Cannabis Is One of Many Herbs That Can Interact with IBD Medications in Older Patients
A review of herbal medicine use in elderly IBD patients highlights that cannabis is among many supplements that can interact with standard IBD medications, making provider awareness of drug-herb interactions critical.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Nearly half of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have used complementary and alternative medicine at some point, and elderly IBD patients face particular risks because they often take multiple medications for comorbid conditions.
The review covers over 20 herbs commonly used by IBD patients, including cannabis, and details their potential interactions with standard IBD drugs like immunomodulators, biologics, and corticosteroids. Cannabis was included alongside turmeric, boswellia, wormwood, and others.
For older patients, the combination of polypharmacy, altered drug metabolism, and herbal supplement use creates a complex landscape of potential interactions that providers may not be asking about or even aware of.
Key Numbers
Nearly 50% of IBD patients have used complementary/alternative medicine. The elderly are the fastest-growing IBD demographic. Over 20 herbs reviewed for interaction potential.
How They Did This
Narrative review covering common herbal supplements used by IBD patients, including background, suggested use, evidence in IBD, and potential drug-herb interactions with IBD medications, with focus on the elderly population.
Why This Research Matters
Many IBD patients use herbal supplements without telling their doctors, and many doctors do not ask. In elderly patients who are already on multiple medications, adding cannabis or other herbs without awareness of potential interactions could lead to unexpected drug levels, side effects, or reduced treatment efficacy.
The Bigger Picture
As both cannabis use and IBD prevalence increase in older populations, the intersection of herbal medicine and conventional treatment becomes more clinically important. This review serves as a reminder that cannabis does not exist in pharmacological isolation and that its interactions with other medications deserve the same scrutiny as any other drug.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review without systematic search methodology. Cannabis was one of many herbs discussed, and the depth of cannabis-specific interaction data was limited. Much of the interaction evidence is theoretical or based on pharmacological principles rather than documented clinical cases.
Questions This Raises
- ?What specific interactions between cannabis and IBD medications have been documented clinically?
- ?Do elderly IBD patients who use cannabis have different treatment outcomes?
- ?Should providers routinely screen for cannabis and supplement use in IBD patients?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Nearly 50% of IBD patients have used complementary or alternative medicine
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate evidence from a narrative review synthesizing known pharmacological interactions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2017. Drug interaction awareness continues to evolve.
- Original Title:
- Drug-Herb Interactions in the Elderly Patient with IBD: a Growing Concern.
- Published In:
- Current treatment options in gastroenterology, 15(4), 618-636 (2017)
- Authors:
- Rahman, Haider, Kim, Marina, Leung, Galen, Green, Jesse A, Katz, Seymour
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01496
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis interact with IBD medications?
Yes, cannabis can potentially interact with medications used to treat IBD through shared metabolic pathways in the liver. This review identifies cannabis among many herbal products that warrant discussion with healthcare providers, particularly for elderly patients on multiple medications.
Should I tell my doctor if I use cannabis for IBD symptoms?
Yes. This review emphasizes that providers need to know about all supplements and herbs, including cannabis, to manage potential drug interactions. Nearly half of IBD patients use some form of complementary medicine, but many do not disclose this to their doctors.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01496APA
Rahman, Haider; Kim, Marina; Leung, Galen; Green, Jesse A; Katz, Seymour. (2017). Drug-Herb Interactions in the Elderly Patient with IBD: a Growing Concern.. Current treatment options in gastroenterology, 15(4), 618-636. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11938-017-0154-y
MLA
Rahman, Haider, et al. "Drug-Herb Interactions in the Elderly Patient with IBD: a Growing Concern.." Current treatment options in gastroenterology, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11938-017-0154-y
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Drug-Herb Interactions in the Elderly Patient with IBD: a Gr..." RTHC-01496. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rahman-2017-drugherb-interactions-in-the
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.