Fluoxetine and marijuana
Adverse interactions between fluoxetine and marijuana
Marijuana has a number of drug interactions. These are often due to the presence of cannabidiol(CBD) in marijuana. In your body, fluoxetine breaks down into a chemical called norfluoxetine which has a similar structure to the active ingredient in marijuana called tetrahydrocannabinol. Like tetrahydrocannabinol, norfluoxetine binds to the cannabinoid receptors, however their binding properties are antagonistic. This means that cannabis may increase fluoxetine concentrations in your brain, which can lead to a fatal overdose. Your doctors also caution you to avoid mixing cannabis with any antidepressants due to the risk of QT interval prolongation (abnormal heart rhythms). For this reason, you should avoid smoking or eating marijuana if you are taking fluoxetine.
Marijuana and fluoxetine shouldn’t be taken together.
When these two drugs are consumed together, they interact with each other negatively. A lot like how an alcoholic drinks alcohol and becomes drunk, so do two people who smoke weed and take fluoxetine. Both of these substances cause drowsiness. In addition, smoking pot can cause paranoia. Hence, taking these two together could lead to a severe case of psychosis.
Studies on the interaction of fluoxetine and marijuana
In the study, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University compared the effects of fluoxetine, marijuana, and a combination of the two on the symptoms of depression in mice. The results showed that the combination of the two drugs worked better than either drug alone. The mice were exposed to stressful situations to induce depression, and then the drugs were administered through drinking water for five days. During the five-day period, the mice showed symptoms of depression and the levels of the antidepressants were determined.
The researchers tested the effects of fluoxetine and marijuana on the stress response by measuring the activity of the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is the body’s major stress response mechanism and it regulates the production of stress hormones such as cortisol, which is released by the adrenal gland.
The researchers found that a combination of fluoxetine and marijuana could reduce the stress response. After a few days of fluoxetine and marijuana treatment, the mice’s HPA response returned to normal, but if either drug was administered on its own, the response did not.
Both fluoxetine and marijuana are antidepressant drugs, but they are designed to work on different pathways of the brain. Fluoxetine acts on the brain’s serotonin system, whereas marijuana works on the body’s endocannabinoid system. The body’s endocannabinoid system influences the brain’s serotonin system.
Marijuana is more potent and it has a broader effect on the brain. However, this also makes it more dangerous because it may trigger more side effects and has a greater risk of addiction.
Twin study
Aside from clinical studies, a research group in Australia also looked at the effects of marijuana and fluoxetine on mice that were exposed to stress, in a study published in 2014.
The researchers tested the effects of the drugs on a group of mice in which one of the animals had been exposed to stress. A group of genetically similar mice was used as a control.
The researchers found that if mice were exposed to stress, they had more brain cells and synapses with enlarged structures. These effects are also seen in depressed people. The mice were treated with fluoxetine, marijuana, or a combination of both drugs for seven weeks.
After the mice were exposed to stress, both fluoxetine and marijuana increased the mice’s brain cells and synaptic plasticity, the ability to create new neurons and synapses. However, the researchers also found that the combination of the two drugs increased the number of brain cells more than either drug alone.
The researchers also noticed that when the combination of fluoxetine and marijuana was used to treat the mice, the brain cells looked healthier.
However, the researchers found that if mice were exposed to stress and fluoxetine or marijuana were administered alone, the effects of both drugs on brain cell and synaptic plasticity were reduced, similar to what was observed in stressed mice not exposed to either fluoxetine or marijuana.
The researchers also found that the combination of fluoxetine and marijuana decreased the effects of stress in the mice’s brains, and it can improve the symptoms of depression in mice.
The researchers found that the brain cells and synapses were structurally and functionally impaired in stressed mice and the effects were more severe in the stressed mice’s brains than in the control group. The results were similar to the effects of stress in human brains.
How do drugs affect the brain?
Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which means that it reduces the activity of serotonin receptors on the cell surface. The more fluoxetine is consumed by the brain, the more serotonin molecules remain on the cell surface and the more serotonin receptors are activated. This triggers the same effects as a natural neurotransmitter.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has been associated with pleasure, anxiety, and appetite. Some of the effects of serotonin include sleep, circadian rhythms, and body temperature. Serotonin also plays a role in the regulation of mood, the effects of drugs of abuse, and depression.
Marijuana is a cannabinoid receptor agonist, which is a chemical that attaches to cannabinoid receptors that are located on the cell surface of neurons. Cannabinoids are an important part of the body’s endocannabinoid system. Cannabinoids are neurotransmitters, but their receptors are located on the cell surface of neurons.
The body’s endocannabinoid system affects the nervous system, and there are cannabinoids that act in the brain, including anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and 2-oleoylglycerol. Anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol are also called endocannabinoids. They act as neurotransmitters that have the same effect as serotonin and dopamine.
The results of the study done by the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University show that the combination of fluoxetine and marijuana reduced the stress response more than either drug alone. The results of the study showed that the combination of the two drugs increased the mice’s brain cell and synaptic plasticity more than the fluoxetine alone, and it improved the symptoms of depression.
The findings suggest that fluoxetine and marijuana may be useful for treating depression, but the best treatment for depression depends on the severity and the type of depression.
Benefits and risks of mixing cannabis and fluoxetine
Combining cannabis and fluoxetine may have no positive effects and a harmful one for some people. The effects this combination have on people vary. There is very little research of the possible benefits of combining the two drugs.
Potential Benefits
Some people feel more amplified, calming, and mood-enhancing effects from taking cannabis with prescription antidepressants. However, this potential positive effect is not always consistent, as taking cannabis with an antidepressant could actually decrease the effectiveness of the prescription antidepressant and worsen your depressive and anxiety symptoms.
Potential Risks
Side effects may include intensified sleepiness, trouble focusing, confusion, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, and lowered blood pressure. Using cannabis with fluoxetine may also intensify any drowsy feeling caused by fluoxetine, so watch out for signs of drowsiness. If you’re currently on 10 mg of fluoxetine and would like to try cannabis, discuss it with your doctor before doing so.
Co-occurring Disorders: How fluoxetine affects THC
A “co-occurring disorder” is when one mental health condition exists alongside another, “dual diagnosis” topic. This makes treatment much more difficult, as different types of therapy are needed for both disorders. Dual therapy for mental and drug-related conditions is required if you or someone you know is struggling with a dual diagnosis.
Contact a mental health professional, if you are combining fluoxetine and THC. Some of the most common disorders that may co-occur with the combined use of fluoxetine and THC include anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. It is a good idea to consult with a registered therapist for an objective diagnosis.
Can CBD lessen the effects of fluoxetine?
It is not recommended to combine the cannabidiol and fluoxetine. Combined, the side effects of cannabidiol combined could include: difficulties concentrating, dizziness, and intense drowsiness, as CBD has an interaction with serotonin receptors too. The more that fluoxetine is used, the higher the risk of experiencing these side effects of cannabidiol.
Putting it all Together: Marijuana and fluoxetine
Therefore, one should not smoke marijuana while on fluoxetine because it may increase the level of the drug in your body. This can be unsafe and greatly increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a medical emergency.
Combining marijuana and fluoxetine may also make it more difficult for doctors to determine whether a person’s medicine is working.
It’s crucial that you communicate faithfully about your symptoms of depression, and your requirements as to whether your medication needs to be changed or readjusted. For marijuana, it’s hard to distinguish if the result is marijuana’s expression or if the result is fluoxetine.
