Does cannabis interact with antidepressants or lithium?
If you have any concerns about the information below, or need any help understanding it and relating it to your own situation, talk to your GP or pharmacist (chemist). You can also phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647. Cannabis or marijuana is usually smoked and typically mixed with tobacco. There are four main groups of antidepressants: • Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) – for example, amitriptyline, imipramine, dothiepin. • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – for example, fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram. • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) – for example, phenelzine. • Newer antidepressants – mirtazapine, venlafaxine and reboxetine. Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder, a condition where people can switch between depression and mania (extreme excitement and agitation). It is not clear how often cannabis itself can cause depression, but research suggests that this can happen. It is therefore recommended that if you are depressed, and you use cannabis regul
