Can you take CBD oil with Citalopram? (A guide)

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In this brief guide, we will look at the questions “Can you take CBD oil with Citalopram?”, as well some other questions regarding interactions between antidepressants like Wellbutrin or Sertraline, and we will also look at some user experience reviews from Citalopram Reddit.

Can you take CBD oil with Citalopram?

No, you should not take CBD oil with Citalopram as this interaction can cause problems in the system as well as reduce the efficacy of citalopram.

It has been seen that taking CBD oil with citalopram can lead to side effects like dizziness, sweating, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.

Citalopram is a commonly prescribed antidepressant, and it belongs to the class of antidepressants known as Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) which means that it works on the serotonin receptors in the brain to improve the condition of depression.

Citalopram may also be taken in cases of panic attacks sometimes, but for the most part it is taken in depression.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

CBD oil, or Cannabidiol Oil is a natural remedy for various things and it is in parts coconut or other natural oils mixed with oil extracted from cannabis plants, and it may be taken in different ways, like inhalation or through the mouth.

Many people have maintained that CBD oil helps with depression and anxiety conditions, and that it is a better substitute for antidepressants as it does not cause any of the side effects.

However, what is important to note in this case is that CBD oil has not been proven to be effective in anxiety or depression for sure, and the lack of evidence can be very dangerous for someone that takes a substance because it may not be known how it might affect their unique conditions.

Another thing to be wary of when taking something unverified like CBD oil with another drug that does the same thing, is the adverse reactions that can happen in the system, which is why so many people also say that you should not take CBD oil and Citalopram together.

Can you take CBD oil with Antidepressants?

It is not recommended that you take CBD oil with antidepressants as there is a chance that CBD oil will affect your liver and in the process the processing of antidepressants in your body can become hampered.

Another possibility is that CBD oil can also affect the serotonin presence in your body, which is exactly what antidepressants also treat, and this can lead to an imbalance that may make your depression worse, or even cause some side effects.

Can I take CBD and Sertraline?

No, ideally you should not take CBD and Sertraline together as this interaction can cause problems like dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating, which are common side effects when cannabidiol (CBD) is taken with an antidepressant like Sertraline.


Sertraline is better known as Zoloft, and is a commonly prescribed medicine for Depression, and it works by affecting the serotonin receptors in the brain, which then causes the uplifting of mood and energy and helps the person feel better.

Some people think that CBD oil can help to do the same thing but is more herbal and natural in nature which is why people also assume that it may be better, but for one thing, there have been no evidence based trials regarding the role of CBD oil in making anxiety or depression better and secondly, it can cause adverse reactions in people as well.

CBD oil also contains the same THC that other cannabinoid substances contain, which means that there can still be some risk of addiction to it in some people, especially those who may be at risk for addiction.

The interaction of CBD with sertraline is also not recommended because it may also cause impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination.

Does CBD Cause Serotonin Syndrome?

There have not been any definite reports about CBD causing Serotonin Syndrome, but since serotonin syndrome is a high likelihood with any medication or chemical that affects the serotonin pathways, it is possible.

Most people assume that CBD can cause serotonin syndrome because it is caused sometimes by antidepressants, which do help raise the levels of serotonin in the blood but sometimes they may go overboard and cause a serotonin storm instead.

The symptoms of serotonin syndrome are as follows:

  • Agitation or restlessness
  • Confusion
  • Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure
  • Dilated pupils
  • Loss of muscle coordination or twitching muscles
  • Muscle rigidity
  • Heavy sweating
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Shivering
  • Goosebumps

In some cases, the effects of consuming too much CBD oil may also look like the symptoms of serotonin syndrome, particularly if it is inhaled or taken by vape pen.

CBD and Citalopram Reddit

To help you decide what happens if one takes CBD and Citalopram, here are some user experiences from Reddit:

“I wouldn’t advise using both of them simultaneously… Although the research was made with synthetic CBD, it is always recommended to be careful. Consuming both can lead to unpredictable effects of medication (more, less or same effect with the possibility of side effects).

If she takes CBD only once, there is a big chance that she won’t feel anything as the endocannabinoid system can take up to 5 (or 6) weeks to balance itself and start working as it should…tell her to be more persistent with CBD… I’m not a doctor, so I wouldn’t know if the citalopram is vital for her, but if it’s not, definitely try CBD…

Projectcbd.org and ghmedical.com are two great sites with lots of useful info.”

“I am currently weaning off of Citalopram, (2nd try); I am down to 20 mg daily from 60 mg. I’m using 50 mg CBD oil twice daily. I’m not experiencing any withdrawal symptoms like the 1st time I tried quitting Citalopram.”

“I’m currently tapering off citalopram (was 20 mg now 5 mg), for me it’s been a tough ride, and still is. I’ve been using CBD for about 2 months, I think it does interact in a bad way with it but it’s hard to tell if that’s just the effect of coming off meds. Positives are it helps me sleep, negatives is I get a little brain-sloppy sometimes from it and sometimes my heart beats harder (again meds withdrawal problems maybe??)

Everyone reacts differently, I would say give it a go but as the saying goes.. Start low and go slow. Take one drop on an evening for a week then increase if there are no effects.”

“I’ve done little research and found out that CBD and Citalopram both affect the enzymes CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 which can make the Citalopram break down slower, making it stronger and last longer. She will start with 5 mg CBD a day on Monday while   tapering down on citalopram.

It’s not dangerous to mix but it can cause side effects (similar to when you take higher doses of Citalopram) which is the reason why she wants to stop taking Citalopram for. The side effects of that medication can be horrible, especially if you try to quit cold turkey, and she is pretty tired of side effects now after taking antidepressants for many years.”

“I’m on 40 mg in the morning. Granted, I’ve only been taking it for a couple of days now and at a low dose, so I might not be feeling things yet, but I am someone who is taking both.

Like what Dr. Ranga Krishna (doctor who frequents the sub) said to me when I asked if you plan to use it to monitor your behavior and any possible side effects very closely. But, if possible, also consult your local doctors. None of mine were of help, it might be different for you.”

“I take 10 mg of citalopram a day and 80 mg of CBD and have never had a problem. I’m also using the CBD and 5-HTP to wean myself off the citalopram, since it’s a mitochondrial toxin.

Keep in mind, every person is different, I encourage you to titrate up to a higher dose of CBD to see how it affects you.”

“I used to take Celexa. I had a horrible time coming off of it, I had some major (MAJOR!) problems with brain zaps that lasted about two months. I cringe even thinking about it. At the time, smoking cannabis helped (full THC/CBD). If I wasn’t medicated with cannabis, it was really rough, I hope you don’t have the same symptoms I did, and I am glad I am off of that stuff and will never again take it and caution anyone against it. Google “celexa brain zaps” and you will see what I mean.

That said, I have an intuitive feeling that CBD would help with something like that, but I’m not positive.”

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we looked at the questions “Can you take CBD oil with Citalopram?”, as well some other questions regarding interactions between antidepressants like Wellbutrin or Sertraline, and we also looked at some user experience reviews from Citalopram Reddit.

People also wonder if you can mix citalopram with weed.

If you are currently taking citalopram or any other antidepressants and want to take CBD oil at the same time, you should probably do the adequate research before you do so as there can sometimes be problematic interactions between the two.

Antidepressants can cause specific side effects, which means that one needs to be careful about the things that you take at the same time.

Lastly, if you have any questions like “Can you take CBD oil with Citalopram?”, please feel free to reach out to us at any time without hesitation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Can you take CBD Oil with Citalopram?

Can you take CBD oil with antidepressants?

No, you should not take CBD oil with antidepressants as there can be some strong interactions between these two chemicals, which means that medical judgment is good to have before one goes through with taking them together.

One possible interaction why CBD oil should not be taken with citalopram, is that CBD has been known to slow down how the speed with which the liver processes antidepressant medications, which causes the drugs to stay in your system longer, which may not be good for you.

What drugs should not be taken with CBD?

Here are some drugs that should not be taken with CBD:

Steroids and corticosteroids for example hydrocortisone, cortisone, prednisone, triamcinolone and dexamethasone.

HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) like atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, pitavastatin, simvastatin and rosuvastatin.

Does CBD oil interfere with any medications?

Yes, CBD can interfere with medication  as it has significant effects on the body and in some cases it can affect how the body processes the medication.

CBD can be especially dangerous in how it interferes with medication if it is taken regularly, so this should not be done.

Citations

https://www.bustle.com/p/can-you-take-cbd-antidepressants-heres-what-you-should-know-15866246

https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/cannabis-with-citalopram-2758-0-679-0.html#:~:text=cannabis%20(Schedule%20I%20substance)%20citalopram&text=Using%20cannabis%20(Schedule%20I%20substance,%2C%20judgment%2C%20and%20motor%20coordination.

https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/cannabis-with-citalopram-2758-0-679-0.html#:~:text=cannabis%20(Schedule%20I%20substance)%20citalopram&text=Using%20cannabis%20(Schedule%20I%20substance,%2C%20judgment%2C%20and%20motor%20coordination.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7220016/

https://indigonaturals.net/blogs/news/can-cbd-cause-serotonin-syndrome-or-help-with-it

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