Frequently Asked Questions CBD, Hemp Seed Oil and Blood Thinners
CBD and/or Hemp Seed Oil and Blood Thinners
Inflammation is part of the process that leads to many diseases, including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke, and there is some evidence that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. Other studies have suggested that CBD can have a protective effect on the heart: this has been proven in rats after a heart attack and in mice with some of the heart damage associated with diabetes. But because these studies are often based on findings in a lab or in animals, not in humans, we cannot yet be confident that CBD will benefit the human heart.
There is ongoing research into the use of purer forms of CBD for a variety of conditions, including heart and circulatory diseases and, in particular, diseases of the heart muscle, including myocarditis and some types of cardiomyopathy.
Some of this work is still in animals, and much more research is needed before we can definitively say that CBD can help in this area.
“It’s clear that CBD has potential,” says Professor Sumnall,(Professor in Substance Use at the Public Health Institute, Liverpool England) “but we’re at a very early stage of that research.”
Always talk to your doctor if you’re thinking about taking a CBD product to supplement your existing treatment.
NOTE: If you take blood thinners like Coumadin it is recommended that you DO NOT take oral i.e CBD or Hemp Seed Oil Tincture, Gummies, Soft Gels. They both can interfer with you INR results. Essentially, CBD and Hemp Seed Oil 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 and Hemp Seed Oil 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 and Hemp Seed Oil. 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.
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:
- Prolonged bleeding, including nosebleed, heavy menstrual bleeding, and even internal hemorrhage
- Brown or red urine
- Unusual and frequent bruising
- Black or bloody stool
- Chronic stomach pain
- Headache
- Vomiting blood
- Unusual tiredness, weakness, or dizziness
- Joint pain and discomfort, especially if you’re injured
Other mild or less serious side effects including:
- Diarrhea and loss of appetite
- Fever
Does topical cannabis pain relief cream interact with prescription medications?
The question comes up frequently about patients, on blood thinners, with arthritis who want to use a topical cream.
I'd consider topical cannabis preparations like creams or lotions safe for you. The information you have found regarding cannabis not entering the general circulation when it is applied to the skin is correct. I would anticipate no interaction with medications when used in this manner. Patients have reported subjective benefit from topical cannabis preparations, and as long as the skin is intact I would give these a try without worrying about unwanted effects.
With heavy usage, cannabis can alter how quickly the liver metabolizes certain medications such as warfarin. However with topicals, only negligible amounts of cannabinoids are absorbed into the circulation.
Many patients report topical cannabis to be effective at relieving the symptoms of arthritis. A patient who is on a blood thinner generally will not have problems as penetration of the blood stream barrier will not be broken from most topical CBD products. A very rare, if ever, occurence.
Available For Syndication: CREDIT BYLINE: Article written by Jan Williams, Editor of Infuse Botanicals Newsletter: https://infusebotanicals.com/ - Jan is a Retired Registered Nurse with a specialty in Pain Management and Skincare Treatments Make-up USA LLC © All Rights Reserved.
