Can You Take CBD Oil With Antidepressants - In-Depth Analysis from AskGrowers

According to the recent data review published in the New York Times, nearly 25 million American adults have been taking antidepressants for at least two years. Surprisingly enough, this is a 60% increase since 2010.

Antidepressants are considered to be an effective remedy for depression treatment. These medications help in most cases of moderate, severe, and chronic depression. But there’s one problem, their efficacy as a long-term solution is debated due to unwanted effects and difficulty getting off the medicine.

Hence, scientists have been searching for alternatives to antidepressants. It is suggested that CBD oil shares many valuable qualities with antidepressants but doesn’t produce the same negative side effects. Researchers assume that CBD oil can improve sleep quality, decrease anxiety, and boost mood.

The good news is that some people manage to reduce or even completely remove the use of antidepressants after adjusting to the right dose of CBD oil.

Interactions of Antidepressants and CBD Oil

As mentioned above, CBD oil is well-tolerated by most people as it doesn’t cause adverse side effects. But it can generate side effects when taken together with some medications, which is provoked by the inhibition of the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system.

The function of the cytochrome P-450 system is to break down substances into smaller pieces so the body can process them more easily. Scientists argue that cannabidiol slows down this system, which can cause unpleasant reactions while taking antidepressants because they remain in the body system for a longer period, especially when it comes to oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).

At the same time, there is no evidence that side effects may occur while taking other types of antidepressants, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). But here’s the problem: the effectiveness of antidepressants might be diminished when combined with CBD oil and vice versa.

Read Also: How Does CBD Work

Side Effects of CBD Oil and Antidepressants

Even though adverse reactions are very rare when taking CBD oil and SSRI type antidepressants (like Zoloft, Paxil, Citalopram, Sertraline, Prozac, Wellbutrin, and Lexapro), one should consult a doctor before mixing these two since the effectiveness of medications may be reduced. The same is fair for the combination of hemp oil and SNRI medications, such as Effexor, Venlafaxine, and Cymbalta.

Also, using cannabis oil with TCAs or MAOIs can impose a higher risk of experiencing adverse reactions. The reason is that such groups of antidepressants have demonstrated unfavorable interaction with most medications. According to some user reviews, the combination of Trazodone and CBD oil can help with depression but there is no research evidence to support that claim.

How to Take CBD and Antidepressants Together

One can reach success in combining CBD oil and antidepressant only after a medical consultation with a doctor. To avoid mental health disruption, it is highly recommended to seek professional medical advice. Your healthcare provider must create a treatment plan that will be good for your psychological well-being in the long run.

To reduce the risk of unfavorable side effects from using CBD and antidepressants, people usually start with the minimum dose of CBD and slowly grow it over time. Such an approach will work for monitoring changes and making timely interventions if needed. This way, one can decrease antidepressant strength and increase serotonin levels in a natural way.

Admittedly, using CBD will require some trial and error period. Choosing the right CBD product and dosage needs your effort, but the results will be worth trying.

Switching from Antidepressants to CBD

Switching from antidepressants to CBD is possible only after certain preparation. First, one needs to evaluate their current antidepressant regimen and start titrating down the dose. Note that in case you were prescribed multiple antidepressants, the process may be quite slow. Talk to your physician on a regular basis to make the transition period smoother and reduce withdrawal symptoms, like anger outbursts, sleep disturbances, and drowsiness.

If one doesn't stick to the doctor's recommendations, the symptoms of depression or anxiety may get even worse. Consulting with a professional is especially important if a person has been taking medications for a long time or in high doses. Don't rip antidepressants away suddenly because your body is used to their effects.

Sometimes, people say that they experience shock-like feelings after they stop taking antidepressants. That's why preparation is a vital stage of switching to CBD.

Conclusion

The study shows that CBD causes dopamine boost and helps patients struggling with mood disorders. This substance can work as both a mood stabilizer and mood enhancer, so it has positive effects on depression treatment.

The combination of CBD and antidepressants is commonly used by people with mental health disorders. Although the interaction between these two can diminish the effectiveness of both, patients resort to such treatment in order to replace medications with a natural remedy in the future. Switching from antidepressants to CBD is proven to be an effective way of dealing with depression, but this must be done under the doctor's control only.

Sources

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/07/health/antidepressants-withdrawal-prozac-cymbalta

https://cbdoilreview.org/diseases-conditions/cbd-oil-for-depression/

https://cbdoilreview.org/cbd-cannabidiol/cbd-p-450-enzyme/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/maois/art-20043992