What happens when alcohol is combined with CBD?
In this article, we will explain what happens in the body when CBD is mixed with alcohol, what health risks it can pose and what research says about it. CBD does not interact significantly with alcohol. Most studies to date have shown little difference between groups of people drinking alcohol in combination with or without taking CBD.
However, the combination of these substances can cause negative side effects in some people. The most common side effects are excessive sleepiness or low blood pressure (which can cause dizziness or fainting).
Many people use CBD to counteract the negative side effects of alcohol or to treat headaches and nausea from a hangover the next morning.
The effects of CBD and alcohol include:
- You may feel more tired or sleepy
- A drop in blood pressure (dizziness or photophobia) may occur
- CBD may prevent some of the side effects of alcohol consumption (nausea and cell damage)
The effects of CBD and alcohol
CBD (cannabidiol) is the primary active ingredient in cannabis plants. It is non-psychoactive, which means that it does not affect sobriety in any amount. People use CBD in the form of oils, capsules, chewing gummies, and vaping products to treat chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, and many other ailments.
The most common reason for mixing CBD with alcohol is an indirect reason. You can take CBD to manage your symptoms and then go for a few drinks, inadvertently mixing the two compounds together. Some people deliberately take CBD alongside alcohol to prevent unwanted side effects from drinking - such as nausea or headaches
Some studies even suggest that CBD may lower blood alcohol levels, but these results are speculative at best.
1. CBD and alcohol can make you drowsy
CBD and alcohol share many similarities when it comes to their action profile. Both drugs are classified as central nervous system relaxants, which means that they force the brain and nervous system to relax.
Too much relaxation can lead to side effects such as sedation or fatigue. When CBD is mixed with alcohol or other relaxants, they can enhance each other's effects and exert a much stronger relaxing effect on the body. This can be beneficial for people who want to improve the quality of their sleep.
One study found that 72 participants taking CBD at a dose of 25 to 75 mg for a month experienced significant improvements in sleep quality. Other studies have found similar results for drinking alcohol. One study looked at the effects of alcohol on sleep in depth, and found that small doses of alcohol (1-2 standard drinks) led to improved quality in the first half of sleep.
The same study found that high doses of alcohol (more than two standard drinks) also improved the quality of the first half of sleep, but had a negative effect on the second half, when most of the REM sleep occurs. Such interaction can also be a disadvantage if you have a few drinks with friends and don't want to fall asleep too early.
2. CBD and alcohol can cause your blood pressure to drop
In a similar way that CBD and alcohol can cause fatigue, they can also cause a drop in blood pressure. Both CBD and alcohol are considered vasodilators, meaning they cause blood vessels to relax and dilate. Think of blood vessels as a garden hose through which water flows.
When you place your thumb on the end of the hose to narrow the hole, the water gushes a much bluer stream. This happens when blood vessels narrow or relax. After removing the thumb and expanding the hole, the pressure drops. This is the effect of CBD and alcohol on vasodilation, which leads to lower blood pressure
When alcohol and CBD are combined, their effects combine to lower blood pressure even more
If this effect is too strong, it can cause pressure to be too low, making it difficult for the heart to pump enough blood and oxygen to the brain. This causes dizziness and dizziness. If the problem is too severe, it can cause fainting.
3. CBD can prevent the side effects of alcohol consumption
Taking CBD oil with alcohol also has some benefits - for example, it relieves nausea or headaches caused by alcohol. Some studies even suggest that CBD may lower blood alcohol levels when drinking.
CBD oil reduces nausea and the urge to vomit
CBD oil is a reliable anti-nausea agent, but only if full-spectrum CBD oil is used. Several cannabinoids in cannabis plants can be used to relieve nausea, but THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the psychoactive component of cannabis, has the most potent effects.
A good full-spectrum CBD oil should contain trace amounts of THC without producing any psychoactive effects. CBD oil containing small amounts of THC provides the highest level of effectiveness in combating alcohol-induced nausea.
CBD and THC work by interacting with CB1 receptors in the brainstem, where nausea reflexes (aptly named the vomiting center) are controlled. These receptors cause the release of serotonin, which inhibits the urge to vomit.
CBD oil can stop headaches
Headaches are a common side effect of drinking alcohol. They usually begin to form when the effects of alcohol consumption wear off, or the next morning when you have a hangover. There are several reasons why alcohol causes headaches
- Magnesium deficiency
- Dehydration
- Vitamin B deficiency
While CBD does not treat any of the underlying causes of alcohol-induced headaches, it can help remove numbness and manage pain
Studies have shown that CBD can reduce headaches in several different categories, including migraines, cluster headaches, intracranial hypertension, and headaches associated with nerve diseases. There are also many anecdotal reports that suggest that CBD may also help with headaches associated with alcohol use.
The best way to prevent headaches from alcohol consumption is to drink plenty of water while drinking, and at the end of the night to take a supplement containing magnesium and vitamin B. Alcohol creates an increased need for these nutrients, which can lead to depletion if they are not replenished by morning.
CBD and blood alcohol levels
Some of the earlier studies (1979) showed that people who took 200 mg of CBD had lower blood alcohol levels than those who took a placebo. Higher blood alcohol levels correlated with higher levels of intoxication, loss of motor control, and changes in cognitive function.
CBD can lower blood alcohol levels by accelerating alcohol metabolism in the liver. It should be noted that the evidence on this issue is quite weak. Animal studies published only in 2018 report no change in blood alcohol concentration between the CBD group and the placebo control group.
More research is needed to find out how CBD affects blood alcohol levels, and you shouldn't rely on this effect as a way to stay under the required limit when drinking.
Can CBD help with alcohol addiction?
Interesting research is being conducted into the potential of CBD to treat alcohol-dependent patients. It is used to treat withdrawal symptoms and suppress cravings by acting on the addiction center in the brain.
Animal studies have shown that rats addicted to alcohol and cocaine given CBD were less interested in searching for drugs. The researchers in this study concluded that CBD could be a useful tool in preventing relapse in recovering alcoholics.
CBD exhibits similar properties in other forms of addiction, including addiction to benzodiazepines, opioids, and stimulants.
Conclusion: Can you mix CBD with alcohol?
Currently, there are no long-term studies on the effects of CBD and alcohol when used together. It is unclear whether this is inherently safe or dangerous.
It is likely that this interaction is different for each person. Some people may experience negative side effects, such as drowsiness or low blood pressure. Others experience positive effects, such as relieving nausea or headaches after alcohol consumption.
If you're going to combine CBD with alcohol, it's best to limit yourself to a smaller dose of each. This will reduce the likelihood of a combination effect that can lead to potentially dangerous side effects such as dizziness or fainting.
Author: Canatura
PHOTO: Shutterstock
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