What to Know While Mixing CBD with Alcohol?

CBD and alcohol are two popular substances that many people consume for various reasons. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound derived from the cannabis plant that has many potential health benefits, such as reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and relieving pain. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a psychoactive substance that can alter your mood, behavior, and cognition.

But what happens when you mix CBD and alcohol? Is it safe or dangerous? How does it affect your body and mind? And what are the best practices for combining these two substances?

In this ultimate guide, you will learn everything you need to know about mixing CBD and alcohol, including the effects, risks, benefits, and tips for doing it safely and responsibly.

How CBD and Alcohol Affect Your Body

Before we dive into the details of mixing CBD and alcohol, let’s first understand how each substance affects your body individually.

CBD

CBD is one of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis, CBD does not get you high or cause any intoxicating effects. Instead, CBD interacts with your endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors and molecules that regulate various bodily functions, such as mood, pain, inflammation, sleep, appetite, and more.

By influencing the ECS, CBD can produce a range of effects, depending on the dose, method of consumption, and individual factors. Some of the most common effects of CBD are:

Anxiety relief: CBD can help reduce anxiety symptoms by modulating the activity of serotonin receptors, which are involved in mood regulation.
Sleep improvement: CBD can help improve sleep quality and duration by affecting the sleep-wake cycle and reducing insomnia.
Pain reduction: CBD can help relieve pain and inflammation by interacting with various receptors and enzymes that control pain perception and response.
Neuroprotection: CBD can help protect the brain and nervous system from damage and degeneration by acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

However, CBD can also have some side effects, especially at high doses or when taken with other medications. Some of the possible side effects of CBD are:

Drowsiness: CBD can cause sleepiness or sedation, especially when taken in large amounts or with other sedatives.
Dry mouth: CBD can reduce saliva production, leading to a dry mouth sensation or thirst.
Low blood pressure: CBD can lower blood pressure, which can cause lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting in some people.
Diarrhea: CBD can affect the digestive system, causing diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting in some cases.
Liver damage: CBD can interact with liver enzymes that metabolize drugs, potentially increasing the risk of liver toxicity or damage.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a substance that can be found in various drinks, such as beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeast, and its main ingredient is ethanol, a type of alcohol that can affect the brain and body.

When you drink alcohol, it enters your bloodstream quickly and reaches your brain within minutes. Alcohol affects the activity of various neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate, which are responsible for regulating your mood, behavior, cognition, and more.

Depending on the amount and type of alcohol you consume, as well as your body weight, gender, genetics, and other factors, alcohol can have different effects on you. Some of the common effects of alcohol are:

Relaxation: Alcohol can reduce stress and anxiety by enhancing the effects of GABA, a neurotransmitter that inhibits brain activity and promotes calmness.
Euphoria: Alcohol can increase pleasure and reward by stimulating the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is involved in motivation and addiction.
Impairment: Alcohol can impair your judgment, memory, attention, coordination, and reaction time by interfering with the function of glutamate, a neurotransmitter that is essential for learning and cognition.
Aggression: Alcohol can increase aggression and violence by lowering the levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and social behavior.

However, alcohol can also have many negative effects, especially when consumed in excess or over a long period of time. Some of the harmful effects of alcohol are:

Dehydration: Alcohol can cause dehydration by increasing urine output and reducing fluid intake, which can lead to headaches, thirst, dry skin, and fatigue.
Hangover: Alcohol can cause a hangover, a collection of symptoms that occur after drinking too much, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, drowsiness, irritability, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Liver damage: Alcohol can damage the liver, the organ that is responsible for metabolizing and eliminating alcohol from the body, by causing inflammation, scarring, or cirrhosis.
Brain damage: Alcohol can damage the brain, the organ that is responsible for controlling all your bodily functions, by causing shrinkage, atrophy, or dementia.
Addiction: Alcohol can cause addiction, a chronic and relapsing disorder that is characterized by a loss of control over alcohol use, despite the negative consequences.

What Happens When You Mix CBD and Alcohol?

Now that you know how CBD and alcohol affect your body separately, let’s see what happens when you mix them together. Is it a good idea or a bad one? How does it affect your health and well-being? And what are the potential benefits and risks of combining these two substances?

The truth is, there is not enough scientific evidence to answer these questions definitively. There are only a few studies that have examined the effects of mixing CBD and alcohol in humans, and they have used different doses, methods, and measures, making it hard to compare and generalize the results.

What to Know While Mixing CBD with Alcohol

However, based on the available research and anecdotal reports, we can make some educated guesses and hypotheses about what happens when you mix CBD and alcohol. Here are some of the possible effects, both positive and negative, of combining these two substances.

Reduced Blood Alcohol Level

One of the most interesting effects of mixing CBD and alcohol is that it may reduce your blood alcohol level (BAL), which is the amount of alcohol in your blood. BAL is used to measure how intoxicated you are and how impaired your abilities are.

A study from 1979 found that taking 200 mg of CBD with alcohol reduced the BAL of 10 healthy volunteers, compared to taking alcohol alone. However, this effect was not observed with lower doses of CBD (60 or 120 mg), and it did not affect the subjective feelings of intoxication or impairment.

Another study from 1991 confirmed that taking 200 mg of CBD with alcohol lowered the BAL of eight healthy men, compared to taking alcohol alone. However, this effect was not significant, and it did not affect the subjective or objective measures of intoxication or impairment.

These studies suggest that CBD may reduce the amount of alcohol that enters your bloodstream, possibly by interfering with its absorption or metabolism. However, this effect may depend on the dose of CBD and may not be noticeable or relevant in real-life situations. Moreover, this effect may not prevent you from feeling drunk or impaired, or from experiencing the negative consequences of alcohol use.

Therefore, you should not rely on CBD to reduce your BAL or to protect you from the effects of alcohol. You should always drink responsibly and follow the recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Increased Sedation and Drowsiness

Another possible effect of mixing CBD and alcohol is that it may increase your sedation and drowsiness, making you feel more sleepy and relaxed. This is because both CBD and alcohol can have sedative effects on your central nervous system, and taking them together may amplify these effects.

A study from 1979 found that taking 200 mg of CBD with alcohol increased the sedation and drowsiness of 10 healthy volunteers, compared to taking alcohol alone. However, this effect was not observed with lower doses of CBD (60 or 120 mg), and it did not affect the other subjective or objective measures of intoxication or impairment.

Another study from 1991 found that taking 200 mg of CBD with alcohol increased the sedation and drowsiness of eight healthy men, compared to taking alcohol alone. However, this effect was not significant, and it did not affect the subjective or objective measures of intoxication or impairment.

These studies suggest that CBD may increase the sedation and drowsiness caused by alcohol, especially at high doses. However, this effect may vary depending on the individual and the situation. Moreover, this effect may not be desirable or safe, as it can impair your ability to perform certain tasks or activities that require alertness and concentration.

Therefore, you should be cautious when mixing CBD and alcohol, and avoid driving, operating machinery, or engaging in any risky behavior that could harm yourself or others.

Reduced Alcohol-Induced Damage

Another potential benefit of mixing CBD and alcohol is that it may reduce the damage caused by alcohol to your body and brain. This is because CBD has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can protect your cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, which are the main mechanisms of alcohol-induced damage.

A study from 2013 found that taking CBD before drinking alcohol prevented the increase of oxidative stress markers in the liver of mice, which are indicators of liver damage. CBD also reduced the blood alcohol concentration and the alcohol-induced brain damage in the mice.

Another study from 2014 found that CBD reduced the neurodegeneration caused by chronic alcohol exposure in rats by more than 50%, preserving the integrity and function of the brain.

These studies indicate that CBD may protect your liver and brain from the harmful effects of alcohol, possibly by preventing or reducing the oxidative stress and inflammation that alcohol causes. However, these studies were conducted in animals, and the doses of CBD used were much higher than what most people typically use. Therefore, more research is needed to confirm these effects in humans and to determine the optimal dose and timing of CBD administration.

Increased Risk of Low Blood Pressure

One of the possible risks of mixing CBD and alcohol is that it may increase the risk of low blood pressure, which can cause lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting in some people. This is because both CBD and alcohol can lower your blood pressure, and taking them together may have a synergistic effect.

A study from 2017 found that taking a single dose of CBD lowered the blood pressure of nine healthy men, both at rest and under stress. The researchers attributed this effect to the vasodilatory properties of CBD, which means that it can widen your blood vessels and increase blood flow.

Another study from 2017 found that drinking alcohol lowered the blood pressure of 12 healthy men, both at rest and under stress. The researchers attributed this effect to the vasodilatory properties of alcohol, which means that it can also widen your blood vessels and increase blood flow.

These studies suggest that CBD and alcohol can both lower your blood pressure, and mixing them may have a cumulative effect. However, these studies used different doses and methods of CBD and alcohol administration, and they did not measure the combined effects of the two substances. Therefore, more research is needed to determine how CBD and alcohol interact to affect your blood pressure and what are the potential consequences.

How to Mix CBD and Alcohol Safely and Responsibly

If you decide to mix CBD and alcohol, you should do it with caution and moderation. Here are some tips to help you mix CBD and alcohol safely and responsibly:

Start with a low dose of both CBD and alcohol, and see how you feel before increasing the amount. Everyone reacts differently to CBD and alcohol, and the effects may depend on various factors, such as your body weight, metabolism, genetics, and tolerance.
Avoid mixing CBD and alcohol if you have any medical conditions or take any medications that may interact with either substance. CBD and alcohol can both affect the way your body processes certain drugs, potentially increasing or decreasing their effects or causing adverse reactions. Consult your doctor before mixing CBD and alcohol if you are unsure about your health status or medication use.
Avoid mixing CBD and alcohol if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. CBD and alcohol can both cross the placenta and the breast milk, potentially affecting the development and health of your baby. There is not enough evidence to determine the safety of CBD and alcohol during pregnancy or lactation, so it is better to avoid them altogether.
Avoid mixing CBD and alcohol if you are planning to drive, operate machinery, or engage in any activity that requires alertness and concentration. CBD and alcohol can both impair your judgment, memory, attention, coordination, and reaction time, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. Do not mix CBD and alcohol if you are responsible for your own or others’ safety.
Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated when mixing CBD and alcohol. CBD and alcohol can both cause dehydration, which can worsen the effects of intoxication and hangover. Drinking water can help replenish your fluids and electrolytes, and prevent dehydration and its complications.

Conclusion

Mixing CBD and alcohol can have various effects, both positive and negative, depending on the dose, method, and individual factors. CBD and alcohol can both reduce your blood alcohol level, increase your sedation and drowsiness, reduce your alcohol-induced damage, and increase your risk of low blood pressure.

There is not enough scientific evidence to determine the safety and efficacy of mixing CBD and alcohol, and the results of the existing studies are inconsistent and inconclusive. Therefore, more research is needed to understand how CBD and alcohol interact and what are the best practices for combining them.

If you choose to mix CBD and alcohol, you should do it with caution and moderation, and follow the tips we have provided to help you mix them safely and responsibly. You should also consult your doctor before mixing CBD and alcohol if you have any medical conditions or take any medications that may interact with either substance.

Remember, CBD and alcohol are not a magic bullet or a cure-all for your problems. They are substances that can have both benefits and risks, and they should be used wisely and appropriately. Always drink responsibly and use CBD as directed.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about mixing CBD and alcohol, along with their answers.

Q: Can CBD help with a hangover?

A: CBD may help with some of the symptoms of a hangover, such as nausea, headache, and inflammation. However, CBD cannot reverse the effects of alcohol on your body and brain, or prevent the damage caused by excessive drinking. The best way to avoid a hangover is to drink moderately and stay hydrated.

Q: Can CBD make you more drunk?

A: CBD may make you more drunk by increasing the sedation and drowsiness caused by alcohol, especially at high doses. However, CBD may also reduce your blood alcohol level, which can decrease the intensity of intoxication. The effects of CBD on your drunkenness may vary depending on the individual and the situation.

Q: Can CBD help with alcohol addiction?

A: CBD may help with alcohol addiction by reducing the craving and withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol dependence. CBD may also protect the brain and liver from the damage caused by chronic alcohol abuse. However, CBD is not a substitute for professional treatment, and more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness and safety for alcohol addiction. If you have a problem with alcohol, you should seek help from a qualified health care provider.

What to Know While Mixing CBD with Alcohol?

How CBD and Alcohol Affect Your Body