Posted on

Taking CBD After Getting Your Flu Shot

cbd for flu

As you know, we’re right in the middle of flu season right now.  The flu is a serious virus that affects a large part of the population each year.  Preventing the flu is extremely important as this virus can cause very severe symptoms and can even be deadly in those with weaker immune systems.

As we know, the best way to prevent the flu is by getting the flu shot.  Each year, a new flu shot is developed by medical scientists in order to prevent the virus from reaching epidemic levels. 

Now, if you’re a CBD user, you might be wondering if it’s safe to take CBD while the flu shot is in your system.  Well, we’re here to clear things up for you.

The Flu Shot: How it Works

As you may know, each year, a new and totally unique flu shot is developed.  The flu shot is a vaccine, and it guards the public against specific strains of the flu.  Many different flu strains exist, and it’s up to the developers of the flu shot to predict which strains will be most prevalent when flu season arrives.

The Flu Shot and CBD

Now, let’s talk about the relationship between the flu shot and CBD.  Unfortunately, right now, there are no studies that show a link between CBD usage and the flu shot.  We don’t know if CBD makes the flu shot less effective, or if taking CBD following the flu shot increases your chances of becoming ill.  Now, that’s not to say that there’s a good chance that there is a negative reaction.  We just can’t verify for certain one way or another.

What we do know is that studies have been done in the past that have shown that high doses of marijuana can temporarily weaken the immune system, and this has to do with the high volume of THC in marijuana.  As you know, in hemp, there’s only a trace amount of this psychoactive compound.  Still, the reason why this matters is because a flu shot can also briefly weaken the immune system, so taking marijuana along with the flu shot may slightly increase the risk of catching a virus.

Due to the lack of information out there, a lot of CBD users maintain their routine even after getting the flu shot.  But, if you’re the type of person who likes to be extra careful, or if you already have a weakened immune system, you might decide that it’s best to take some time away from CBD until the flu shot has been fully processed by the body.

Also, bear in mind that the particular CBD product you take may determine how the hemp compounds interact with the flu shot.  For instance, when we apply a CBD topical, it doesn’t really absorb into the body in the way that other methods do, such as CBD tinctures and edibles.  So, it’s likely that a CBD topical is less likely to have an effect on the flu shot than other delivery methods. 

At the end of the day, it’s up to you whether or not you wish to keep taking CBD as the flu shot is doing its job within your body.

Final Thoughts

As of now, no studies have been done regarding the effects of CBD on a person who has just received the flu shot.  However, considering the very serious nature of the flu, you probably want to be as cautious as possible.  Therefore, you may decide that just to be careful, it’s better to take a day or two off of your hemp routine immediately after receiving the flu shot.