Can You Use Weed While You’re Taking Antibiotics?

Some clinicians believe combining cannabis and antibiotics is harmless or possibly helpful, while others warn it may be risky. All use of cannabis carries potential downsides to consider.

As cannabis — often called weed — becomes legal in more U.S. states, questions about its safety in many situations are increasing.

For example, many people rely on cannabis to ease pain. That leads to a reasonable question: can you safely use cannabis when you’re ill with an infection and have been prescribed antibiotics?

Research on how cannabis affects the body and interacts with drugs is still emerging and incomplete. Findings can be mixed and sometimes confusing. When it comes to whether cannabis is safe alongside antibiotics, experts don’t fully agree.

Read on to understand how weed might influence your antibiotic course and the best approaches for taking these important medicines.

THC versus CBD

THC and CBD are active compounds in cannabis plants, both commonly used to manage pain and stress. Two main distinctions are:

1. CBD typically does not produce a high (except at very large doses), unlike THC.
2. Because of U.S. laws, CBD is often easier to obtain and may cost less than THC. In many states THC remains illegal while CBD products are permitted.

THC and antibiotics

Cannabis produces a range of effects, and many use medical cannabis for chronic pain, digestive troubles, and anxiety relief.

Yet the impact of cannabis on some health conditions is still not well established, since legalization and study of it in the U.S. are relatively recent.

Some evidence suggests using THC alongside antibiotics is generally safe, but research is limited and inconsistent:

• Some studies suggest certain cannabis strains possess antibacterial qualities and could potentially help when treating difficult infections.
• Other reports indicate cannabis may slow how quickly your body processes antibiotics, which could impede antibiotic effectiveness and extend the infection.
• Combining cannabis and antibiotics might also raise the likelihood of side effects from either substance.

It’s also possible that mixing THC and antibiotics has little to no impact in many cases. Much of the current evidence is anecdotal. Overall, it’s wise to be cautious when using THC while on antibiotics.

Monitor your symptoms

Some healthcare providers worry that taking THC with antibiotics could amplify unpleasant side effects. If you use THC while on antibiotics, watch for increased adverse effects and consider stopping THC if you notice any problems.

Possible side effects of THC include:

• paranoia
• depression
• confusion
• behavioral changes
• anxiety
• hallucinations
• memory problems

Common side effects of antibiotics may include:

• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea
• yeast infections

In rare instances, antibiotics can cause serious effects like tendon damage or liver toxicity. These severe outcomes have not been directly tied to combining THC with antibiotics.

Is smoking okay while on antibiotics?

Cigarette smoking can slow recovery and prolong healing, so you may feel worse for longer if you smoke while taking antibiotics. The safety of smoking cannabis during antibiotic treatment remains under study. As with other consumption methods, there isn’t sufficient research to determine safety conclusively.

Use caution and pay attention to how you feel. If you smoke cigarettes or cannabis, discuss this with your doctor so they can advise you while prescribing antibiotics. Physicians won’t report your cannabis use to authorities and can help ensure you receive appropriate care.

CBD and antibiotics

Although CBD is often viewed as a gentler option than THC, it may carry a greater potential for interactions with antibiotics.

CBD can alter how your body metabolizes certain antibiotics by changing liver enzyme activity. This can slow the breakdown of an antibiotic.

Consequently, blood levels of that antibiotic could become higher than intended, increasing the chance of side effects, including serious ones.

However, this area remains largely uninvestigated. More studies are needed to quantify the effect and determine how much CBD is required to produce it, and whether specific antibiotics are more affected than others.

Want to participate in research?

There’s still a lot to learn about cannabis’s effects on the body. If you’d like to help researchers answer these questions, explore ClinicalTrials.gov to see clinical studies seeking participants.

Always discuss joining a trial with your doctor, particularly if it could change your current treatments.

Best practices for taking antibiotics

Follow your prescribed antibiotic regimen carefully and take steps to ensure they work effectively, such as:

• completing the full course of antibiotics, even if you feel better
• avoiding alcohol
• not using fiber supplements
• not taking antibiotics with orange juice or milk
• taking the antibiotic at the same time each day when possible
• limiting excessive sun exposure

If you have questions about dietary or lifestyle factors that might interact with your antibiotic, consult your doctor.

Always tell your doctor about cannabis use

Many people hesitate to disclose cannabis use to their physicians. Despite being legal for recreational use in some states, cannabis can still feel like a sensitive topic.

It’s important to inform your doctor if you use cannabis. You won’t face legal trouble for telling them, regardless of your state. Doctors don’t need this information for legal reasons and cannot lawfully report you just for using cannabis.

They need to know so they can ensure prescribed medications are safe alongside cannabis and provide accurate medical guidance.

Takeaway

Medical knowledge about cannabis and its interactions with other drugs, including antibiotics, is incomplete. The safety of combining cannabis and antibiotics isn’t fully established.

Some clinicians consider it safe and possibly beneficial, while others warn it might heighten the risk of unpleasant or dangerous side effects.

For now, it’s sensible to be cautious: talk with your doctor if you use cannabis while taking antibiotics, monitor yourself for any unusual symptoms, and discontinue cannabis immediately if you experience concerning effects.