Should You Use Marijuana If You’re Prescribed Metronidazole, AKA Metrogel?
Article written by
Dipak HemrajHead of Research and Education
Content reviewed by
Dr. Lewis JasseyMedical Director - Pediatric Medicine
There are no known drug interactions between marijuana (cannabis) and metronidazole, whether it’s used orally or topically in the form of Metrogel. Medical cannabis may have topical applications that are also useful for managing and treating skin disorders.
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What Is Metronidazole?
Metronidazole is often sold under the brand name Flagyl. It is an antibiotic and anti-protozoal medication, and it is available as a tablet (oral metronidazole), topical, or through an IV injection.
Uses and How It Works
Metronidazole is prescribed to treat pelvic inflammatory disease, endocarditis, and bacterial infections like bacterial vaginosis. Metronidazole is of the nitroimidazole class. It inhibits nucleic acid synthesis by forming nitroso radicals, disrupting microbial cell DNA.
Common side effects of metronidazole include nausea, a metallic taste, loss of appetite, and headaches. Side effects include eye pain, severe/persistent headache, stiff/painful neck, sudden vision changes, sore throat, persistent fever, unusual bleeding/bruising, severe stomach pain, and persistent nausea/vomiting. It is possible to have an allergic reaction to metronidazole.
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Potential Benefits and Risks of Mixing Cannabis and Metronidazole
Although cannabinoids have immunomodulatory effects, these do not seem to interact with the mechanism of action of metronidazole in any way discovered so far.
Potential Benefits
- Cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal effects, which may help manage skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and even treatment-resistant superbugs like MRSA and other staph infections.
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem. Medical cannabis may help.
- Several terpenes in cannabis, like pinene and beta-caryophyllene, have potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that could help manage skin disorders.
Potential Risks
- There are no known risks or possible interactions when combining metronidazole. Theoretically, the immunomodulatory effects of cannabinoids may interfere with metronidazole’s mechanism of action, but none has been discovered so far.
Why Mixing Cannabis with Metronidazole Can Help You Feel Better
There is no known risk with mixing metronidazole and cannabis. Medical cannabis topicals may even help reduce the need for Metrogel and other metronidazole-based topicals. Moreover, medical cannabis can help mitigate some of the negative effects of metronidazole, such as nausea, appetite loss, and headaches.
The Bottom Line
There may be some potential benefits to using cannabis alongside some antibiotics like metronidazole, as it can potentially help reduce antibiotic use. However, these benefits have not been proven. If you want to use cannabis while taking metronidazole, it’s best to get medical advice and doctor approval to prevent any unwanted health issues in your body.
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