You shouldn’t take olanzapine and marijuana at the same time, as smoking marijuana will increase the rate at which the body metabolizes olanzapine at low dosages. It is also recommended that you speak with your medical marijuana doctor prior to beginning any medicinal marijuana use. Your doctor will determine whether using marijuana while taking olanzapine is appropriate for you.
What Is Olanzapine?
One prescription drug that can be used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is olanzapine.
It has to be mentioned that there are several kinds of strengths at hand, beginning with the second. Consult the letter for children whose OCG is between 5 and 20 mg, as the measurements determine the final result.
In schizophrenia, the recommended dose is 5 to 10 mg per day; in bipolar I disorder manic episodes, it is 15 mg per day. Olanzapine can also cause other side effects such as drowsiness, lightheadedness, and constipation.
Uses and How It Works
Olanzapine comes in the form of an orodisperable tablet, which is dissolved on the tongue and administered once daily. Furthermore, it may be administered by injection into the buttocks. While this is less easily accessible, a person who has some issues with their regimen to keep up with the dose or forget about the prescription should probably try this.
Olanzapine acts as an antipsychotic agent, which helps in alleviating the signs and symptoms of various mental disorders. These drugs work by altering the chemical composition of your brain’s neurotransmitters.
Your brain employs other chemicals, which are referred to as neurotransmitters, in the transmission of messages between the various cells. These messages are conveyed by dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline, among other chemicals that help in the regulation of activity in the brain.
For instance, some people have high dopamine levels, and such a problem can lead to hallucinations. The phenomenon of hallucinations is characteristic of several pathological conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
It is also effective in regulating mood and behavior through the interaction of serotonin and noradrenaline. They control muscular activity, heart operations, and other functions of the body, as well as feelings.
In general, it is possible to determine the correct dose of olanzapine in several weeks, and several weeks is enough for symptomatology to begin to recede.
Potential Benefits and Risks of Combining Cannabis and Olanzapine
Potential Benefits
It is also posited that smoking marijuana while on olanzapine has an advantage in that olanzapine mitigates THC-induced psychosis. Despite the fact that the majority of patients do not get THC-induced psychosis, they do experience psychometric changes or the feeling of being stoned.
Normal subjects were employed to develop a model of psychosis. For non-chronic cannabis users, olanzapine has been established to blunt the impact that THC has temporarily on the human mind. In other words, olanzapine can neutralize or eliminate the effects of high emotions.
This could be preferable for people who need high-THC medical cannabis but don’t want to get ‘high’. THC’s central nervous system stimulation may be reduced by olanzapine.
Potential Risks
Alas, olanzapine with marijuana is dangerous in terms of interaction with other drugs and medications. Combining marijuana with olanzapine might lead to an increase in the clearance of olanzapine. This means that, in some cases, olanzapine can be cleared more rapidly from the body.
Due to the small and precise dosages of olanzapine, it is strictly recommended not to take any marijuana while on this medication. When you attempt to self-regulate the medicine dosage, there are chances that you will titrate down the dosage or you will titrate up the dosage.
When one takes high doses of olanzapine, he stands to suffer from serious side effects. This includes:
- Feeling tired
- Feeling dizzy
- Having problems standing or walking
- Unusual body movement (particularly in the face)
- Having fast heartbeats
- Seizures
- Speech issues
- Changes to breathing
If you get any of the above side effects after changing your olanzapine dose, go to the nearest emergency center.
A more benign but equally pressing concern is probable obesity. Olanzapine and marijuana have both been cited to influence appetite, while olanzapine has been said to increase appetite and perhaps contribute to weight gain.
How to Safely Use Both Olanzapine and Marijuana
You should speak with your doctor or pharmacist about the amount and strength of cannabis you intend to take if you must take both olanzapine and marijuana. This will help your doctor see whether your medicine requires an increase, decrease, or even a change. They may choose a drug that has no compatibility with marijuana.
In any case, you’re encouraged to consult a doctor. It is not recommended to take olanzapine and marijuana together in an attempt to lessen the psychotic effects of the drug without first speaking with a physician.
Wrapping Up
Olanzapine and cannabis are counterproductive therapeutically because cannabis causes the body to metabolize the olanzapine faster than it should. This can interfere with the body’s dose control and subsequently bring about consequences that are not wanted. It’s important to avoid cannabis if you are being treated for psychosis with olanzapine.
Last but not least, it is advisable to consult a doctor to determine if there are any adverse interactions if marijuana is consumed together with any prescribed medication. The doctor will give you a medical marijuana card, which will allow you to legally access marijuana in your state, if he determines that using marijuana in conjunction with olanzapine is safe for you.
