Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active compound that has no intoxicating effects and can be used to treat diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, inflammatory disease, and neurological disorders.
Maintaining stable blood pressure is essential for overall health. High/Low blood pressure levels can have long-term consequences for our health and well-being. Whether you're sleeping, browsing the internet, or running a marathon, your body constantly maintains your blood pressure to support your body's minute-to-minute needs.
High blood pressure is considered a silent killer and one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. Sometimes it has been linked to cannabis (CBD). Some people believe that CBD can effectively manage this condition.
To find an answer, we must study how this condition affects people, what blood pressure indicates about your health, and what normal blood pressure looks like.
Does CBD interfere with blood pressure medicine? Does CBD lower heart rate? Can you take CBD if you have low blood pressure?
In this article, we’ll first give an introduction to what blood pressure is, and how CBD can influence it. And which CBD is best for regulating blood pressure?
Understanding Blood Pressure Levels
Blood pressure is defined as the level of pressure exerted by blood against the arterial walls (through which blood flows from the heart to the rest of the body).
Blood pressure has two levels: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
Systolic blood pressure is the amount of pressure in the arteries while the heart is beating.
Diastolic blood pressure is the amount of pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.
If your systolic BP reading is 120 and your diastolic reading is 80, a doctor would record it as 120/80 mm Hg.
Normal Blood Pressure Level
Blood pressure in healthy people should be less than 120/80 mm Hg and greater than 90/60 mm Hg. For a normal reading, your blood pressure level should be within these ranges.
Healthy/Normal blood pressure: 120/80 mmHg
High blood pressure: 120–129 / 80 mmHg
Stage 1 Hypertension: 130-139 / 80–89 mmHg
Stage 2 hypertension: more than 140/90 mmHg
High Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure determines the health of your heart. When your blood pressure rises above normal, it indicates that your heart is working harder than it should. High blood pressure, often known as hypertension, can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Low Blood Pressure
When your blood pressure falls below the usual range, you have hypotension. Hypotension indicates that your heart and body aren't getting enough oxygenated blood, which could be an indication of a more serious health issue.
It's important to note that hypertension (High BP) is more common than hypotension (Low BP), especially in the US.
How Does CBD Affect Blood Pressure?
According to research, CBD may lower high blood pressure and the blood pressure stress response. Many experts believe that a single dose of CBD can affect resting blood pressure and the blood pressure stress response in adults. They discovered that acute CBD therapy reduced patients' resting blood pressure and attenuated their blood pressure stress response.
Several studies have shown that CBD can help reduce other factors that lead to high blood pressure. Anxiety, excessive inflammation, chronic discomfort, chronic stress, and a lack of quality sleep can all contribute to high blood pressure. According to studies, CBD can reduce anxiety, inflammation, discomfort, and stress, and enhance sleep, therefore some experts believe that CBD could also lower blood pressure.
Furthermore, CBD has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation not only in joints and muscles but also in the heart and blood vessels. Reduced inflammation in the heart and blood vessels allows blood to flow more easily through the body, lowering blood pressure.
CBD and Blood Pressure Medications
CBD is unlikely to have major adverse interactions with this class of medications, although there is always the possibility due to their similar effects.
CBD has blood pressure-lowering effects on its own; but, when combined with prescription antihypertensives, blood pressure may drop even further.
We simply want the blood pressure to fall into the healthy range (120/80). If it falls too low, there may not be enough pressure to pump blood to the brain.
When there is insufficient pressure to properly push blood to the brain, we can experience dizziness or lightheadedness. In some cases, it can cause us to faint.
What Medications Does CBD Interfere With?
These drugs can range from heart medications to antibiotics, but not all of them may be affected by CBD-only products (some are only affected by THC).
CBD has the potential to cause significant medication interactions:
A thyroid medication, levothyroxine.
A common blood thinner, warfarin.
A heart rhythm medication, amiodarone.
CBD can interact with other medications for seizures, including clobazam, lamotrigine, and valproate.
CBD and Losartan Interaction
Blood pressure medicines Corey and Losartan can interact with CBD.
When taking both at the same time, there is an increased risk of adverse effects, as well as a decrease in effectiveness in lowering high blood pressure levels.
Although using CBD with Corey (carvedilol) and Losartan is generally safe, you should always consult with a healthcare provider before beginning any new medicine or supplement.
Corey is a drug that is prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. It belongs to the beta blocker class of medications, which work by limiting the effects of specific hormones on the body's blood vessels and heart.
Another prescription medicine used to treat high blood pressure is losartan. It belongs to the angiotensin receptor blocker class of medicines, which work by relaxing blood arteries and reducing blood pressure.
CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound found in the cannabis plant that has medicinal benefits. It is not psychoactive, which means it does not produce the "high feelings" associated with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
Research on possible interactions between CBD and drugs like Corey and Losartan is limited. However, in some cases, CBD can interact with other medications that are metabolized in the body by the cytochrome p450 enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C19, affecting the medication levels in the blood and potentially increasing the risk of side effects.
CBD and Lisinopril
Lisinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor). It is an antihypertensive medication used to treat excessive blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and post-myocardial infarction treatment.
CBD can interact with Lisinopril. They can interact at a low to fairly moderate level. Lisinopril and CBD can interfere and cause blood pressure to drop to extremely low levels. This could result in dizziness, fainting, weakness, and other symptoms.
Cannabidiol (CBD) and Lisinopril can have an agonistic effect when consumed together. This could induce a sudden drop in blood pressure, increasing the risk of negative effects.
CBD and Amlodipine
CBD is considered to be a safe and well-tolerated substance with few to no known adverse effects. While no conclusive research has been published, it has been proposed that CBD may influence the efficacy of blood pressure medicine in the treatment of hypertension.
Blood pressure medicines have the potential to significantly reduce the efficacy of CBD. CBD is primarily metabolized in the liver by CYP2C19, CYP3A4, and UGT. This can result in interactions with prescription medicines such as amlodipine, buprenorphine, and bupropion.
As a strong CYP3A4 inducer, CBD may reduce the efficacy of amlodipine, buprenorphine, testosterone, zolpidem, and other 3A4 substrates.
FAQ's
Does CBD Lower Heart Rate?
In short, yes.
CBD has been shown in both animal and human studies to alter heart rate. A single dose of CBD can reduce both blood pressure and heart rate.
Does Full Spectrum CBD Lower Blood Pressure?
Full-spectrum CBD contains trace amounts of THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid, it has the ability to reduce or raise your blood pressure.
Can You Take CBD If You Have Low Blood Pressure?
CBD's blood pressure-lowering properties have been identified as one of CBD's medicinal benefits, particularly in people with high blood pressure. However, this impact can be harmful to people who have a history of low blood pressure.
CBD has blood pressure-lowering effects on its own; but, when combined with prescription antihypertensives, blood pressure may drop even further.
So, it’s better to avoid CBD if you have low blood pressure.
How Much CBD Should I Take for Blood Pressure?
There is ongoing research on CBD and blood pressure; however, because CBD has not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of high blood pressure, there is no suggested dose of CBD to treat blood pressure.
If you read that the FDA has authorized CBD, it's more probable that the source is referring to a medicine that has nothing to do with blood pressure. Currently, Epidiolex is the only FDA-approved CBD medication.
Can You Use CBD Oil if You Have High Blood Pressure?
It is important to maintain healthy blood pressure: it should not be too high or too low. High blood pressure is really problematic. It has the potential to harm your circulatory system, heart, and other essential organs. However, a new study suggests that CBD Oil may be an effective treatment for high blood pressure.
What Prescription Drugs should not be taken with CBD Oil?
CBD can interfere with blood thinner, thyroid medications, and heart rhythm medications. Moreover, CBD can interact with naproxen, tramadol, celecoxib, and tofacitinib as these are metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450 enzymes.
Which CBD is Best for High Blood Pressure?
According to research, CBD may have antihypertensive properties. If you want to use CBD to lower your blood pressure make sure to do so under the guidance of your doctor.
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Bottom Line
Does CBD interfere with blood pressure medicine?
Blood pressure medicines have the potential to significantly reduce the efficacy of CBD.
Before combining CBD with blood pressure medication, consult your doctor, especially if your blood pressure medicine contains a grapefruit warning.
Some drugs contain a grapefruit warning because grapefruit can inhibit the action of specific enzymes (CYP450) that break down medications. CBD, like grapefruit, can inhibit the action of CYP450 enzymes. Essentially, the way grapefruit and CBD inhibit these enzymes can influence the amount of medication in a person's body, making their dose too weak or too strong.
