CBD safety needs to be examined. CBD (cannabidiol) a cannabinoid of the hemp plant has made quite a splash in popularity over the past few years. But people are still concerned about its safety and use. As well they should. While CBD is generally safe to use with minimal, if any, side effects, you should still consult your doctor before exploring the wide range of benefits CBD has to offer.
CBD Safety with DRUG INTERACTIONS: What You Should Look Out For

Has your doctor told you not to eat grapefruit with certain medications? If so, you’ll want to pay attention. When you take medication, your body needs to break it down or metabolize it.
There is a family of liver enzymes responsible for breaking down many drugs and toxins inside our bodies called CYP450. The P450 inhibitors will slow, or even stop the chemical action of a cytochrome P450 enzyme by binding with the enzyme before it can do its job. Basically, yielding the drug to be less effective – you do not want that!
Studies are still ongoing regarding the interactions between CBD and specific medications, but one simple rule of thumb is to avoid taking CBD with medications that have a grapefruit warning on the label as both grapefruit and CBD can decrease the activity of the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzymes.
Research has identified MANY substances that can interact with CBD. The list of specific medications is too long to list, so here is a list of medicine categories and groups of drugs to look out for:
Categories of medications that could be problematic
- antibiotics and antimicrobials
- anticancer medications
- antihistamines
- antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)
- blood pressure medications
- blood thinners
- calcium channel blockers
- cholesterol medications
- corticosteroids
- cyclosporine
- erectile dysfunction medications
- GI medications, such as to treat GERD or nausea
- haloperidol
- heart rhythm medications
- immunosuppressants
- macrolides
- mood medications, such as to treat anxiety, depression, or mood disorders
- opioids
- pain medications
- prostate medications
- sildenafil (and other PDES inhibitors)
- SSRIs
- tricyclic antidepressants
Because there is still limited research, I urge you to check with your doctor FIRST before using CBD in any form. Under careful supervision from your doctor, you may still be able to use CBD. He may simply tell you that you will need to separate the time you take your medication from the time you use CBD. But talk with your doctor FIRST!
CBD Safety of Side Effects

While I am happy to say there is not a whole list of possible side effects like you see with most medications, there still are some things to look out for.
If you notice a change in any of the following, contact your physician:
- drowsiness
- nausea
- fatigue
- diarrhea
- dry mouth
- dizziness (high doses of CBD has been known to lower blood pressure)
- liver toxicity (high doses)
CBD Safety Takeaways
ALWAYS speak to your physician FIRST before starting on a CBD oil regimen.
CBD oil is generally safe for most people and tolerated well.
Check the COA’s of the CBD product to make sure it is high-quality and does not contain unwanted toxins (like lead, etc). Get to know the supplier and their processes. Just because your close friend or family member makes it does not mean it is a good, safe, or high-quality product! Make sure the products you buy have been 3rd party lab tested and are clean and pure!
High doses of CBD can damage the liver. Monitor your liver enzymes and look for alternative natural ways to protect the liver.
If you take prescription medication, consult your physician first.
Do your research!
