The legalization of medical and recreational cannabis throughout the United States has inspired many questions regarding how it interacts with other medications. Consumers may worry about taking cannabis and antibiotics at the same time, wondering if marijuana use will reduce the effects of antibiotic medicines. Let’s explore this topic to explain if you can combine cannabis with antibiotics.
At LeafMed, we provide educational resources to teach you about using cannabis. We cover a wide variety of topics, including “What can medical cannabis be used for?”
Can You Mix Cannabis with Antibiotics?
If you’re looking for a quick answer, current research shows no negative interactions associated with consuming cannabis and antibiotics together. While taking antibiotics may interfere with other medications and vice versa, marijuana use doesn’t seem to interact with or negate the effects of antibiotics.
What Are Antibiotics?
Medical professionals prescribe antibiotics to patients with bacterial infections. A variety of bacteria types can infect various parts of the body, causing conditions like urinary tract infections, bacterial pneumonia, and some skin infections. Doctors prescribe antibiotics to help patients fight off these live microorganisms.
Some patients wonder why they can’t take antibiotics to help with a virus, and the short answer is this: viruses, unlike bacteria, are not alive. Consider the word itself: anti (against) bio (life). Antibiotics fight off live bacteria that cause infections, not viruses, which are non-living infectious microbes.
Common antibiotics prescribed by licensed physicians include but aren’t limited to:
- Amoxicillin
- Azithromycin
- Cephalexin
- Clindamycin
- Doxycycline
- Metronidazole
- Levofloxacin
A doctor may also prescribe combination antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and clavulanate or sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
Does Cannabis Interact with Antibiotic Medication?
The potential interactions between cannabis and various medications require further study, but current research suggests no significant adverse effects exist when taking cannabis and antibiotics. The only notable interaction involves consuming CBD with the antibiotic rifampin, which decreases CBD bioavailability.
Consuming cannabis may actually help the body fight off infection-causing bacteria. Studies show significant antibacterial activity in various phytocannabinoids, especially against MRSA strains of bacteria with antibiotic resistance.
According to the current research, taking cannabis and antibiotics at the same time shouldn’t negatively impact the medication’s effect. Taking your antibiotics as prescribed for the full course should effectively fight off the harmful bacteria, even if you take them with cannabis.
However, discuss your marijuana use with your doctor before starting antibiotics or any other medication for a professional opinion based on your unique situation and health.
Does Cannabis Interact with Other Medications?
Like the science on cannabis and antibiotic interactions, cannabis’s potential effect while taking other medications also requires further investigation. According to researchers from Penn State College of Medicine, many medications may have drug-drug interactions with cannabis. Medical professionals from Penn State compiled this list of medications that may not function correctly if taken with cannabinoids.
If you take any prescription medications or visit your doctor to discuss new symptoms, it’s essential to answer questions about marijuana use accurately. Whether or not you have a medical cannabis card, your doctor needs to know about any cannabinoid consumption, including CBD and hemp products, to prevent adverse effects from a drug-drug interaction.
Make LeafMed Your Medical Cannabis Source in Mississippi
Whether you use medical marijuana for inflammation, chronic pain, seizures, or another condition, you need a reliable place to get your medicine. LeafMed is a doctor-owned Mississippi dispensary located in Gulfport, Bay St. Louis, and Vicksburg, MS. Our selection of medical cannabis products includes flower, edibles, vaping cartridges, topicals, and pre-rolls.
If you’re unsure which type of product to purchase because you’re taking antibiotic medication, talk to our LeafTech Counselors about cannabis and antibiotics. We’re happy to answer questions about taking medical marijuana with other medicines.
Visit one of our Mississippi locations today to purchase high-quality medical cannabis products. Our physician-owned dispensaries have the blends you need for relief from chronic pain, severe nausea, and more.