In our last article, we made it clear that CBD possesses some wonderful therapeutic benefits which can serve to provide relief from one ailment or the other. We also established the fact that CBD oil may trigger some side effects, which will be addressed here.
The interaction of CBD with the endocannabinoid receptors is not without side effects. Every drug or supplement possesses an intended and unintended effect. CBD oil side effects refer to the unintended effects users experience when they consume these oils. The Cannabidiol side effects are triggered by the interaction of CBD with several receptors in the body.
The regulation of internal balance, the interaction with neurotransmitters, the neutralization of free radicals, and many others may tend to produce some side effects including diarrhea, irregular eating habit, weight loss, nausea, inability to sleep, and drug interactions.
It is pertinent to note that CBD only elicits modulatory roles in the body. This means they aid in keeping the body balanced at all times. While CBD can promote healthy sleep, it can also serve to prevent users from falling asleep. This activity is dependent on the time of administration. While daytime CBD dosages aids in keeping the body active and focused, night time dosages serve to promote the release of melatonin and other neurotransmitters responsible for a sound sleep.
The most severe form of side effects produced by CBD is a negative drug interaction. This activity can lead to overdose or prolonged presence of some drugs in the body, thus predisposing users to several other side effects.
What is drug interaction?
Drug interaction is the change in action or potential effects of a drug that is triggered by the simultaneous administration with another drug, beverage, food, or supplement. It is an important factor to be considered before prescribing any medicine. CBD drug interaction, on the other hand, can be described as the negative interaction between CBD and other drugs to reduce their rate of metabolizing in the body.
How does CBD drug interaction occur?
CBD possesses some inhibitory properties on the cytochrome P450 (CYP450). CYP450 is an enzyme responsible for metabolizing drugs like aspirin and warfarin. This reaction proceeds via the following mechanisms.
1. Allosteric modulation:
This involves the changes in the structure of the active site of CYP triggered by the presence of CBD. When the active site of the CYP is altered, it becomes unavailable to receive the incoming drug, thus limiting its rate of metabolism.
2. Altered gene expression:
This is a process whereby CBD can alter the gene encoding a CYP enzyme and, as a result, reduce the total concentration of these enzymes in the cells.
3. Competitive inhibition:
In this mechanism, CBD tends to reduce the absorption of other medications that depend on CYP for activation. In most cases, this occurs when CBD binds to the CYP active site and prevents the incoming drug from accessing it.
Common drugs that can react with CBD
The common drugs that can react with CBD include but are not limited to the following
- Alcohol
- Warfarin
- Valproate
- Clobazam
- Theophylline
