cefalexin and Weed
Edited by Hugh Soames
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cefalexin and Weed
Most people who consume marijuana do so for its mood-altering and relaxing abilities. Weed gives people a high and allows them to relax. However, heavy consumption of weed can cause unwanted results. It can increase the anxiety and depression a person experiences, and it can interact with certain other drugs including cefalexin. It is important to remember that interactions do occur with all types of drugs, to a great or lesser extent and this article details the interactions of mixing cefalexin and Weed.
Mixing cefalexin and Weed
Cefalexin, also spelled cephalexin, is an antibiotic that can treat a number of bacterial infections. It kills gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria by disrupting the growth of the bacterial cell wall. Cefalexin is a beta-lactam antibiotic within the class of first-generation cephalosporins. It works similarly to other agents within this class, including intravenous cefazolin, but can be taken by mouth.
Cefalexin can treat certain bacterial infections, including those of the middle ear, bone and joint, skin, and urinary tract. It may also be used for certain types of pneumonia and strep throat and to prevent bacterial endocarditis. Cefalexin is not effective against infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), most Enterococcus, or Pseudomonas. Like other antibiotics, cefalexin cannot treat viral infections, such as the flu, common cold or acute bronchitis. Cefalexin can be used in those who have mild or moderate allergies to penicillin. However, it is not recommended in those with severe penicillin allergies.
Common side effects include stomach upset and diarrhea. Allergic reactions or infections with Clostridium difficile, a cause of diarrhea, are also possible. Use during pregnancy or breast feeding does not appear to be harmful to the fetus. It can be used in children and those over 65 years of age. Those with kidney problems may require a decrease in dose.
Cefalexin was developed in 1967. It was first marketed in 1969 and 1970 under the names Keflex and Ceporex, among others. Generic drug versions are available under other trade names and are inexpensive. It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. In 2020, it was the 101st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 7 million prescriptions. In Canada, it was the fifth most common antibiotic used in 2013. In Australia, it is one of the top 15 most prescribed medications.
Cefalexin can treat a number of bacterial infections including otitis media, streptococcal pharyngitis, bone and joint infections, pneumonia, cellulitis, and urinary tract infections. It may be used to prevent bacterial endocarditis. It can also be used for the prevention of recurrent urinary-tract infections.
Cefalexin does not treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
Cefalexin is a useful alternative to penicillins in patients with penicillin intolerance. For example, penicillin is the treatment of choice for respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus, but cefalexin may be used as an alternative in penicillin-intolerant patients. Caution must be exercised when administering cephalosporin antibiotics to penicillin-sensitive patients, because cross-sensitivity with beta-lactam antibiotics has been documented in up to 10% of patients with a documented penicillin allergy.
It is category A in Australia meaning that no evidence of harm has been found after being taken by many pregnant women. Use during breast feeding is generally safe.
The most common adverse effects of cefalexin, like other oral cephalosporins, are gastrointestinal (stomach area) disturbances and hypersensitivity reactions. Gastrointestinal disturbances include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, the latter being the most common. Hypersensitivity reactions include skin rashes, urticaria, fever, and anaphylaxis. Pseudomembranous colitis and Clostridium difficile have been reported with use of cefalexin. Less common and more serious side effects include bruising of the skin and yellowing of the skin or eye whites.
Signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, trouble breathing, or red, blistered, swollen, or peeling skin. Overall, cefalexin allergy occurs in less than 0.1% of patients. Evidence suggests that it is seen in 1% to 10% of patients with a penicillin allergy.
Like other β-lactam antibiotics, renal excretion of cefalexin is delayed by probenecid. It is also not recommended to take cephalexin with dofetilide, live Cholera vaccine, warfarin, and cholestyramine. Alcohol consumption reduces the rate at which it is absorbed. Cefalexin also interacts with metformin, an antidiabetic drug, and this can lead to higher concentrations of metformin in the body. Histamine H2 receptor antagonists like cimetidine and ranitidine may reduce the efficacy of cefalexin by delaying its absorption and altering its antimicrobial pharmacodynamics. Zinc and zinc supplements also interact with cefalexin and may reduce the amount of cefalexin in the body.
Cefalexin is a beta-lactam antibiotic of the cephalosporin family. It is bactericidal and acts by inhibiting synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of the bacterial cell wall. As cefalexin closely resembles d-alanyl-d-alanine, an amino acid ending on the peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall, it is able to irreversibly bind to the active site of PBP, which is essential for the synthesis of the cell wall. It is most active against gram-positive cocci, and has moderate activity against some gram-negative bacilli. However, some bacterial cells have the enzyme β-lactamase, which hydrolyzes the beta-lactam ring, rendering the drug inactive. This contributes to antibacterial resistance towards cefalexin.
Cefalexin is rapidly and almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with oral administration. Absorption is slightly reduced when it is taken with food and the medication can be taken without regard for meals. Peak levels of cefalexin occur about 1 hour after administration. Maximal levels of cefalexin increase approximately linearly over a dose range of 250 to 1,000 mg.
Like most other cephalosporins, cefalexin is not metabolized or otherwise inactivated in the body.
The elimination half-life of cefalexin is approximately 30 to 60 minutes in people with normal renal function. Therapeutic levels of cefalexin with oral administration are maintained for 6 to 8 hours. For this reason, cefalexin is typically administered once every 6 to 12 hours depending on the indication. More than 90% of cefalexin is excreted unchanged in the urine within 8 hours.
It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. The World Health Organization classifies cefalexin as highly important for human medicine.
Cefalexin is the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) and the Australian Approved Name (AAN), while cephalexin is the British Approved Name (BAN) and the United States Adopted Name (USAN). Brand names for cefalexin include Keflex, Acfex, Cephalex, Ceporex, L-Xahl, Medoxine, Ospexin, Torlasporin, Bio-Cef, Panixine DisperDose, and Novo-Lexin.
According to Plumb’s Veterinary Medication Guides, cefalexin can be used in treating skin, respiratory tract, and urinary tract infections. Specifically, it can be used to treat pyoderma in dogs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it for use in humans and dogs but not for other species. Like other drugs approved for human use, cefalexin may be prescribed by veterinarians for animals in certain situations.
Research has found that anxiety is one of the leading symptoms created by marijuana in users, and that there is a correlation between cefalexin and Weed and an increase in anxiety.
Anyone mixing cefalexin and weed is likely to experience side effects. This happens with all medications whether weed or cefalexin is mixed with them. Side effects can be harmful when mixing cefalexin and weed. Doctors are likely to refuse a patient a cefalexin prescription if the individual is a weed smoker or user. Of course, this could be due to the lack of studies and research completed on the mixing of cefalexin and Weed.
Heavy, long-term weed use is harmful for people. It alters the brain’s functions and structure, and all pharmaceuticals and drugs including cefalexin are designed to have an impact on the brain. There is a misplaced belief that pharmaceuticals and medication work by treating only the parts of the body affected yet this is obviously not the case in terms of cefalexin. For example, simple painkiller medication does not heal the injury, it simply interrupts the brains functions to receive the pain cause by the injury. To say then that two drugs, cefalexin and Weed, dol not interact is wrong. There will always be an interaction between cefalexin and Weed in the brain11.J. D. Brown and A. G. Winterstein, Potential Adverse Drug Events and Drug–Drug Interactions with Medical and Consumer Cannabidiol (CBD) Use – PMC, PubMed Central (PMC).; Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6678684/.
One of the milder side effects of mixing cefalexin and Weed is Scromiting. This condition, reportedly caused by mixing cefalexin and Weed, describes a marijuana-induced condition where the user experiences episodes of violent vomiting, which are often so severe and painful that they cause the person to scream. The medical term for Scromiting by mixing cefalexin and Weed is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS. For these reasons, some people choose to quit smoking weed.
It was first included in scientific reports in 2004. Since then, researchers have determined that Scromiting is the result of ongoing, long-term use of marijuana—particularly when the drug contains high levels of THC, marijuana’s main psychoactive ingredient. Some experts believe that the receptors in the gut become overstimulated by THC, thus causing the repeated cycles of vomiting.
In the long run, a person can become even more depressed. There is a belief that marijuana is all-natural and not harmful to a person’s health. This is not true and cefalexin and weed can cause health issues the more a person consumes it.
How does Weed effect the potency of cefalexin?
The way in which the body absorbs and process cefalexin may be affected by weed. Therefore, the potency of the cefalexin may be less effective. Marijuana inhibits the metabolization of cefalexin. Not having the right potency of cefalexin means a person may either have a delay in the relief of their underlying symptoms.
A person seeking cefalexin medication that uses weed should speak to their doctor. It is important the doctor knows about a patient’s weed use, so they can prescribe the right cefalexin medication and strength. Or depending on level of interactions they may opt to prescribe a totally different medication. It is important for the doctor to know about their patient’s marijuana use. Weed is being legalized around the US, so doctors should be open to speaking about a patient’s use of it.
Sideffects of cefalexin and Weed
Many individuals may not realize that there are side effects and consequences to mixing cefalexin and Weed such as:
- Dizziness
- Sluggishness
- Drowsiness
- Shortness of breath
- Itching
- Hives
- Palpitations
- Respiratory Depression
- Cardiac Arrest
- Coma
- Seizures
- Death
Interestingly, it is impossible to tell what effect mixing this substance with Weed will have on an individual due to their own unique genetic make up and tolerance. It is never advisable to mix cefalexin and Weed due to the chances of mild, moderate and severe side effects. If you are having an adverse reaction from mixing cefalexin and Weed it’s imperative that you head to your local emergency room. Even mixing a small amount of cefalexin and Weed is not recommended.
Taking cefalexin and Weed together
People who take cefalexin and Weed together will experience the effects of both substances. Technically, the specific effects and reactions that occur due to frequent use of cefalexin and weed depend on whether you consume more weed in relation to cefalexin or more cefalexin in relation to weed.
The use of significantly more weed and cefalexin will lead to sedation and lethargy, as well as the synergistic effects resulting from a mixture of the two medications.
People who take both weed and cefalexin may experience effects such as:
- reduced motor reflexes from cefalexin and Weed
- dizziness from Weed and cefalexin
- nausea and vomiting due to cefalexin and Weed
Some people may also experience more euphoria, depression, irritability or all three. A combination of weed and cefalexin leads to significantly more lethargy which can easily tip over into coma, respiratory depression seizures and death.
Mixing weed and cefalexin
The primary effect of weed is influenced by an increase in the concentration of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which is found in the spinal cord and brain stem, and by a reduction in its effect on neuronal transmitters. When weed is combined with cefalexin this primary effect is exaggerated, increasing the strain on the body with unpredictable results.
Weed and cefalexin affects dopamine levels in the brain, causing the body both mental and physical distress. Larger amounts of cefalexin and weed have a greater adverse effect yet leading medical recommendation is that smaller does of cefalexin can be just as harmful and there is no way of knowing exactly how cefalexin and weed is going to affect an individual before they take it.
Taking cefalexin and weed together
People who take cefalexin and weed together will experience the effects of both substances. The use of significantly more cefalexin with weed will lead to sedation and lethargy, as well as the synergistic effects resulting from a mixture of the two medications.
People who take both weed and cefalexin may experience effects such as:
- reduced motor reflexes from cefalexin and weed
- dizziness from weed and cefalexin
- nausea and vomiting of the cefalexin
Some people may also experience more euphoria, depression, irritability or all three. A combination of weed and cefalexin leads to significantly more lethargy which can easily tip over into coma, respiratory depression seizures and death.
Weed Vs cefalexin
Taking cefalexin in sufficient quantities increases the risk of a heart failure. Additionally, people under the influence of cefalexin and weed may have difficulty forming new memories. With weed vs cefalexin in an individual’s system they become confused and do not understand their environment. Due to the synergistic properties of cefalexin when mixed with weed it can lead to confusion, anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. Chronic use of cefalexin and weed can lead to permanent changes in the brain22.G. Lafaye, L. Karila, L. Blecha and A. Benyamina, Cannabis, cannabinoids, and health – PMC, PubMed Central (PMC).; Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5741114/.
cefalexin Vs Weed
Studies investigating the effects of drugs such as cefalexin and weed have shown that the potential for parasomnia (performing tasks in sleep) is dramatically increased when cefalexin and weed are combined. Severe and dangerous side effects can occur when medications are mixed in the system, and sleep disorders are a common side effect of taking weed and cefalexin together.
When a small to medium amount of weed is combined with cefalexin, sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can occur. According to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) most ER visits and hospitalizations caused by too much weed were associated with other substances such as cefalexin.
How long after taking cefalexin can I smoke weed or take edibles?
To avoid any residual toxicity it is advisable to wait until the cefalexin has totally cleared your system before taking weed, even in small quantities.
Overdose on cefalexin and weed
In the case of Overdose on cefalexin or if you are worried after mixing cefalexin and weed, call a first responder or proceed to the nearest Emergency Room immediately.
If you are worried about someone who has taken too much cefalexin or mixed weed with cefalexin then call a first responder or take them to get immediate medical help. The best place for you or someone you care about in the case of a medical emergency is under medical supervision. Be sure to tell the medical team that there is a mix of cefalexin and weed in their system.
Excessive Weed intake and result in scromiting, chs, and anxiety disorder. It is advisable to quit vaping weed if you are feeling these symptoms.
Mixing cefalexin and weed and antidepressants
Weed users feeling depressed and anxious may be prescribed antidepressant medication. There are some antidepressant users who also use cefalexin and weed. These individuals may not realize that there are side effects and consequences to consuming both cefalexin, marijuana and a range of antidepressants.
Studies on weed, cefalexin and antidepressants is almost nil. The reason for so little information on the side effects of the two is mostly down to marijuana being illegal in most places – although a number of states in the United States have legalized the drug.
Self-medicating with Weed and cefalexin
A lot of people suffer from depression caused by weed and cefalexin. How many? According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), in any given year, it is estimated that nearly 16 million adults experience depression. Unfortunately, that number is likely to be wrong due to under reporting. Many people do not report suffering from depression because they do not want to be looked at as suffering from a mental illness. The stigmas around mental health continue and people do not want to be labeled as depressed.
Potential side effects from mixing cefalexin and weed
Quitting weed to take cefalexin
Medical professionals say an individual prescribed or taking cefalexin should not stop using weed cold turkey. Withdrawal symptoms can be significant. Heavy pot users should especially avoid going cold turkey. The side effects of withdrawal from weed include anxiety, irritability, loss of sleep, change of appetite, and depression by quitting weed cold turkey and starting to take cefalexin.
A person beginning to use cefalexin should cut back on weed slowly. While reducing the amount of weed use, combine it with mindfulness techniques and/or yoga. Experts stress that non-medication can greatly improve a person’s mood.
Weed and cefalexin can affect a person in various ways. Different types of marijuana produce different side effects. Side effects of weed and cefalexin may include:
- loss of motor skills
- poor or lack of coordination
- lowered blood pressure
- short-term memory loss
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- anxiety
- paranoia
- increased energy
- increased motivation
Mixing cefalexin and weed can also produce hallucinations in users. This makes marijuana a hallucinogenic for some users. Weed creates different side effects in different people, making it a very potent drug. Now, mixing cefalexin or other mental health drugs with weed can cause even more unwanted side effects.
Mixing drugs and weed conclusion
Long-term weed use can make depression and anxiety worse. In addition, using marijuana can prevent cefalexin from working to their full potential33.J. D. Brown and A. G. Winterstein, Potential Adverse Drug Events and Drug–Drug Interactions with Medical and Consumer Cannabidiol (CBD) Use – PMC, PubMed Central (PMC).; Retrieved September 27, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6678684/. Weed consumption should be reduced gradually to get the most out of prescription medication. Marijuana is a drug and it is harmful to individual’s long-term health. Weed has many side effects and the consequences are different to each person who uses it, especially when mixed with cefalexin.
If you take cefalexin, and also drink Alcohol or MDMA, you can research the effects of cefalexin and Alcohol , cefalexin and Cocaine as well as cefalexin and MDMA here.
To find the effects of other drugs and weed refer to our Weed and Other Drugs Index A to L or our Weed and Other Drugs Index M-Z.
Or you could find what you are looking for in our Alcohol and Interactions with Other Drugs index A to L or Alcohol and Interactions with Other Drugs index M to Z , Cocaine and Interactions with Other Drugs index A to L or Cocaine and Interactions with Other Drugs index M to Z or our MDMA and Interactions with Other Drugs Index A to L or MDMA and Interactions with Other Drugs Index M to Z.
cefalexin and Weed
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