CBD Oil and paracetamol
19 August 2022Pain is a nuisance, whether it’s a headache, joint pain, menstrual pain, or any other kind of (chronic) pain. Fortunately, we have pills to bring relief. The usual remedy for pain is paracetamol, an over-the-counter painkiller with relatively few side-effects. Increasingly, however, people turn to natural alternatives for pain relief, including CBD. From this perspective, it makes sense to wonder whether CBD and paracetamol are safe to use together. CBD is known to affect how certain kinds of medication work. This blog explains whether CBD Oil and paracetamol are a safe combination for pain treatment.
Paracetamol: everyone uses it, but what is it?
Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used painkillers today. After all, don’t we all pop one occasionally for quick relief of a headache or a flu? Paracetamol helps relieve fever as well as pain, which accounts for its use with a wide range of (painful) conditions. The name of the drug is derived from its chemical denominator para-acetyl aminophenol.
Surprisingly, we are still not entirely sure just how paracetamol works. One possible explanation is its capacity to inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes involved in inflammatory reactions. However, another explanation is an effect on the serotonergic system. These are neural pathways involved in the perception of pain.
What are the drawbacks of paracetamol?
Paracetamol is considered one of the most harmless analgesic drugs, which it is in a sense. Yet in spite of its low toxicity, paracetamol abuse can still be dangerous. In fact, paracetamol can be lethal in single doses of 20 to 25 grams. High dosages pf paracetamol can also cause liver damage. Liver cells can die off within three to five days.
Paracetamol intoxication also harm the kidneys, even if the damage is limited compared to some other painkillers. Still, paracetamol’s potential negative health effects are a good reason to steer clear of the recommended maximum daily dose of 2.5 grams. Taking paracetamol on an empty stomach can also harm the liver or cause heartburn.
The benefits of CBD against pain and inflammation
CBD Oil can help relieve pain and curb inflammation. This plant-based supplement works by interacting with the human endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is charged with regulating a range of body processes using endocannabinoid receptors located on cells. CBD (cannabidol) is able to interact with these receptors, which act as messengers to help restore the body’s overall balance.
These receptors allow CBD to relay messages to which cells respond by changing how they work. This explains how CBD Oil can relieve (chronic) inflammation, pain, and hormonal issues, among other conditions. It can also influence affective disorders (depression, psychosis), epileptic seizures, and anxiety. In fact, CBD Oil can affect any process influenced by the ECS, including our heart rate, rhythms of sleep amd waking, breathing cycles, and blood sugar.
It is important to realise, however, that CBD Oil and painkillers such as paracetamol work by different mechanisms. Taking a paracetamol usually brings quick pain relief within ten to twenty minutes. CBD works by a different route than paracetamol, which is why most people don’t feel immediate effects. For chronic pain in particular, it usually takes a while before you start to notice a positive change.
Why take CBD Oil and paracetamol together?
There are plenty of reasons to use CBD Oil and paracetamol at the same time. You may already be taking CBD for other conditions, for example, such as anxiety of menopause symptoms. Chronic pain or improved sleeping are other common reasons. The anti-inflammatory potential of CBD Oil is greater than that of paracetamol. This property can be very useful for inflammatory conditions, where CBD Oil and paracetamol can augment and supplement each other’s effects.
The main forte of paracetamol is fever relief. If you are already using CBD Oil and you catch a flu, for instance, you may be tempted to also take paracetamol to keep the fever in check. Similarly, pain can become so bad that you may want to use paracetamol on top of your usual dose of CBD Oil for extra pain relief.
Is it safe to use CBD Oil and paracetamol together?
Studies have shown that the cannabinoid CBD can influence the effects of over 350 different medical drugs. This is due to the fact that the active compounds in these medicines interact with the same enzymes in the body, causing them to ‘compete’ for their availability. Fortunately, however, research has demonstrated that paracetamol and CBD Oil do not interact. As an added benefit, CBD Oil does not affect the liver in the way that paracetamol does. As they do not affect the same organs and no interactions take place, paracetamol and CBD Oil can be safely used together.
At this point, you may wonder which is your best option: CBD Oil or paracetamol? Much as we would like to, we cannot advise you on this choice. Both CBD and paracetamol come with their own pros and cons. Paracetamol is a highly effective way to relieve fever, and it can ease pain quickly. CBD Oil, on the other hand, is a natural supplement that can help your body recover its physiological balance. Its effects take longer to build up than those of paracetamol. However, Full Spectrum CBD Oil and CBD Tablets can help relieve pain naturally, as well as offering anti-inflammatory potential and a host of other benefits.
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If you plan on taking both CBD Oil and paracetamol at the same time, there is no cause for concern. Always stick to advisory dosages, though, and do not combine paracetamol with alcohol. If you are using other medication alongside paracetamol, such as tranquillizers or prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, make sure to consult your doctor on combining these with CBD Oil.
