Will CBD Interfere with Getting a Flu Shot?

It’s that time of year when the flu is on everyone’s mind. The flu is one of the most vicious viruses that commonly affects the general public, laying people out for weeks at a time while they struggle to do anything but sleep and wait for their bodies to heal. The flu can even be deadly for those with compromised or weakened immune systems, as we all know.

Of course, there is the flu shot. The flu shot has only been a staple of mainstream society for a few years, but many people take it each year to be on caution’s side. In fact, many workplaces and schools require that you get the flu shot, or else you will not be allowed to enter the premises.

Now, if you’re a regular CBD user, you might be wondering about possible interactions between the flu shot and CBD usage. If this applies to you, we commend you for being cautious about your health on such a level. Today, we’ll be talking about what happens when you take the flu shot and CBD on the same day.

The Flu Shot: What You Need to Know

The flu shot comes around each year as a method for protecting as many people as possible during flu season. Flu can reach epidemic levels if it’s not controlled, and the flu shot is just one way in which public officials try to control the level of instances of the flu. This virus cannot be treated with antibiotics due to the fact that it’s viral in nature rather than bacterial, and there is no real cure for it. Therefore, many people opt for the flu shot rather than running the risk of developing the flu at some point during the cold season.

The flu shot is a vaccine, and it can be administered at many pharmacies and doctor’s offices throughout the country. The flu shot is far from perfect, as it’s developed before flu season begins. This means that biologists have no choice but to predict the strains that will be around in the coming months and vaccinate against these while being hopeful that their predictions are correct. Therefore, the flu shot does not guarantee that you won’t contract the flu, but it’s the most effective preventative that is available today, besides maintaining overall good health.

What to Do if You’re a CBD User Who is Interested in the Flu Shot

So, now that you know the basics of the flu shot, it’s time to talk about CBD. Most people who take CBD do so in order to maintain a good level of well-being. Some users may feel that CBD can help guard the body against viruses, but as of now, there is no link between CBD administration and developing the flu virus. Therefore, most CBD users still choose to get the flu shot just to be safe.

So, can you take CBD while the flu shot is in your system? Unfortunately, as of now, there is no definitive answer, and this is because both the flu shot industry and CBD industry are fairly new, so studies just don’t exist yet.

What we can tell you is that while there is no research suggesting one way or the other, we do know that marijuana may interfere with a flu shot’s ability to do its job. Here’s how it works: the flu shot temporarily lowers the function of your immune system, because what you’re essentially receiving is a trace amount of the virus when you’re getting the shot. Some believe that high THC levels can also very temporarily and subtly suppress your immune system. If you’re taking both at the same time, your immune system may be a bit too weak to properly handle the flu shot, and you may get sick as a result.

But we also know that CBD is very low in THC compared to marijuana. Still, we really think that it’s best to err on the side of caution here, simply because the flu is not something that you want to mess with, as anyone who has ever had the virus would know. That being said, we suggest waiting 3 to 4 days before resuming your CBD usage. You should not experience any withdrawal effects, and there will still be CBD in your system to last through those days off.

Summary

While it may not be wise to consume marijuana on the day of your flu shot, there is no evidence to suggest that CBD will negatively interact with the ability for the vaccine to do its job. However, when it comes to such a dangerous virus, we do recommend being cautious and waiting a while if you can. Of course, you can always ask your doctor as they may have some additional insight.