Khat and Weed

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Khat 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 Khat. 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 Khat and Weed.

Mixing Khat and Weed

Research has found that anxiety is one of the leading symptoms created by marijuana in users, and that there is a correlation between Khat and Weed and an increase in anxiety.

Anyone mixing Khat and weed is likely to experience side effects. This happens with all medications whether weed or Khat is mixed with them. Side effects can be harmful when mixing Khat and weed. Doctors are likely to refuse a patient a Khat 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 Khat 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 Khat 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 Khat. 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, Khat and Weed, dol not interact is wrong. There will always be an interaction between Khat 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 Khat and Weed is Scromiting. This condition, reportedly caused by mixing Khat 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 Khat 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 Khat and weed can cause health issues the more a person consumes it.

How does Weed effect the potency of Khat?

The way in which the body absorbs and process Khat may be affected by weed. Therefore, the potency of the Khat may be less effective. Marijuana inhibits the metabolization of Khat. Not having the right potency of Khat means a person may either have a delay in the relief of their underlying symptoms.

A person seeking Khat 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 Khat 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 Khat and Weed

Many individuals may not realize that there are side effects and consequences to mixing Khat 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 Khat and Weed due to the chances of mild, moderate and severe side effects. If you are having an adverse reaction from mixing Khat and Weed it’s imperative that you head to your local emergency room. Even mixing a small amount of Khat and Weed is not recommended.

Mixing weed and Khat

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 Khat this primary effect is exaggerated, increasing the strain on the body with unpredictable results.

Weed and Khat affects dopamine levels in the brain, causing the body both mental and physical distress. Larger amounts of Khat and weed have a greater adverse effect yet leading medical recommendation is that smaller does of Khat can be just as harmful and there is no way of knowing exactly how Khat and weed is going to affect an individual before they take it.

Taking Khat and weed together

People who take Khat and weed together will experience the effects of both substances. The use of significantly more Khat 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 Khat may experience effects such as:

• reduced motor reflexes from Khat and weed
• dizziness from weed and Khat
• nausea and vomiting of the Khat

Some people may also experience more euphoria, depression, irritability or all three. A combination of weed and Khat leads to significantly more lethargy which can easily tip over into coma, respiratory depression seizures and death.

Weed Vs Khat

Taking Khat in sufficient quantities increases the risk of a heart failure. Additionally, people under the influence of Khat and weed may have difficulty forming new memories. With weed vs Khat in an individual’s system they become confused and do not understand their environment. Due to the synergistic properties of Khat when mixed with weed it can lead to confusion, anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. Chronic use of Khat 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/.

Khat Vs Weed

Studies investigating the effects of drugs such as Khat and weed have shown that the potential for parasomnia (performing tasks in sleep) is dramatically increased when Khat 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 Khat together.

When a small to medium amount of weed is combined with Khat, 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 Khat.

How long after taking Khat can I smoke weed or take edibles?

To avoid any residual toxicity it is advisable to wait until the Khat has totally cleared your system before taking weed, even in small quantities.

Overdose on Khat and weed

In the case of Overdose on Khat or if you are worried after mixing Khat 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 Khat or mixed weed with Khat 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 Khat 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 Khat and weed and antidepressants

Weed users feeling depressed and anxious may be prescribed antidepressant medication. There are some antidepressant users who also use Khat and weed. These individuals may not realize that there are side effects and consequences to consuming both Khat, marijuana and a range of antidepressants.

Studies on weed, Khat 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 Khat

A lot of people suffer from depression caused by weed and Khat. 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 underreporting. 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 Khat and weed

Quitting weed to take Khat

Medical professionals say an individual prescribed or taking Khat 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 Khat.

A person beginning to use Khat 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 Khat can affect a person in various ways. Different types of marijuana produce different side effects. Side effects of weed and Khat 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 Khat 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 Khat 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 Khat 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 Khat.

If you take Khat, and also drink Alcohol or MDMA, you can research the effects of Khat and Alcohol , Khat and Cocaine as well as Khat 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.

Khat and Weed