opioid and Weed

Edited by Hugh Soames

opioid 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 experience, and it can interact with certain other drugs including opioid. 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 opioid and Weed.

Mixing opioid and Weed

Opioids are substances that act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects. Medically they are primarily used for pain relief, including anesthesia. Other medical uses include suppression of diarrhea, replacement therapy for opioid use disorder, reversing opioid overdose, suppressing cough, as well as for executions in the United States. Extremely potent opioids such as carfentanil are approved only for veterinary use. Opioids are also frequently used non-medically for their euphoric effects or to prevent withdrawal.

Side effects of opioids may include itchiness, sedation, nausea, respiratory depression, constipation, and euphoria. Long-term use can cause tolerance, meaning that increased doses are required to achieve the same effect, and physical dependence, meaning that abruptly discontinuing the drug leads to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. The euphoria attracts recreational use and frequent, escalating recreational use of opioids typically results in addiction. An overdose or concurrent use with other depressant drugs like benzodiazepines commonly results in death from respiratory depression.

Opioids act by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central and peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. These receptors mediate both the psychoactive and the somatic effects of opioids. Opioid drugs include partial agonists, like the anti-diarrhea drug loperamide and antagonists like naloxegol for opioid-induced constipation, which do not cross the blood-brain barrier, but can displace other opioids from binding to those receptors.

Because opioids are addictive and may result in fatal overdose, most are controlled substances. In 2013, between 28 and 38 million people used opioids illicitly (0.6% to 0.8% of the global population between the ages of 15 and 65). In 2011, an estimated 4 million people in the United States used opioids recreationally or were dependent on them. As of 2015, increased rates of recreational use and addiction are attributed to over-prescription of opioid medications and inexpensive illicit heroin. Conversely, fears about over-prescribing, exaggerated side effects and addiction from opioids are similarly blamed for under-treatment of pain.

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

Anyone mixing opioid and weed is likely to experience side effects. This happens with all medications whether weed or opioid is mixed with them. Side effects can be harmful when mixing opioid and weed. Doctors are likely to refuse a patient a opioid 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 opioid 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 opioid 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 opioid. 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, opioid and Weed, dol not interact is wrong. There will always be an interaction between opioid and Weed in the brain¹.

One of the milder side effects of mixing opioid and Weed is Scromiting. This condition, reportedly caused by mixing opioid 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 opioid and Weed is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS.

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 opioid and weed can cause health issues the more a person consumes it.

How does Weed effect the potency of opioid?

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

A person seeking opioid 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 opioid 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 opioid and Weed

Many individuals may not realize that there are side effects and consequences to mixing opioid 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 {Fullrug} and Weed will have on an individual due to their own unique genetic make up and tolerance. It is never advisable to mix opioid and Weed due to the chances of mild, moderate and severe side effects. If you are having an adverse reaction from mixing opioid and Weed it’s imperative that you head to your local emergency room. Even mixing a small amount of opioid and Weed is not recommended.

Taking opioid and Weed together

People who take opioid and Weed together will experience the effects of both substances. Technically, the specific effects and reactions that occur due to frequent use of opioid and weed depend on whether you consume more weed in relation to opioid or more opioid in relation to weed.

The use of significantly more weed and opioid 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 opioid may experience effects such as:

reduced motor reflexes from opioid and Weed
dizziness from Weed and opioid
nausea and vomiting due to opioid and Weed

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

Mixing weed and opioid

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

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

Taking opioid and weed together

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

reduced motor reflexes from opioid and weed
dizziness from weed and opioid
nausea and vomiting of the opioid

Weed Vs opioid

Taking opioid in sufficient quantities increases the risk of a heart failure. Additionally, people under the influence of opioid and weed may have difficulty forming new memories. With weed vs opioid in an individual’s system they become confused and do not understand their environment. Due to the synergistic properties of opioid when mixed with weed it can lead to confusion, anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. Chronic use of opioid and weed can lead to permanent changes in the brain².

opioid Vs Weed

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

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

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

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

Overdose on opioid and weed

Overdose on opioid and weed is alarmingly common and can often be fatal. In the case of Overdose on opioid or if you are worried after mixing opioid 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 opioid or mixed weed with opioid 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 opioid and weed in their system.

Mixing opioid and weed and antidepressants

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

Studies on weed, opioid 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 opioid

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

Quitting weed to take opioid

Medical professionals say an individual prescribed or taking opioid should not stop using weed cold turkey. 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 opioid.

A person beginning to use opioid 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 opioid can affect a person in various ways. Different types of marijuana produce different side effects. Side effects of weed and opioid 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 opioid and weed can also produce hallucinations in users. This makes marajuana a hallucinogenic for some users. Weed creates different side effects in different people, making it a very potent drug. Now, mixing opioid 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 opioid from working to their full potential³. 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 opioid.

opioid and Weed

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