Cannabidiol, popularly known as CBD, is an active ingredient in the cannabis Sativa plant. On the other hand, magnesium is one of the macro minerals our bodies need to survive. Conditions requiring you to take magnesium supplements include constipation, magnesium deficiency, heartburn, pre-eclampsia, Torsades de Pointes, and eclampsia.
You might wonder whether magnesium is a suitable alternative to CBD or if you should keep CBD aside till you finish your magnesium supplements. This article will discuss the various uses of CBD and magnesium and reveal whether it is okay to take magnesium and CBD together.
Table of Contents
Health benefits of magnesium
Did you know that every cell in your body contains magnesium? This essential macromineral is involved in creating new proteins from amino acids, converting food to energy, and regulating the nervous system. Magnesium also helps with the functioning of your brain and helps to regulate your mood. Research reveals that magnesium supplements may reduce depressive episodes. Individuals who consume more magnesium have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes as this mineral supports healthy blood sugar levels.
If you have a regular workout routine, magnesium may be helpful during recovery as it disposes of lactate and improves the movement of sugar in your muscles. Migraines are painful headaches that often go hand in hand with symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light. Increasing your intake of magnesium could provide relief from migraines and reduce the frequency with which they occur.
Signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency
Magnesium deficiency is a condition whereby your body is not getting as much magnesium as it needs. It would help if you also looked out for signs of numbness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, tingling, and muscle cramps. If you are constantly shaking, tired, or experiencing abnormal heart rhythms, you should visit the nearest hospital for diagnosis, usually via a urine or blood test.
Side effects of magnesium
Despite its numerous health benefits, too much magnesium could take its toll on your body. Common side effects of excessive magnesium in the body include low blood pressure, fatigue, slowed breathing, diarrhoea, a tingling sensation, and stomach upset. You might also experience nausea, vomiting, muscle depression, and general body weakness. In the most severe situations, you might go into a coma. Therefore, keeping your magnesium intake below 350mg daily would be wise. If you are within the recommended dosage but still experience nasty side effects, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider and ask for an alternative.
CBD vs. magnesium for various health conditions
There has been an ongoing debate about whether CBD is a suitable alternative to magnesium substitutes. Since the two drugs are different in chemical structure and composition, you cannot use one in place of the other. For instance, you can’t use CBD to treat a magnesium deficiency. However, you can use CBD for conditions that magnesium can help manage. You could use the correct CBD dosage and magnesium to ease conditions such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, and migraines and improve your bone health. It would be wise to consume both drugs to achieve a more holistic effect instead of trying to replace one drug with the other. However, if you choose to take them both, ensure you space them at least two hours apart to promote maximum absorption into your bloodstream. Remember, the goal is to reap the full benefits of both drugs.
How CBD interacts with other medications
You might have a doctor’s prescription but would still like to continue consuming CBD. However, it is essential to note that CBD might react with other medications you are taking and cause adverse side effects. Let’s look into three ways in which CBD interacts with other drugs.
Antagonistic interactions
When one drug lowers the efficiency of the other or causes it to become less potent, the two are said to enter an antagonistic reaction. The drugs work in the opposite direction of each other and should not be consumed together. Examples of drugs that enter antagonistic reactions with CBD include immunomodulators, asthma medication, stimulants such as amphetamine, and immunosuppressants.
Agonistic interactions
In an agonistic reaction, the two compounds exhibit the same effect when introduced into the body. Examples of medications that enter agonistic responses with CBD include antidiabetic, anti-anxiety, and antihypertensive medicines.
Metabolic inhibition
Lastly, metabolic inhibition occurs when both drugs compete against one another, causing them to experience a reduced metabolic rate. This is because some medicines require the same enzymes as CBD to metabolize the drug molecules. Examples of medication likely to enter a metabolic inhibition with CBD include opiate painkillers, blood thinners, antidepressants, and NSAIDs.
Wrap up
In a nutshell, you can take CBD and magnesium together. Since CBD and magnesium have different mechanisms, there is little chance you will experience a negative side effect. However, it is essential to note that magnesium might reduce the rate at which CBD gets absorbed in your gut. Therefore, it would be best to wait about two hours to consume CBD after taking your magnesium supplements.
