Understanding the Grapefruit Rule for CBD Medication Interactions

Though CBD is a natural element, it’s important to ensure it matches your needs – after all, you want to avoid potential drug interactions. Baked Goods explains below.  

About CBD Medication Interactions

CBD has been embraced for its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, mood-enhancing effects. But there’s a chance it can alter the side effects and efficacy of other ingested medications.

Your body has an enzyme called CYP3A4. Roughly 60% of prescription medications are metabolized with this enzyme. Coincidentally, your body uses CYP3A4 to absorb CBD. “Interaction of these drugs with CYP3A4 leads to slower CBD degradation and can consequently lead to higher CBD levels that are pharmaceutically active for long periods of time,” confirms the Journal of General Internal Medicine. “In contrast, phenobarbital, rifampicin, carbamazepine, and phenytoin induce CYP3A4, causing reduced CBD bioavailability.”

We urge you to discuss CBD use with your health practitioner or pharmacist, especially for determining any risks for drug interactions. And if you want to further understand CBD’s interactions with drugs, consider learning about the “grapefruit rule”.

Understanding the “Grapefruit Rule”

For some medications, you’re instructed to avoid grapefruit. This is because the fruit interacts with over 80 drugs!

Grapefruit contains furanocoumarins, which are chemicals that can slow down the absorption of medications. Decelerating this absorption/metabolism is concerning, as it may lead to having more medication in the body than what you originally aimed for. “An increased level of a medication in your system could exaggerate its effects, including unwanted or harmful side effects,” confirms Healthline.

Bottom line: If the grapefruit rule applies to your current medication use, it’s best to avoid taking CBD.

Discover CBD with Baked Goods

If you do happen to get clearance to try CBD, we invite you to check out our Baked Goods Beginner CBD Coconut Oil. It’s half of the size of our standard 30mL sublingual oils, so you don’t need to worry about wasting leftover product! This beginner product gives you the opportunity to take CBD for a ‘test drive’, especially for determining your initial dosages.

Education is key to helping us make healthy decisions. As a gentle reminder, please see your healthcare provider before trying CBD. And don’t forget to read more from the Baked Goods blog!  Start now with “Should I take CBD with food?”

NOTE: This article is not an alternative to formal medical advice and should not be relied on for diagnosing or treating your health condition or concerns. This post is published solely for the purpose of education. Please see your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your wellness or visit a nearby hospital if you require emergency help.

Sources

https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-and-drug-interactions-what-you-need-to-know

Balachandran, P., Elsohly, M., & Hill, K. P. (2021). Cannabidiol Interactions with Medications, Illicit Substances, and Alcohol: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 36(7), 2074. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06504-8