Choosing CBD Products

If you’re considering using CBD Products and Hydroxychloroquine to treat your lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, it’s important to talk to your doctor first. Some medications and supplements can interact with CBD, increasing the risk of unwanted effects.

Liver Toxicity

Taking CBD can cause liver toxicity, particularly when combined with methotrexate. People with liver damage or impaired function should consult their doctor before beginning treatment with CBD to reduce the risk of harmful side effects.

CBD Products and Hydroxychloroquine: Understanding the Interactions and Risks

Medications like antidepressants, muscle relaxers, seizure medication and GABA inhibitors can increase the risk of adverse effects when taken with CBD. These drugs can also interfere with the body’s endocannabinoid system, slowing its natural production of endocannabinoids that help regulate sleep, pain, mood, and immune response.

Grapefruit Warnings

Some medications, including Epidiolex (a CBD product that treats rare forms of epilepsy) and clobazam, have a grapefruit warning. This is because the chemicals in grapefruit inhibit CYP3A4, which can affect how well the medication is metabolized by the body and make it less effective.

Hydroxychloroquine and Coronavirus

Some people with lupus or rheumatoid disease have been prescribed the antibiotic hydroxychloroquine to treat a severe symptom called coronavirus infection. This can lead to inflammation, swelling, and joint pain that can affect your quality of life.

Using CBD along with hydroxychloroquine can cause side effects, such as drowsiness and sedation, and can affect your blood levels of the hydroxychloroquine. You can find more information on this topic by reading the leaflet that comes with your hydroxychloroquine prescription or by joining MyLupusTeam, a social network of people with lupus and their loved ones.