Can You Mix CBD Oil With Other Pet Supplements and Medications?

Does your pet take regular supplements or medications?

If so, you’re probably wondering whether CBD will interact with what they’re already taking.

Below I take a closer look at how CBD interacts with other medications.

Plus, I’ll also share some tips on how to use CBD with pets that are already using other meds or supplements.

Is CBD Safe on its Own?

There were a lot of misconceptions about CBD when it first came onto the market.

People were quick to mistake CBD as cannabis or “weed” and were concerned it would have similar psychotropic effects.

Luckily, those misconceptions are slowly being put to rest.

Today, we know that CBD is most commonly sourced from hemp, a variety of cannabis that contains only a minute concentration of THC (the compound in cannabis that produces psychoactive effects).

Research has also shown us that CBD is non-psychoactive, non-toxic, well tolerated, and completely non-addictive.

Plus, CBD doesn’t produce any negative side effects, which makes it an attractive alternative to other medications that do.

In fact, the only side effect pet owners have noted when using CBD with their pets is slight drowsiness.

Luckily, you can avoid that by simply lowering your pet’s dose.

In higher doses, CBD tends to have sedative effects.

In smaller doses, however, it can actually boost energy levels.

For a more detailed look at the side effects of CBD, check out my CBD safety page here.

Can CBD Interact With Other Medications?

While CBD is safe and generally well-tolerated, it can interact with some medications when taken in high enough doses.

Below I’ll take a closer look at possible CBD drug interactions:

CBD and How it Affects Liver Enzyme Activity

The reason CBD can interact with other pharmaceuticals is that it can affect the activity of a particular group of liver enzymes known collectively as cytochrome P450.

This group of enzymes is responsible for metabolizing about 60% of all the medications on the market today.

This includes NSAIDs like ibuprofen, anti-epileptics like diazepam, antidepressants like amitriptyline, and many more.

The enzymes break down these medications by adding oxygen molecules to their molecular structure.

This process is known as oxidization.

By oxidizing these compounds, cytochrome P450 makes them more water-soluble and ultimately easier for the kidneys to filter.

Preclinical studies have shown that CBD can inhibit cytochrome P450 activity and thereby directly affect the liver’s ability to metabolize other compounds.

When CBD enters the body, it is also metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes.

It occupies the area of enzyme activity in the liver and, as a result, stops the enzymes from breaking down other chemicals.

This means that other medications usually metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes stay in the body and take effect for longer.

Now, note that the rate at which CBD affects these enzymes can vary greatly depending on how the CBD was administered and at what doses.

It can also vary depending on the other medications being metabolized by the liver and whether the CBD comes from an isolate or whole-plant supplement.

Higher doses of CBD typically have a greater impact on liver enzyme activity than smaller doses.

What Medications Can CBD Interact With?

As I mentioned earlier, cytochrome P450 enzymes are responsible for metabolizing roughly 60% of the medications currently on the market.

Obviously, I can’t list all those drugs here.

However, some of the most common drugs that CBD might interfere with include:

• NSAIDs
• Steroids (like Prednisone and Fludrocortisone)
• Antihistamines (like allergy medications)
• Benzodiazepines (like anxiolytics and anticonvulsants)
• Fentanyl and other narcotics
• Anesthetics
• Some antibiotics

For a more complete list of the drugs that CBD may interact with, check out the Flockhart P450 Drug Interaction Table here.

It lists all the drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes that could interact with CBD.

Tips for Using CBD With Your Pets

CBD is an extremely popular health supplement.

And for good reason:

By activating the Endocannabinoid System, which has been shown to play a key role in everything from appetite regulation to inflammatory processes, CBD can have a wide variety of health benefits.

These include:

• Anti-inflammatory effects
• Relief from anxiety and stress
• Relief from allergies
• Metabolic regulation

… and much more.

And, because dogs and cats have an Endocannabinoid System just like humans, they can reap many of the same benefits from CBD as humans can.

However, if you plan to use CBD with your pet, you need to be aware of how the supplement might interact with any other medications or supplements your pet is taking.

Make sure to ask yourself the following questions before starting to use CBD with your dog or cat:

• Why do you want to give your pet CBD? Do you plan to use it as a daily health supplement or are you trying to treat a specific medical condition/symptom?
• Does your pet currently take any other supplements or medications? If so, what are they and how are they metabolized? Ask your vet about the specifics of how your pet’s meds work and whether CBD could possibly interfere.
• If there is a risk of interaction, is it possible to take your pet off their regular medication for a period while you trial CBD?
• If it is not possible to completely take your pet off their regular medications, could you adjust the dosage to minimize the risk of a drug interaction?
• Are there other alternative medications your pet could take that won’t interact with CBD?

You might be reading this and thinking;

If there’s a possibility that CBD might interact with other medications, why don’t I just stick with my pet’s regular meds?

And that’s a fair question.

However, I really encourage pet owners to try CBD whenever possible.

Here’s why:

Only a few years ago, my family dog Rosie got diagnosed with cancer.

My family and I were devastated, but Rosie’s vet said there was little we could do other than make her remaining time with us as enjoyable as possible.

And so began the search for anything that could offer Rosie some kind of relief from her symptoms.

As her cancer progressed, Rosie lost weight and became lethargic and lazy.

There were days where it seemed she barely got up out of her bed.

Seeing that she was always a happy and energetic dog made this even harder to bear witness to.

Luckily, in my search for anything that could help improve Rosie’s quality of life, I quickly learned about CBD.

And I’m so glad I did.

This supplement turned Rosie’s life around in a matter of days, and my family and I finally got our old dog back.

Ever since I witnessed the benefits of CBD with my own eyes, I’ve dedicated myself to inform other pet owners like you about the power of this little compound.

Based on my results with CBD as well as all my research, I recommend every pet owner give it a try.

Hence, if there’s a chance that your pet’s existing medication may interfere with CBD, I suggest you talk to your vet seriously about finding a way to trial CBD on its own.

Maybe you can take your pet off their regular meds for just a few weeks while you give it a go, or maybe you can adjust their doses so as to minimize any risk of an interaction.

I would highly recommend this, especially if your pet’s current medications are expensive, are not producing amazing results, or are producing side effects.

Remember, CBD does not product any negative side effects like some other pet medications do.

Who knows, CBD might just change your pet’s life.

I know it changed Rosie’s.

And I’m not alone:

Just last week someone in our Facebook Group posted a success story:

The owners wrote in to say how well their Mastiff named Coco is doing on CBD.

At one point Coco was taking Metacam, Tramadol, and an anti-inflammatory.

As some of these medications do, they started to break down her stomach wall and she experienced bad side effects.

It was recommended to stop using Metacam, but all the alternatives seemed to also be known for causing stomach issues.

So they reduced the Tramadol dose in half, and then came across CBD oil. They then totally eliminated the Tramadol, and just gave her CBD oil. Since then Coco has improved tremendously.

She no longer shows any signs of pain, and is a much happier dog!

Find Out More About the Benefits of CBD Pet Supplements

On my website, I review a variety of different supplements for pets and share plenty of information about the health benefits of CBD.

For more information, make sure to download my free report on the 7 benefits of CBD for pets.

Also, check out my homepage where I keep an updated list on the best rated CBD oils.