Can you use marijuana if you take Prozac?

Fluoxetine (Prozac) is a common antidepressant medication that helps regulate mood. Cannabis — aka marijuana or weed — also influences mood, so people who use both may be interested in how the two substances interact.

Combining Prozac with cannabis has some risks, including increased drowsiness and confusion.

Knowing the risks of combining weed and Prozac can help you minimize side effects and manage your symptoms safely.

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What is Prozac?

Prozac is a medication that’s commonly prescribed for depression. It can also be prescribed for:

• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PDD), a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

How does Prozac work?

Prozac is a type of antidepressant drug called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Other SSRIs include:

• Lexapro (escitalopram)
• Celexa (citalopram)
• Zoloft (sertraline)
• Paxil (paroxetine)

Prozac and other SSRIs increase amounts of a mood-enhancing brain chemical called serotonin. Serotonin also helps balance:

• Sleep
• Energy levels
• Appetite
• Motivation

Prozac was the first SSRI to be approved in the United States in 1987. In 2008, it was reported that over 40 million people had been prescribed Prozac.

While Prozac may help with depression symptoms, it can also cause side effects like:

• Insomnia
• Sexual dysfunction
• Drowsiness
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea
• Seizures
• Dry mouth
• Weight changes
• Suicidal thoughts (especially at the beginning of treatment)

Also, Prozac may not be effective for everyone.

Ask your doctor to help you establish a dosing plan that minimizes the risk of side effects.

Is it safe to take Prozac and weed?

Combining Prozac with cannabis, especially in high doses, may be unsafe. Using cannabis with Prozac can increase side effects like:

• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness

Cannabis decreases liver enzymes that break down and help Prozac leave the body. This can make Prozac’s effects last longer and increase side effects.

In rare cases, using Prozac and cannabis together can cause serotonin syndrome.

Serotonin syndrome happens when your brain’s serotonin levels become too high. Symptoms include:

• High fever
• Fast heartbeat
• High blood pressure
• Loss of muscle coordination
• General weakness
• Insomnia
• Panic attacks
• Agitation
• Confusion
• Death

According to a case study, cannabis can increase serotonin. Another case study suggests that mixing high doses of cannabis with SSRIs could increase your risk of serotonin syndrome. If you’re experiencing symptoms of serotonin syndrome, seek medical attention immediately.

People prescribed Prozac may want to use cannabis for a variety of reasons, including mental health symptoms, medication side effects, or other physical health issues.

If you’re considering using both, speaking with your healthcare team and being aware of the potential risks is important.

Can you mix CBD and Prozac?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nonintoxicating cannabis compound. People often use CBD for:

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Pain
• Inflammation

CBD can cause drowsiness. Taking it with Prozac can heighten this effect.

Like other cannabis compounds, CBD lowers liver enzymes that help Prozac leave the body. Mixing CBD with Prozac may increase side effects and prolong the medication’s effects.

Are there benefits of using cannabis with Prozac?

It’s possible that using cannabis alongside Prozac can offer some benefits, when both are being taken as directed by your healthcare provider. Cannabis may:

• Relieve medication side effects: Cannabis may relieve certain side effects of Prozac, including nausea, headaches, and insomnia.

• Reduce your medication intake: Some self-reported studies have found that people who use cannabis are able to take lower doses of their medications — including antidepressants — to relieve symptoms.

How to take Prozac and marijuana

If your doctor prescribed you Prozac and you also use cannabis, talk with them about how to use the two substances safely. They can help you come up with a personalized dosing plan.

These safety tips can also help:

• Start low and go slow: Start with low doses of Prozac and cannabis, increasing them slowly over time and only as needed and tolerated under your doctor’s supervision.
• Be mindful of timing: Take cannabis and Prozac at different times of day to minimize interactions. Prozac peaks in your body in about 6 to 8 hours. When inhaled, cannabis takes about 30 minutes to peak, while edibles take about 2 hours.
• Ask about other medications: If you’re taking other medications, ask your doctor if they’re safe to mix with cannabis and Prozac.

The takeaway: Speak with your doctor before combining Prozac and weed

Both cannabis and Prozac can affect your mood and serotonin levels. Combining them may put you at risk of increased side effects and, in rare cases, serotonin syndrome.

At the same time, using both as directed may help offset some side effects of Prozac, like nausea and headache. Cannabis may also help you reduce your intake of Prozac.

If you’re using both, it’s essential to understand the potential risks so you can work with your healthcare team to minimize them.

To better understand the effects of combining Prozac and weed, talk with your doctor or a Leafwell healthcare professional.

Resources

• A brief history of the development of antidepressant drugs: From monoamine to glutamate. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4428540/
• Cannabinoids and cytochrome P450 interactions. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26651971/
• Exploring the use of cannabis as a substitute for prescription drugs in a convenience sample. https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-021-00520-5
• Fluoxetine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459223/
• Serotonin syndrome. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482377/
• Serotonin syndrome and cannabis: A case report. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10809727/
• Serotonin syndrome versus cannabis toxicity in the emergency department. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7220016/
• The drugs don’t work for everyone. Doubts about the efficacy of antidepressants renew debates over the medicalization of common distress. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2475322/