CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE TAKING CBD OIL

Cannabis plants have been used and cultivated by humans for over five thousand years. It was used for various functions such as an antimalarial drug, an antisemitic drug, used in conducting various traditional ceremonies, and also used for recreational purposes.

In the modern era, however, CBD has gained popularity since its legalization by the United States government and other governments worldwide. In particular, it was declassified as a class I substance and hence approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration, FDA. Unlike CBD, THC is known to induce psychotic effects in its users when administered. When used for long periods, users tend to develop tolerance which can easily lead to one being addicted to the substance. CBD can almost be paired with any substance making it not uncommon to find individuals taking alcohol with CBD simultaneously. This is a discussion on whether it is safe to do so and find out if there are some potential side effects.

CBD And Alcohol

The ability of alcohol to lower inhibitions and promote feelings of relaxation is well known. CBD has similar effects on the body. According to De Ternay et al. (2019), it has been shown to reduce anxiety and calm your nerves. A study by Sarris et al. (2020), of 72 people, for example, found that taking 25–75 mg of CBD daily for one month reduced anxiety and improved sleep quality. Taking alcohol and CBD together may amplify these effects, resulting in symptoms such as drowsiness and sedation. There are also claims that combining CBD and alcohol can intensify each other's effects, resulting in mood and behavior changes. In fact, one small study examined the effects of administering 200 mg of CBD along with 1 gram of alcohol for every 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of body weight to participants. It was discovered that combining alcohol and CBD caused significant impairments in motor performance as well as changes in time perception. When participants took CBD on their own, they did not experience these effects. Nonetheless, this study is out of date and used a much higher concentration of CBD than most people do. Unfortunately, very little research has been conducted on the health effects of combining CBD and alcohol. Even if you don't mix the two in a drink, CBD and alcohol can interact if taken within four to eight hours of each other. This means that if one drinks with on their dinner and then takes a CBD dab before bed, the CBD may have a stronger effect than it would without the alcohol. Because both alcohol and CBD relax and lower inhibitions, the effects of the two substances may be especially strong and long-lasting when combined. On CBD, one can be very relaxed, lighthearted, and mellow. That will be amplified by the alcohol. It has a sedative effect on some people. As a result, taking the combination of the two is not advised. As with anything else, increasing the doses of either or both exacerbates the problem. The more one drinks, the more CBD they consume, resulting in a potentiated effect that is greater than either alone. The level of intoxication will be higher: there will be more loss of control, inhibition, and motor coordination, which will be problematic.

CBD May Protect Against Alcohol’s Side Effects

May Prevent Cell Damage and Disease

Excessive alcohol consumption can harm cells, raising the risk of inflammation and chronic diseases like pancreatitis, liver disease, and certain types of cancer. A study by Fernández‐Ruiz et al. (2013) showed that it protects against cell damage caused by alcohol consumption. According to one rat study, applying CBD gel to the skin reduced brain-cell damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption by up to 49 percent. Another study found that injecting CBD into mice helped protect against alcohol-induced fatty liver disease by increasing autophagy, a process that promotes cell turnover and leads to tissue regeneration. According to one study, CBD-rich cannabis extracts can cause liver toxicity in mice. Some of the mice in that study, however, had been gavaged.

May Be Therapeutic For Alcohol Addicts

According to some researchers, CBD may be useful in the treatment of alcoholism. This is due to animal studies indicating that CBD can help reduce several addiction and withdrawal symptoms. In fact, one recent study investigated the effects of CBD on alcohol-addicted rats. CBD was found to help reduce alcohol consumption, prevent relapse, and decrease motivation to consume alcohol. Human research is limited. Nonetheless, in one study of 24 smokers, using a CBD inhaler for one week reduced cigarette use by 40%. These findings suggest that CBD may be useful in reducing addictive behaviors. More high-quality research is needed to determine whether CBD can aid in the treatment of alcoholism in humans.

May Reduce Blood Alcohol Levels

The amount of alcohol in your blood is measured by blood alcohol concentration. In general, a higher BAC is associated with a greater loss of motor control and cognitive function. One study by Karoly et al. (2021) discovered that when participants took 200 mg of CBD with alcohol, their blood alcohol levels were significantly lower than when they consumed alcohol with a placebo. This study, however, was conducted in the 1970s and used a very high dose of CBD — nearly 5–10 times greater than what is recommended for most people. It's unclear whether regular CBD doses would have the same effect. Furthermore, other studies have found contradictory results. Several animal studies have found that when CBD was given to animals, it did not reduce blood alcohol concentration. Therefore more research is needed to determine how these two compounds interact.

Conclusion

Taking CBD with alcohol may not pose a great health risk to the individuals doing so. However, it is important to note that when taken together, these two may end up amplifying each other's effects as both have been known to have sedative effects when ingested in large quantities. On the bright side, CBD can help combat some alcoholic conditions such as liver and pancreatic damage. However, this area needs more research to get a clear picture of how the two interact and ascertain whether they are beneficial together or harmful to human health.

References

De Ternay, J., Naassila, M., Nourredine, M., Louvet, A., Bailly, F., Sescousse, G., ... &     

Rolland, Rolland, B. (2019). Therapeutic Prospects Of Cannabidiol For Alcohol Use Disorder And Alcohol-Related Damages To The Liver And The Brain. Frontiers In Pharmacology, 10, 627.

Fernández‐Ruiz, J.,Sagredo, O., Pazos, M. R., García, C., Pertwee, R., Mechoulam,

R., &     Martínez‐Orgado,

1. (2013). Cannabidiol For Neurodegenerative Disorders: Important New Clinical

Applications For This Phytocannabinoid?. British Journal Of Clinical

Pharmacology, 75(2), 323-333.Karoly,

1. C., Mueller, R. L., Andrade, C. C., & Hutchison, K. E. (2021). THC And CBD

Effects On Alcohol Use Among Alcohol And Cannabis Co-Users. Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors, 35(6), 749. Sarris,

J., Sinclair, J., Karamacoska, D., Davidson, M., & Firth, J. (2020). Medicinal

Cannabis For Psychiatric Disorders: A Clinically-Focused Systematic Review. BMC

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