Marijuana and Surgery: Do They Work Together?

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has been a controversial matter for decades. Even with its increasing legalization, many debates still plague the efficacy and safety risks associated with cannabis.

One concern for many users and medical professionals is marijuana’s safety in surgery. Medical cannabis patients often withhold information about their marijuana use from their physicians.

Unfortunately, engaging in such a practice only puts the patient at risk.

This article will explore the relationship between marijuana and surgery and why you must disclose your usage with your doctor.

Does Medical Marijuana Interact With Other Medication?

Surgery is a complex process. Before you meet your surgeon and undergo the operation, you will talk to a registered nurse anesthetist first. The purpose is to give you a preoperative briefing and discuss the medications you must take before the surgery.

Active compounds in cannabis, like THC and CBD, can cause drug-to-drug interaction with the required surgery medications. According to Sharp, THC interacts with about 400 prescription drugs, while CBD interacts with more than 540. Sometimes, the combination may result in dangerous interactions, leading to serious side effects.

For instance, after taking the patient’s heart rate and blood pressure, the nurse observes symptoms of heart racing (a common side-effect of marijuana). The medication they use to subdue the heart rate, called beta blockers, may have a dangerous interaction with marijuana. A few examples of beta blockers that may cause a negative reaction with cannabis include:

• Lopressor
• Tenormin
• Corgard
• Sectral
• Bystolic

Does Medical Marijuana Affect Anesthesia?

Aside from required medication, medical marijuana may also affect the administered anesthesia on the patient. Research suggests that the sedation requirements of marijuana users are significantly higher compared to non-users. For instance, cannabis users require three times more propofol to achieve adequate sedation.

Medical cannabis does not only affect the dosage but may also pose dangerous interactions with sedatives. Other examples of sedatives that cannabis can negatively affect are Ambien, Lunesta, and Benadryl. Possible side effects include drowsiness, impaired mental function and motor coordination, and prolonged or excessive respiratory and CNS depression.

Trust Your Anesthesiologist

Withholding information regarding marijuana use only increases the risk of complications. If you are on the fence about disclosing your cannabis history, do not be. Marijuana and surgery are a sensitive combination. This is because of the potential drug-to-drug interaction that may arise between cannabis compounds and surgical medications.

Remember: your doctors want nothing more than your safety.

Knowing cannabis use before a surgical operation can help your doctor assess the dosage needed for your medication. Moreover, anesthesiologists will more accurately determine your sedation requirements before the procedure.

What Should You Do Now?

The combination of marijuana and surgery is still a complicated subject. But experts agree that using marijuana before surgery is generally unsafe.

Given the associated complications, Medwell Health & Wellness Centers recommends two things:

1. Disclose your marijuana usage to your service provider
2. Stop using cannabis at least a week before a scheduled surgery

Doing so significantly limits the risk of complications, keeping you safe before and after the surgery. Moreover, putting off cannabis for a while reduces the chances of having the surgery rescheduled.

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