Can you use marijuana if you take Lamictal?

Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is a prescription medication used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Some people with these conditions also use cannabis to help manage related symptoms, such as seizures, mood swings, or sleep disturbances.

While combining Lamictal and cannabis may help relieve certain symptoms, it can also increase the risk of some side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion. Learn the risks and potential benefits of combining cannabis and Lamictal to manage your health safely.

Disclaimer: You should never combine cannabis and Lamictal without first speaking with a healthcare professional.

What is Lamictal?

Lamictal is a prescription medication that’s used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. 

How does Lamictal work?

Researchers aren’t exactly sure how Lamictal works to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, but it’s thought to calm overactive signals in the brain that can lead to seizures or mood changes. 

It can take several weeks for Lamictal to begin working. Most people start with a very low dose to ensure they can tolerate it well.

Lamictal can cause some side effects, such as:

• Headache
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Difficulty speaking
• Heartburn
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Nausea
• Vomiting 
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Rashes, including serious rashes that may require hospitalization

Seek medical care right away if you notice a rash while taking Lamictal. To lower your risk of side effects, only take Lamictal as directed.

Is it safe to take Lamictal and weed?

There’s little research on how cannabis interacts with Lamictal. While a serious interaction seems unlikely, combining them may still increase the risk of side effects like:

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness

Your doctor can help address any concerns you may have about combining cannabis and Lamictal.

Can I mix CBD and Lamictal?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nonintoxicating compound found in cannabis. It’s commonly used to help with certain health conditions, including:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Inflammation
• Pain

Combining CBD and Lamictal may increase your risk of certain side effects, such as:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about combining CBD and Lamictal.

Benefits of combining Lamictal and cannabis

Some people have reported that taking cannabis and Lamictal together can offer some benefits when both are used as directed:

• Increased relief: For certain individuals, cannabis can help ease health conditions like seizures and insomnia.  Combining it with Lamictal may enhance symptom relief.
• Reduced medication intake: Some people report needing lower doses of Lamictal after adding cannabis. But you should never lower your Lamictal dose without a doctor’s supervision.

Some people find that cannabis makes bipolar symptoms worse, especially mania or psychosis. If you have bipolar disorder, talk with your doctor before using cannabis.  

How to take Lamictal and marijuana together

If your doctor approves using cannabis while taking Lamictal, they can help you create a safe dosage plan. Some things to discuss with them include:

• Starting low and going slow: It’s commonly recommended to begin with low doses of both cannabis and Lamictal to see how you feel. You can increase each dose gradually (with your doctor’s guidance) until you reach the desired effects.
• Consider other medications you’re taking: If you take any other medications, ask your doctor if they’re safe to combine with cannabis and Lamictal.

The takeaway: Speak with a doctor before mixing cannabis and Lamictal

Both cannabis and Lamictal may help relieve symptoms of epilepsy and bipolar disorder, such as seizures, irritability, and sleeplessness. But combining them might make you more likely to experience certain side effects, like drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion.

Some people find that cannabis makes certain bipolar symptoms worse, especially mania or psychosis.

Always speak with your doctor or a Leafwell provider before trying cannabis with Lamictal. This can ensure that you use them safely and effectively for your individual needs.

Resources

• Cannabinoids in the treatment of epilepsy: Hard evidence at last? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5767492/
• Is time elapsed between cannabis use and sleep start time associated with sleep continuity? An experience sampling method. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871620300119
• Lamotrigine. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a695007.html

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