Some common antipsychotic medications
include:
Seroquel
Abilify
Clozaril
Geodon
Zyprexa
Symptoms to watch for:
Excessive sedation
Slow motor skills
Decreased cognitive function
Confusion
Impaired driving
9. Sodium oxybate
Sodium oxybate is an anti-sleep medication that is often used to treat
narcolepsy. When combined with cannabis, patients may risk depressing the
central nervous system a little too much.
In the most severe cases, this may contribute to coma. Some symptoms to
watch for include:
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Depression
Low blood pressure
Shallow breathing
Difficulty thinking
Impaired judgement
Impaired motor function