Can You Use Cannabis Safely If You Take Xyzal?
Article written by
Dipak HemrajHead of Research and Education
Content reviewed by
Dr. Lewis Jassey
Xyzal is an over-the-counter antihistamine commonly used to treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and other minor allergic reactions. Although less sedating than older antihistamine medications, some people still find it makes them drowsy.
It is not recommended to mix Xyzal with marijuana. While it’s unlikely to be a fatal combination, intoxicants such as alcohol and marijuana can react with Xyzal to increase its sedative effects. This means if you take Xyzal and marijuana at the same time, you might find yourself more impaired than you expected.
Xyzal also increases the effects of marijuana, which raises the chances of accidentally suffering from marijuana overconsumption. Symptoms can include sedation, anxiety, paranoia, and tremors.
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What Is Xyzal?
Xyzal is an allergy medication with the active ingredient levocetirizine. It reduces allergy symptoms such as itching, watery eyes, and hives in people ages two and older. In the U.S., you do not need to go to the doctor or the pharmacist to buy Xyzal, as it can be sold over the counter.
Xyzal is taken once daily in either pill or liquid form, and it stays in your body for 24 hours. Other drugs can interact with it within this timeframe, meaning drug interactions may occur if you have taken Xyzal in the last 24 hours.
Uses and How It Works
Xyzal is an antihistamine. Histamine is a chemical made by mast cells in your bones. It binds to histamine receptors on the outside of cells, which acts as a signal to your immune system that you’re under attack. You then show symptoms such as watery eyes, a rash, or hives.
Antihistamines like Xyzal block off the histamine receptors, so the histamine can’t activate your immune system. Histamine also helps regulate your circadian rhythm, telling your body when it’s time to sleep. Xyzal interrupts this function as well, which can make you feel sleepy.
Potential Benefits and Risks of Mixing Cannabis and Xyzal
The symptoms of allergic reactions can be detrimental to your health and intensely frustrating. By continuing to take your allergy medication, you can avoid having to deal with these symptoms. And when combined with other drugs like marijuana, you may reap additional benefits — and risks.
Potential Benefits
Certain natural substances in marijuana can also calm allergy symptoms. Cannabidiol (CBD) is an anti-inflammatory found in marijuana. It acts on the mast cells that produce histamine to reduce some of the symptoms of a mild allergic reaction, such as itching, redness, and swelling. Edibles, flowers, or creams high in CBD could help treat your allergies. So, combining cannabis and Xyzal may lead to a more significant reduction in your symptoms.
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Potential Risks
There aren’t many studies available on possible drug interactions between marijuana and other medications, and this means there may be unknown risks that are only apparent years later. Although this is unlikely, it should be considered when combining marijuana and any other medication.
Xyzal and marijuana both make you sleepy in different ways, and having both in your system can make you much sleepier than intended. Xyzal also prevents the eyes from watering, and cannabis is well known for giving users a dry mouth and eyes. This could make your eyes uncomfortably dry.
If you are currently taking either Xyzal or marijuana and are considering starting the other, consult with your doctor first. There are different antihistamines and cannabis strains available that can help minimize this effect.
The Bottom Line
Taking Xyzal and marijuana together can cause you to experience the effects of cannabis overconsumption and should be avoided if possible. If both are taken simultaneously, you should reduce the recommended dosage of cannabis products appropriately to prevent overconsumption.
Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting a new medication, even if it isn’t a prescription medication. Some medications can worsen medical conditions, even if they aren’t prescription strength.
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