Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is extensively studied for its potential health benefits and medical uses. While some of its aspects are yet to be proven scientifically, CBD already shows potential for its skincare, pain relief, and stress relief benefits. And if you have difficulties sleeping, many people recommend adding CBD to your routine.
While we can’t conclusively prove all of CBD’s benefits, we do know that it’s a safe, non-psychoactive way to approach several conditions. And while that’s generally true, CBD does have its fair share of potentially concerning effects that arise from its interaction with various systems in your body. Particularly, medical experts have concerns about its blood-thinning capabilities. While multiple studies suggest CBD may contribute to blood thinning, the big question remains: Is CBD a blood thinner?
Blood thinners are medications, taken orally or intravenously, to prevent blood clots from forming. Clots can block the flow of blood to your heart, brain, and lungs. While blood clotting is a vital process in your body, too much clotting can trigger potentially dangerous complications.
Different blood thinners work differently; some thin the blood by preventing blood cells from sticking together in your blood vessels. However, most blood thinners are antiplatelets and anticoagulants, meaning that they work by increasing the time it takes for blood clots to form. Some common anticoagulant blood thinners are Warfarin, Heparin, and Enoxaparin.
Different enzyme systems metabolize different medications in your body. Specifically, most medications are metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 system, commonly known as the CYP450 system. This system of enzymes is found within your liver; it’s responsible for metabolizing and processing the chemicals that are contained in most medications. This system contains approximately 50 distinct enzymes that address your blood’s workings. The CYP450 system is essential when it comes to drug prescription and establishing the right dosages.
Full-spectrum CBD products such as CBD oil contain a range of cannabinoids and terpenes but have a THC concentration of 0.3% or less. As such, these products contain traces of CBN and THC alongside CBD. In-vitro tests conducted to establish the effect of a cannabis extract on thrombin (enzyme in the blood that causes clotting) activity gave an IC50 value of ~9 mg/ml compared to ~2 mg/ml for THC. This means that CBD has a greater effect on your body’s clotting system than THC does.
In a separate study, researchers used a cannabis extract to treat obese and lean lab rats. Results indicated that half of the clotting times recorded were two times greater than the control groups (rats that were not treated with the cannabis extract). These studies indicated that the cannabinoids CBD, THC, and CBN have an anticoagulant effect.
Other studies have also indicated that CBD oil affects anticoagulants and platelets by inhibiting their production, thereby increasing blood clotting times.
Studies suggest an interaction between CBD and Warfarin, the most common anticoagulant on the market. The CYP450 system largely metabolizes Warfarin, and CBD appears to inhibit enzymes belonging to this class. This is because it competes as a substrate for the CYP450 system, which may inhibit the system’s activity.
Specifically, CBD may act as a potent competitive inhibitor for all the enzymes in the CYP450 system, which may cause Warfarin to stay in your bloodstream for too long since its breakdown is impaired. As such, taking CBD may increase Warfarin plasma concentration in your body, as well as the INR (time taken for your blood to clot). This could potentially cause bleeding complications.
Blood thinners are a common prescription for people with various medical conditions. And many people turn to CBD oil for relief of some symptoms from chronic medical conditions. While individuals may take these two substances for different reasons, you must be extremely cautious, since not all blood interacts positively with CBD.
Now, we aren’t telling you to throw away your CBD if you are taking blood thinners: instead, you must consult your doctor if you wish to use CBD products.
Many anticoagulants can cause prolonged bleeding, unusual bruising, and gum bleeding. But certain medications such as Dabigatran, Edoxaban, and Heparin have no known interaction with CBD. Still, the effects of combining these medications and CBD is still unclear. Seeking your doctor’s advice before using CBD and blood thinners together, therefore, may prevent any unexpected side effects.
Essentially, CBD can have an additive or synergistic effect with blood thinners. “Additive” would mean that the resultant effect of using the substances together is the combined power of their individual effects. On the other hand, “synergistic” would mean that using the substances together would have a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects. That means that CBD could effectively increase the potency of your prescribed blood thinner, which could be dangerous.
You may ask why it is important to consult your doctor before using an anticoagulant together with CBD. Prescribed medications are absorbed differently by your body and may respond differently when combined with other substances, such as CBD. Your doctor will help you create a viable plan of using the two together, most likely by adjusting your daily intake of CBD. But keep in mind that your doctor may also tell you to avoid CBD entirely. And you should follow all professional medical advice when it comes to your CBD regimen.
Provided an anticoagulant isn’t metabolized by your CYP450 system (which also metabolizes CBD), there is a possibility that it can be used together with CBD without causing undesirable effects such as prolonged bleeding. Potentially acceptable anticoagulants include Apixaban and Rivaroxaban.
Dabigatran is another oral anticoagulant that isn’t metabolized through the CYP450 system. What’s more, this blood thinner is one of the few identified with no drug-drug or drug-food interactions. It can be considered a viable substitute for Warfarin. Nevertheless, you should always consult a health practitioner before using any anticoagulant alongside CBD, even a Warfarin substitute.
Now, even if your doctor clears CBD use with blood thinners, the safest approach is to start with a lower than recommended dose for your particular CBD product. If medically permitted, you can increase the dosage gradually, with time, if necessary to achieve your desired effects. Factors such as weight, health, and general tolerance to medication are all variables to consider if you wish to add CBD to your medication regimen.
CBD products can be taken in several ways. CBD oil can be taken through sublingual administration (placing under the tongue), vaping, or capsules. Your doctor will help you evaluate the various forms of CBD administration and establish one that is likely to cause the least effect when combined with blood thinners.
Depending on your prescribed blood thinner, you may experience various side effects after CBD use. For blood thinners whose interaction with CBD is known (such as Warfarin), undesirable side effects are more likely to occur. Some of these include:
These side effects are serious and require immediate medical attention.
Other mild or less serious side effects including:
Currently, conclusive studies indicate that CBD can be used in place of anticoagulants such as Warfarin. As such, it would be right to say that CBD is not a medically-sanctioned blood thinner. Rat studies indicate CBD’s possible anticoagulant effects. But these studies only validate the anticoagulant activity of cannabinoids, such as cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Given the limited studies on its anticoagulant activity, CBD cannot be termed as a blood thinner. As such, you should consult a medical practitioner before considering CBD as a possible replacement for any blood-thinning drug. You must also be aware of the possible side effects that may arise from adding CBD to your medication routine. While it may still be beneficial to use CBD products alongside blood thinners, only your doctor can determine the safety of this plan. And, even if you’re allowed to add CBD to your routine, you must consider your health, weight, and the dosage of the CBD product to be used before starting a new routine.
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