> At one point or another, you may have wondered if pairing CBD products with antidepressants would make you feel better faster. Here are the reasons why you shouldn't.

## Weighing the Pros and Cons of Using CBD with Antidepressants


It is common for people suffering from certain conditions to look for alternative treatment options. CBD in managing and treating anxiety and depression has become relatively common in the past few days. Users report feeling better and healthier on cannabidiol than on other treatments.

Other than using CBD on its own, other people with depression may dabble in antidepressants and cannabidiol at the same time. Ideally, this may seem like a good plan, but it is not. Let's delve into why people should not use CBD alongside pharmaceutical medications.

**CBD, Antidepressants, and Depression**
People suffering from depression find themselves looking to any claimed treatment option. They find themselves weighing the benefits of CBD and antidepressants https://askgrowers.com/blog/cbd-with-antidepressants to learn as much as possible. Others skin the whole process and ingest the two hoping to feel better faster.

Mental health statistics show that the number of people suffering from mental disorders has spiked. A 2020 study revealed that [21 million Americans](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression) aged 18 and above had, at one point, experienced a major depressive episode. 66% of Americans sought treatment for depression in the same year.

Research studies have been concerned with determining the causes and prevalent factors leading to depression. Over the past couple of years, mental health awareness campaigns have been keen on offering information on various topics. The benefit of this increased awareness is that more and more people seek treatment. There is also a broad acceptance of people suffering from the condition compared to past tendencies.

In the past, people with depression and other mood disorders got isolated by their communities. These days people are open to seeking social support and giving the same in an attempt to mitigate suicide attempts by depressed individuals.

Another benefit of awareness is that research findings offer critical information that can help understand the issue better. For instance, depression has gotten linked to the fluctuation of certain neurotransmitters within the brain. This finding is what propels the pharmaceutical treatment in an attempt to augment the neurotransmitters to the proper levels.

Regardless of the remarkable strides in depression treatments using pharmaceutical medications, it is essential to note that they have side effects. The side effects can range from [drowsiness to fatigue](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/side-effects/) and drained energy. To avoid these side effects, people with depression tend to seek alternative treatments such as CBD and therapy.


**Can CBD be Used as an Antidepressant?**
The use of cannabidiol for health benefits is quickly catching on and gaining even more users. The goal is to provide healthy and safe alternatives based on the non-psychoactive compound of the marijuana and hemp plants. It is helpful to note that the CBD in question does not contain significant amounts of THC to the point that it can cause the user to get high.

Regarding its properties as an antidepressant, there have been numerous studies interested in deciphering the same. The majority of these research studies have been animal based. Scientists take animals and give them CBD and placebos before passing them through stressful and depressing situations.

According to a 2014 study, CBD is both an antidepressant and an anxiolytic. The latter refers to a property that can [reduce anxiety](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24923339/) in people or animals once ingested. The study in question exposed the test animals to a forced swimming test, elevated maze test, and the Vogel conflict test.

The results of the tests showed that the animals that had taken CBD were less stressed and depressed as a result of the tests. The animals that took the placebo showed signs of depression, anxiety, and sometimes agitation. Such studies have gotten applied to both humans and animals ethically. In almost all instances, the findings remain that cannabidiol is more effective and helpful in helping with feelings of stress and depression.

A human study showed that CBD increased serotonin and dopamine production, which are the neurotransmitters depression affects. The same is possible through CBD's interaction with the 5-HT1A neuro receptor. Comprehensively, cannabidiol can act as an antidepressant but with the guidance of a physician.

Before self-medicating on the compound, meeting with your healthcare provider is essential. They will offer information on how much you can take, which are the safest methods to take them, and even recommend some brands.

**Effects of Using CBD and Antidepressants Together**
As alluded to initially, some people use both CBD and antidepressants concurrently. This occurrence is often known as doubling up and can result in various side effects. Before we analyse the personal impact, it is essential to understand that these compounds interact with the body differently.

Cannabidiol and antidepressants both contain chemical compounds that affect various parts of the body. Ingesting them together causes them to interact with each other, and this can be harmful. People who take the two together presume they will strengthen each other's effect and act synergistically to treat depression symptoms.

The opposite is what is true. Researchers have found that the combination of cannabidiol and antidepressants counters the effects of both, making them both ineffective. In other cases, the combination leads to adverse side effects, which have earned the phrase doubling up on side effects.

On its own, CBD has side effects if misused. These side effects can include dizziness, nausea, and more. Similarly, antidepressants also have side effects, including headaches, nausea, fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite, etc. Using both antidepressants and cannabidiol together may result in a person experiencing all these side effects.

The bottom line of the effects of using the two compounds together is that it is not advisable. Using either one on their own is safer than mixing them. It is even more catastrophic to combine them all with alcoholic beverages. Doctors recommend sticking to one treatment option regarding ingestible options.

**Alternatives Treatments to Pair with CBD for Depression**
Now that you know using antidepressants and CBD is not entirely safe, you may wonder what other options you have. Ingesting pharmaceutical drugs alongside CBD is generally frowned upon, but this does not mean you do not have other alternatives. There are specific depression treatment options that you can pair with a healthy dose of cannabidiol. The following are the most common alternatives.

**Meditation**
Meditation is a treatment and wellness alternative for several conditions. The reflective process requires silence and concentration, which can relax and uplift one's spirits. Setting some minutes aside to meditate can positively impact your depression symptoms. Also, you can use CBD products just before your meditation to make it more worthwhile.

**Yoga, Pilates, and Gym Sessions**
Exercise in any form, be it yoga, running, gym sessions, or even pilates, positively affects depression symptoms. Health professionals recommend that people with depression take on active lifestyles. Leading a sedentary lifestyle worsens depression symptoms. It is better to slot out some time for daily exercising as these regulate neurotransmitter release and absorption in the brain.

Using some CBD before or after your exercise sessions is also healthy. The compound's effects will make you feel energized and good enough to keep exercising. It will also promote the release of dopamine and other crucial hormones reducing depression symptoms.

**Therapy**
Various forms of talk therapy can help in the treatment of depression. One of the most common ones is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In this case, the therapist helps the patient challenge preconceived notions that may influence their behaviors and emotions.

Considering that talk therapies need patients to be raw, relaxed, and reflective, taking some CBD product before the session cannot hurt. It may motivate them to be more open to the treatment strategy, helping reduce depression symptoms.

**Improved Self-Care and Day Planning**
One of the common depression symptoms is a loss of energy and pleasure in doing anything. Patients often spend most of their days in bed, unable to do anything. Prioritizing self-care and day planning is a counterintuitive way of always having something to push yourself out of bed to achieve. Developing a routine will create a challenge that taking cannabidiol can help you achieve and maintain. With this technique, consistency is critical.

**Conclusion**
Depression is slowly becoming a serious condition affecting a considerable number of people. In an attempt to manage the symptoms, patients may find themselves seeking more than one treatment option. One of the most common questions is whether they can use CBD products and antidepressants. Though this may work for some people, it is highly frowned upon due to the risks. Combining these two compounds may result in adverse side effects that harm the user. It is better to take on alternative treatment options not involving pharmaceutical drugs alongside cannabidiol.

> Denys Svirepchuk wrote this article. The AskGrowers family recognizes his contributions to the site over the years. He has experience conducting product reviews and assessing the quality of various marijuana products. The detail he puts into researching such articles makes him an asset to the website in providing relevant information to our readers.