According to doctors, marijuana can be risky for people who are taking common heart medications.
A review published this week in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has some frightening details on marijuana’s effect on the heart. This is worrisome, as over 2 million Americans with heart conditions are said to be using the drug.
According to the review, marijuana can interact with common heart medications, including statins and blood thinners, potentially putting patients at risk.
Using marijuana while on a statin or a blood thinner can change how these drugs work in the body, said lead author Dr. Muthiah Vaduganathan, who is a cardiologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Dr. Vaduganathan explains that this is because the same liver enzymes that break down statins or blood thinners also break down the compounds in marijuana. Using them simultaneously with marijuana can change the effectiveness or the potency of the medications.
“The first step is having an open discussion with clinicians, because it does influence some parts of their care,” Vaduganathan said. He added that certain heart health patients should avoid the plant entirely.
