{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/liver/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2849-markdown","title":"How Does Cannabis Affect Over-the-Counter Medications?","slug":"how-does-cannabis-affect-over-the-counter-medications","content":"Cannabis can be an effective treatment for many health conditions, or simply a way to relax after a long day. But [marijuana can interact with more than 600 different medications](https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/cannabis.html). This includes not only prescription drugs but also common over-the-counter (OTC) preparations. \n\nIf you’re taking cannabis along with nonprescription drugs for pain, sleep, indigestion or coughs and colds, [cannabis could affect how a key set of liver enzymes processes these medications](https://doh.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/Medical%20Cannabis%20Adverse%20Effects%20and%20Drug%20Interactions_0.pdf). This affects bioavailability. In other words, how available these medications are to your body to use. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### How Cannabis & OTC Meds Interact Depends on Many Factors\n\nThe interactions between cannabis and common prescription medications like [opioid pain relievers](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59f0d5d6453ba8000f3478d6/cannabis-an-exit-drug-for-the-opioid-epidemic) and [benzodiazepines for mood disorders](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5aa1a02ff24d1300077ccb80/cannabis-a-better-alternative-to-benzodiazepines) have been studied fairly extensively. But much less research has been done on how—or whether—cannabis can affect how the body responds to widely used OTC medications that anyone can buy without a doctor’s prescription. \n\nComplicating the connection between OTC medications and marijuana are the many variables involved in consuming cannabis along with these kinds of preparations. Many different factors can play a role in how the body responds, such as:\n\n* The way a person consumes cannabis\n* How much marijuana someone takes \n* The kind of cannabis they ingest\n* The types of medication they’re taking\n* Whether they’re also using other medications at the same time \n\nBut because the liver metabolizes and makes all of these substances bioavailable, researchers are able to study how cannabis either inhibits or enhances the way certain liver enzymes process common OTC medications. \n\n### OTC Drugs Are Medications, Too\n\nAlthough they aren’t dispensed by a doctor—and may not be as potent as their prescription counterparts are—OTC preparations are still medications that can potentially cause a wide range of reactions. These medications fall into several broad classes, which can include many different kinds of preparations. \n\nFor example, OTC pain relievers include both acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil) and the old standby, aspirin. \n\nAnd cough and cold remedies can include medications like pseudoephedrine and dextramethorphan to treat conditions as diverse as nasal congestion, coughing and fever. \n\nThe liver breaks down, or metabolizes, all of these medications. They’re made usable to the body by a [suite of liver enzymes called cytochrome P450](https://www.projectcbd.org/science/cannabis-pharmacology/cbd-drug-interactions-role-cytochrome-p450). According to HelloMD’s Dr. Richard Kim, the CP450 family of enzymes is the body’s most important system for metabolizing drugs. It accounts for between 70–80% of the enzymes involved in breaking down drugs of all kinds. This includes not only prescription and nonprescription medications, but also things like nutritional supplements, herbal preparations— and marijuana.\n\nThe cannabis compounds tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) compete with many other drugs for receptors on enzymes in the CP450 family. When this happens, marijuana can either increase or decrease the activity of an enzyme to alter the effects of a particular drug.  \n\nHere’s a rundown of what’s known about the ways in which cannabis compounds can affect the liver’s ability to metabolize common OTC medications.\n\nRELATED: [HOW DO SSRIs & OTHER DRUG TYPES INTERACT WITH CANNABIS?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5b288ad4bf4c4d000a0e74b8/how-do-ssris-and-other-drug-types-interact-with-cannabis)\n\n### Cannabis Intensifies the Effects of OTC Pain Relievers \n\nCannabis, especially strains and products that are high in CBD, have been shown to be effective pain relievers. And when taken in conjunction with common OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, [research suggests that cannabis can increase their effectiveness](https://www.pharmacistanswers.com/questions/do-aspirin-or-zyrtec-interact-with-cbd-cannabidiol).  \n\nFor example, the enzyme CYP2C9 metabolizes both ibuprofen and marijuana, and cannabis appears to inhibit the activity of the enzyme. This makes it less effective in breaking down ibuprofen, and the result is that more ibuprofen is released into the bloodstream for a more intense effect.\n\n### Cough & Cold Medications Are Varied, But Seem Generally Safe Alongside Cannabis\n\nOTC medications for coughs, colds and flu like Sudafed and Nyquil contain a variety of active ingredients depending on the symptoms they target. But most contain substances like:\n\n* Pseudoephedrine to relieve nasal congestion\n* Dextromethorphan to suppress coughs\n* Guaifenesin to clear mucus\n\nLittle research has been done on the interactions between these drugs and cannabis compounds, but no major effects have been reported. \n\n### Heartburn Medications Generally Don’t Interact With Marijuana\n\nPrilosec and similar medications for heartburn and indigestion are designed to affect the production of acids in the stomach. Although liver enzymes also metabolize these medications, and they can have their own side effects and risks, medication databases don’t list any interactions with cannabis.\n\n### Sleep Aids Can Boost Cannabis’s Sedative Effects\n\nOTC sleep aids can include a variety of different substances to target different symptoms:\n\n* Dedicated sleep preparations like Unisom \n* Nighttime cold medicines such as Nyquil \n* Antihistamines such as the allergy medication Benadryl, which makes you sleepy because it reduces the production of histamines in the body\n\nThese medications have different ingredients and different ways of working in the body, but they all have sedating effects. Because marijuana can also have relaxing, calming effects, it can also boost the sedative action of these medications, so that they may work faster with a stronger sedative effect.\n\nInteractions between cannabis and OTC medications have been studied considerably less than interactions between cannabis and well-known prescription drugs like opioid painkillers and benzodiazepines. But research on the CP450 suite of liver enzymes that metabolize drugs of all kinds suggests that cannabis could either enhance or inhibit the way your body responds to your go-to OTC medications. \n\nPhoto credit: [Josué Goge](https://www.flickr.com/people/jgoge123/)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5b8882d88dd0720008373fcf/cannabis-101-what-you-need-to-know-to-about-marijuana) index of articles. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3793103448275863,"src":"/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/14b42/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/f836f/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.jpg 200w,\n/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/2244e/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.jpg 400w,\n/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/14b42/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.jpg 800w,\n/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/47498/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.jpg 1200w,\n/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/0e329/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.jpg 1600w,\n/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/ef7f8/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.jpg 3560w","srcWebp":"/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/58556/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/61e93/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.webp 200w,\n/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/1f5c5/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.webp 400w,\n/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/58556/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.webp 800w,\n/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/99238/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.webp 1200w,\n/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/7c22d/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.webp 1600w,\n/static/4d3e4b0b67743f882f6767a225aeed4c/97ed0/c652f0d84c10beab1b4c9a7aba60bf1c.webp 3560w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2731-markdown","title":"Studies Find Cannabis Can Protect Drinkers’ Livers","slug":"studies-find-cannabis-can-protect-drinkers-livers","content":"Cannabis and alcohol are the two most popular recreational substances around, so it’s not unusual to see the two consumed together. Still, news about [the way that cannabis and alcohol interact with each other](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/58e7bbf32fdeaf51a1a08384/mixing-marijuana-and-alcohol) has led many to advise against combining them. In fact, in California it’s now explicitly illegal to sell products that contain cannabis and alcohol together. \n\nBut new research is making experts think twice about banning this common combination. Scientists now believe that cannabis could have one very important effect when used with alcohol: preventing alcoholic liver disease (ALD).  If enjoying a beer or cocktail is already part of your regular relaxation routine, adding cannabis just might help save you from the effects of ALD. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### What Is Alcoholic Liver Disease?\n\n[ALD is a condition caused by excessive drinking for long periods of time](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/215638.php). When alcohol is consumed it can have a damaging effect on the liver including increasing liver inflammation, building up fats in the organ and even scarring the liver. Over time, this can lead to increasingly serious damage and eventually death. \n\nThis tragic and preventable condition takes almost 20,000 lives a year in the U.S. alone and is the third-most common cause of liver transplants. \n\nALD is classified by four stages: \n\n1. Alcoholic fatty liver disease (steatosis): This is when fat deposits start to build up in the liver. It can happen in as little as a week and is usually reversible with alcohol abstinence.  \n2. Alcoholic hepatitis (steatohepatitis): After many years of heavy drinking, the liver becomes chronically inflamed. This is also often reversible by abstaining from alcohol. \n3. Fibrosis: This stage is characterized by a buildup of certain proteins in the liver. It may be reversible if mild to moderate. \n4. Cirrhosis: When the liver is inflamed for long periods of time, loss of function and scarring occur. This damage is irreversible and life-threatening. \n\nAdditionally, these stages of ALD put drinkers at high risk for liver cancer.\n\n### Research Shows Cannabis Can Help Prevent ALD\n\nIn a surprising twist, it turns out that the disease caused by one popular recreational substance may be prevented by another. \n\nResearchers were curious about cannabis and alcohol’s combined effect on the liver since it hadn’t been studied in depth. With increasing numbers turning to this combination, it was important to make sure cannabis wasn’t compounding alcohol’s negative effects. After all, many recreational substances seem to put stress on the liver. \n \nBut what researchers found was just the opposite. Users with the highest levels of cannabis use had much lower rates of ALD. \n\nIn one study, [researchers looked at the four stages of ALD and liver cancer among 320,000 individuals with alcohol use disorder](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/liv.13696). They analyzed the data to see whether cannabis use had any effect on the different stages of ALD. And they found that cannabis consumers had significantly lower rates of ALD at all stages of the disease. \n\nSpecifically, alcohol drinkers who also consumed cannabis had the following reductions in ALD stages:\n\n* 45% reduction in steatosis, or alcoholic fatty liver disease \n* 40% reduction in steatohepatitis, or alcoholic hepatitis \n* 55% reduction in alcoholic cirrhosis and fibrosis\n* 75% reduction in hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver cancer\n\nWhile any cannabis use seemed to play a protective role for the liver, those categorized as dependent cannabis users (those who consumed it the most) had the lowest rates of ALD. This suggests that more cannabis is better when it comes to protecting the liver from the deadly long-term effects of alcohol. \n\nThese results add to conclusions from a previous study, which found that [the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) use was tied to lower levels of ALD](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24398069). This new research seems to suggest that cannabis in general, as well as CBD alone, is effective at reducing ALD. \n\nAnother important study shows that [cannabis consumption is tied to lower levels of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5648282/) as well. So, cannabis may protect our livers in general, not just when drinking alcohol. \n\nStill, since drinkers are at high risk for liver disease, they’re an especially vulnerable population that could benefit from adding cannabis into their routine. Switching out alcohol use for cannabis consumption is healthier for the liver, given what we know from the research. But if drinking is unavoidable, adding in cannabis could really help, too. \n\n### How Cannabis Helps Reduce ALD\n\nThere are many reasons why cannabis has such an incredible effect on the liver. But one of the main ways is through [cannabis’s anti-inflammatory properties](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55a3f31338323000062f0000/medical-marijuana-as-an-aid-against-inflammation). Much of the damage sustained by the liver during the progress of ALD is a result of the long- term inflammation and swelling caused by alcohol consumption. \n\nRELATED: [CAN CANNABIS BE A HEALTHIER SUBSTITUTE FOR ALCOHOL?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a6630a88425e40008273a34/can-cannabis-be-a-healthier-substitute-for-alcohol)\n\nCannabis is known to calm inflammation, reduce swelling and lessen the damage inflammation causes. Those consuming both alcohol and cannabis are, in a way, canceling out one with the other. Alcohol increases inflammation, but then cannabis brings it back down. While this isn’t a foolproof method (remember that many alcoholics who consume cannabis will still get ALD), it definitely lowers the risks. \n\nOther researchers say that [cannabis helps by preventing the oxidative stress caused by alcohol](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24398069). Alcohol can also weaken the body’s natural ability for autophagy—the process by which damaged or redundant cellular components are destroyed. Cannabis seems to increase autophagy, which may help the liver repair itself. \n\nIf you’re interested in consuming cannabis to help prevent or treat ALD, the best first step is to talk to a doctor with cannabis expertise. Your doctor can help go over your current conditions, and let you know what cannabis options are best suited to you.\n\nNeed to find a cannabis doctor? You can [video-chat with HelloMD’s knowledgeable doctors](https://www.hellomd.com/talk-to-doctor) today, from the comfort and privacy of your own home.  \n\nPhoto credit: [Toa Heftiba](https://unsplash.com/@heftiba)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online. \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3793103448275863,"src":"/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/14b42/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/f836f/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.jpg 200w,\n/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/2244e/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.jpg 400w,\n/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/14b42/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.jpg 800w,\n/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/47498/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.jpg 1200w,\n/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/0e329/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.jpg 1600w,\n/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/b85df/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.jpg 3500w","srcWebp":"/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/58556/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/61e93/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.webp 200w,\n/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/1f5c5/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.webp 400w,\n/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/58556/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.webp 800w,\n/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/99238/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.webp 1200w,\n/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/7c22d/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.webp 1600w,\n/static/ba10ac8919e273d1d544e5f6cbec31ec/b6f33/006181ea9de0f4aab2f5e212953f3503.webp 3500w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5452,"name":"Liver","slug":"liver","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}