Does CBD interact with Aspirin?

Does CBD interact with Aspirin?

Information about the risks and possible interactions between CBD and aspirin.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid derived from the Cannabis sativa plant that is commonly used to manage chronic pain and inflammation.

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is another common painkiller that can be bought over the counter at pharmacies.

Despite similar effects, the level of risk of interaction between the two substances is minimal.

Does CBD interact with Aspirin?

CBD is unlikely to interact with low doses of Aspirin.

However, at higher doses or with long-term use, CBD could theoretically increase serum levels of Aspirin over time - leading to potential side effects.

Both CBD and Aspirin are considered blood thinners and analgesics. It is possible that this combination could lead to an increase in side effects associated with these effects - including bruising, blood loss or liver damage.

In practice, however, none of these side effects have been reported, and people who take both dietary supplements daily rarely, if ever, experience any significant side effects.

Is it safe to take CBD and Aspirin together?

In most cases, it is safe to take CBD together with low doses of Aspirin. If you have been prescribed a high-potency Aspirin or are taking Aspirin daily to manage your risk of heart disease, it is a good idea to check with your doctor before starting CBD.

Although CBD is unlikely to interact directly with Aspirin, it may be contraindicated in some types of heart disease.

Is CBD a suitable alternative to aspirin?

CBD is widely used for several benefits, the main ones being pain relief and anxiety management.

For mild to moderate pain and inflammation, CBD may be a viable and potentially even more effective option than Aspirin.

For use as a blood thinner, CBD is not comparable to Aspirin and is not considered a viable alternative.

What is Aspirin?

Aspirin and its generic ingredient acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). It is a drug commonly used to treat pain, inflammation and fever. It is classified as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug - NSAID for short.

It is widely prescribed to patients with heart disorders such as heart attack, heart failure or cardiac arrest as a blood thinner to prevent possible blood clots and subsequent heart damage.

Aspirin is readily available in pharmacies and no prescription is needed to purchase it from these pharmacies. The drug is manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies and is therefore available under different brand names such as Bayer, Easprin, Ecotrin and Ecoprin.

Aspirin has a half-life of either 2 hours to 3 hours or 15 hours to 30 hours depending on the dose, with the former being the half-life of 100 mg or less of Aspirin. The drug is excreted predominantly in the urine, almost 80%, with the remainder excreted in faeces and sweat.

Aspirin Specification:

What does Aspirin do?

Aspirin is used to treat a range of medical conditions that present with symptoms such as fever, pain and inflammation. It is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in cardiology clinics because its ability to thin the blood is crucial for patients who have recently had a heart attack or stroke.

Aspirin's mechanism of action involves the irreversible inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, or COX, which is key to the synthesis and distribution of prostaglandins and thromboxane in the body.

There are two different types of cyclooxygenases in the human body, namely COX1 and COX2 enzymes, the former being responsible for the production of thromboxane, a hormone responsible for vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation in blood vessels.

COX1 is irreversibly inhibited by Aspirin, while the activity of COX2, the enzyme responsible for the production of prostaglandin hormone, which induces the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, is modified by the drug.

The modification of COX2 activity leads to the conversion of the enzyme's ability to produce prostaglandins into the production of the enzyme lipoxygenase, which helps with the metabolism of various polyunsaturated fats in the human body.

Aspirin's inhibitory effect on the COX1 enzyme helps the drug to manage bleeding because the irreversible inhibition of thromboxane A2 in platelets inhibits platelet aggregation for 7 to 8 days, which is the lifespan of an affected platelet. This mechanism is responsible for prescribing Aspirin to patients with a history of heart attack, stroke, transient ischemic attack, and unstable angina to help prevent recurrence of these medical emergencies.

Prostaglandins play a large role in transmitting information from the brain to various parts of the body suffering from pain and inflammation. They are also known to have an effect on the regulation of the hypothalamic heat centre and therefore alter body temperature and disrupt the body's thermal homeostasis.

Inhibition of these prostaglandins by inhibiting an enzyme required for their synthesis is essential for pain and inflammation management in the body. Aspirin can manage and treat fever-like symptoms by inhibiting these hormones and inducing proper body temperature regulation.

The irreversible inhibition of local hormones in the body and possibly platelet aggregation is what sets Aspirin apart from other NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen and Diclofenac, as these are reversible inhibitors.

Side effects of Aspirin

Aspirin is a widely available, over-the-counter medication that is taken by almost all age groups. However, it is essential to keep in mind the fact that there are several side effects of this medication that need to be taken into account.

The use of Aspirin is contraindicated in pregnancy, especially after the 20th week of pregnancy, as it can lead to kidney disorders in the fetus due to decreased amniotic fluid levels.

In addition, its use is not recommended in children with flu or colds as it can lead to the development of a near fatal, progressive brain disease known as Reye's syndrome. The use of this product is contraindicated in patients treated with warfarin or in patients with disorders affecting the lining of the stomach, such as peptic ulcers and gastritis. The preparation must not be taken with alcohol.

Common side effects of Aspirin include:

• Skin rash.
• Stomach and intestinal ulcers
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal discomfort
• Heartburn
• Tinnitus
• Sleepiness
• Headache

Aspirin should not be taken with a history of gastrointestinal disorders, without the advice of a healthcare professional.

More serious side effects of Aspirin include:

• Retinal vein occlusion
• Cerebral microhemorrhage
• Reye's syndrome
• Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract

Types of drug interactions with CBD

Cannabidiol, or CBD, has several benefits that can be attributed to its growing popularity, however, it can cause serious complications when it interacts with other drugs.

CBD can interact with other medications and cause either increased or decreased effects of the main drug.

These interactions can be of either low, moderate or severe clinical significance, with low interactions requiring no form of caution, moderate interactions to be avoided unless medically necessary and severe interactions to be avoided at all costs.

Based on the effect of CBD on the parent drug, CBD-drug interactions can be divided into three types:

1. Agonist interactions

CBD enhances the effect of the drug by exerting the same effects. This is common with drugs that have similar analgesic, sedative, anxiolytic, or anti-inflammatory effects.

2. Antagonistic interaction

CBD reduces the effect of the drug by either removing the drug from the system more quickly or inhibiting its effects. This is common with drugs with effects that are opposite to those of CBD - for example, stimulants, emetics or low blood pressure medications.

3. Metabolic competition

CBD blocks or competes with drug metabolism in the liver. This can cause an increase in the concentration of both substances in the bloodstream, which can lead to side effects.

This interaction is most concerning for drugs taken daily as it can cause levels to rise to dangerous levels over time.

Key Finding: Can CBD and Aspirin be taken together?

CBD and Aspirin have similar effects for managing pain and inflammation. There is some slight risk of interaction between these substances, but only when taken in high doses or over long periods of time.

Most people find greater pain relief when taking both Aspirin and CBD together.

References:

Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2020). Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol. Antioxidants, 9(1), 21.

Pellati, F., Borgonetti, V., Brighenti, V., Biagi, M., Benvenuti, S., & Corsi, L. (2018). Cannabis sativa L. and nonpsychoactive cannabinoids: their chemistry and role against oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer. BioMed research international, 2018.

Sofia, R. D., Vassar, H. B., & Knobloch, L. C. (1975). Comparative analgesic activity of various naturally occurring cannabinoids in mice and rats. Psychopharmacology, 40(4), 285-295.