Contents
Is Smoking Cannabis On Accutane Recommended?
Even though weed is safe;
Unfortunately, as many Doctors have a bias against
As always, I am not a Doctor and am not giving any medical advice. This information here is curated from various sources on the web. My advice is to read this information and then do further research.
What is Accutane?
Accutane (AKA Isotretinoin) is a powerful medication (classified as an oral retinoid) that is used for the treatment of severe acne.
Accutane pills are taken for around four to six months and are used mainly for when acne has not responded to other more conservative treatments and for acne that can likely cause permanent scarring.
Accutane’s active ingredient is a mega dose of, naturally derived, vitamin A. However, just because it is natural does not make it perfectly safe. Too much vitamin A, like pretty much too much of anything can have damaging effects. That’s why you should not take vitamin A supplements while taking this drug.
It is known for being quite effective in that 50% of patients who take it once will never have to take it again. Only around .002% of people will have worse acne after taking Accutane.
Side Effects
It gives your body a massive amount of Vitamin A. Too much Vitamin A can cause problems. So, as always, be sure to take only the dosage that you are prescribed and only take it under doctors’ supervision. (Preferably a dermatologist) Some of the minor side effects of Accutane are chapped lips, dry skin, mild nosebleeds, and a dry mouth.
Rare-But Potentially Fatal Symptoms-Accutane is also known to cause a slightly increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. Luckily depression and suicidal thoughts only occur in less than one percent of all users.
The worst side effect of Accutane is that it can cause severe birth defects. As a result, never take Accutane during pregnancy, and when you are on it, be sure to use birth control. Additionally, a rare but potentially fatal side effect is blood clots, which could cause a stroke. Other notable potential issues are that it can affect the liver, which may cause an unsafe rise in cholesterol levels.
Accutane and Weed’s Side Effects
Like I said numerous times before as
I am pro-cannabis smoker may need more anesthesia or a patient may prematurely wake up during surgery.
As a result, the only advice concerning mixing weed and Accutane was anecdotal or educated guessing. Left without scientific proof the biases of both the pro-cannabis factions will likely state that weed is either bad for you or will not cause any harm.
Are There Any Scientifically Proven Side Effects?
There are not any known serious or adverse consequences of combining any type of cannabinoid with Accutane. (look for Dr. Randy Baker) This is even admitted by Doctors who most likely are anti-cannabis. For example, a Doctor who did not recommend combining the two stated that it ” Might “, cause problems. (Check out Dr. Pamela Pappas)
As I previously stated though, as no studies on the interaction between the two have been done, it does not mean that you can be guaranteed that combining the two will be safe.
Doctor’s Advice
Like with anything
The pros and Cons of combining Accutane and weed will be summarized below.
PROS
Dr. Randy Baker, a holistic medicine practitioner of 40 years admitted that, in general,
Dr. Ed Friedlander a pathologist with 44 years of experience stated that it should be okay to combine the two as any potential side effects would be quite mild. One negative side effect mention was that your airways may be constricted which can make it easier to choke as you are taking a bong hit. (This sounds bad. But, he did not stress that this would be life-threatening) However, this issue could be solved by edibles.
CONS
Dr. Pamela Pappas as a Psychiatrist with 42 years of experience did not recommend combining the two as doing so MIGHT potentially increase the chance of depression and suicidal ideation. The reason for her warning is that Accutane has been linked to causing depression and suicidal thoughts in some users. (<1%)
Dr. Alan Ali a Psychiatrist with 32 years of experience said essentially the same thing as combining Accutane and weed could result in dangerous mood swings.
Please check out the appendix below if you need more information concerning how
Final Thoughts
Currently, because of
Appendix
Why Is The Reaction To Cannabis And Certain Drugs So Hard To Predict?
Drugs are categorized into three classes which are depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens.
- Depressant -Weed will make you relaxed and sleepy.
- Creativity and Mood Swings – This is a stimulant effect.
- Hallucinogenic – An example of this is the enhanced sense of taste when smoking
cannabis .
As an example, some smokers get paranoid when they smoke any weed or a certain strain. While another person smoking the same strain may feel relaxed and ready to pass out. That’s why is it quite hard to predict how