Can You Smoke Weed While On Seizure Medication?
- Fact-checked by Dr. Desiree Granados
For people with epilepsy, the fear of seizures extends beyond just the seizures themselves. Many people living with epilepsy are also worried about how their seizures will be affected by other things in their lives, such as medications. This is a valid concern since some medications can have negative interactions with each other.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the question of whether you can smoke weed while on seizure medication.
What are the Effects of Smoking Weed While on Seizure Medication?
Smoking weed while on seizure medication can have a variety of effects depending on the medication you are taking. Some medications make it more difficult to metabolize THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, so you may feel higher or experience more intense effects than if you were not taking medication.
Additionally, smoking marijuana can increase your risk of seizures since it can interfere with the way your body metabolizes the seizure medication. Finally, if you are taking medication to control seizures, smoking weed may make it less effective.
If you are considering smoking weed while on seizure medication, be sure to talk to your doctor first to understand the potential risks and side effects of doing so.
How Does Marijuana Interact with Seizure Medications?
Marijuana is known to interact with seizure medications in a variety of ways. Some people find that marijuana makes their seizures worse, while others find that it helps to control their seizures. Some people find that they need to lower their dose of seizure medication when using marijuana, while others do not seem to experience any changes with their seizures when using the drug.
There is still much to be explored about how marijuana affects those taking seizure medications, which is why more research is needed to answer such questions.
Risks of Smoking Weed While Taking Seizure Medication
There are risks associated with smoking weed while taking seizure medication. Weed can increase the side effects of seizure medication, such as drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion. Additionally, smoking weed can make seizures more likely to occur. If you are taking seizure medication, it is important to avoid smoking weed before speaking to your doctor about doing so.
So What Should You Do?
There are a few key things to keep in mind if you’re taking seizure medication and want to smoke weed. First, speak with your medical marijuana doctor to see if it’s safe for you to consume marijuana while taking your seizure medication. Second, start with a small amount of weed and wait to see how it affects you before increasing your dosage. Finally, be sure to purchase your weed from a reputable source to guarantee its quality.
If you follow these guidelines, you should be able to safely smoke weed while taking seizure medication. Additionally, many individuals suffering from seizures use medical marijuana to treat epilepsy. Just remember to always check with your doctor first and start slowly to see how your body reacts.
States Where We Offer Medical Marijuana Card Services
How we reviewed this article:
- Alcohol and marijuana: effects on epilepsy and use by patients with epilepsy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11737161/ - CANNABIS AND EPILEPSY
https://epilepsytoronto.org/cannabis-and-epilepsy/
Current Version
April 23, 2022
Written By
John DiBella
Fact-checked By
Dr. Desiree Granados
Editorial Process
Our Editorial Process
John DiBella is the co-founder and CEO at The Sanctuary Wellness Institute. His goal is to foster healthier lifestyles to improve individuals’ quality of life and health span through online medical and non-medical services. When he’s not writing blogs about medical marijuana, he enjoys hiking, camping, surfing and sailing.
