Drug & supplement interaction

Cannabinol (cbn) + Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen

Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen brand name: Combogesic.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen falls into 2 drug categories that Cannabinol (cbn) can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, cannabinol might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP2C9 substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Cannabinol (cbn) and Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Cannabinol (cbn) interacts with whole categories of medication. Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Cannabinol (cbn) in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen

Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES — the group Cannabinol (cbn) interacts with.

Theoretically, cannabinol might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP2C9 substrates.
In vitro research shows that cannabinol potently inhibits CYP2C9 enzymes. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Combogesic combines two pain relievers: acetaminophen and ibuprofen. The ibuprofen part is partly cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP2C9. In lab (test tube) studies, CBN appears to block that enzyme fairly strongly. In theory, that could slow how your body breaks down ibuprofen, letting a bit more linger in your system. That might nudge up ibuprofen's typical side effects, like stomach upset, heartburn, or, with heavier or long-term use, kidney strain or a higher chance of stomach irritation.

Here's the honest part: this is only a theoretical concern from laboratory work, and it hasn't been seen in real people. I wouldn't lose sleep over an occasional dose, but it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing them regularly.

References
  1. Nasrin S, Watson CJW, Perez-Paramo YX, Lazarus P. Cannabinoid Metabolites as Inhibitors of Major Hepatic CYP450 Enzymes, with Implications for Cannabis-Drug Interactions. Drug Metab Dispos 2021;49(12):1070-1080. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, cannabinol might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP2E1 substrates.
In vitro research shows that cannabinol potently inhibits CYP2E1 enzymes. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist with Combogesic (a combo of acetaminophen and ibuprofen) and CBN. In lab dishes, CBN appears to block a liver enzyme called CYP2E1. Acetaminophen is partly handled by that same enzyme, and CYP2E1 is the pathway that turns a small amount of acetaminophen into a byproduct that can stress the liver. So in theory, slowing that enzyme could change how acetaminophen is processed.

Now the honest part: this has only been seen in test tubes, not in real people. It's a theoretical concern, not a proven one. Still, since acetaminophen and the liver are involved, I'd keep your daily acetaminophen within recommended limits, go easy on alcohol, and let your pharmacist or doctor know you're using CBN before combining them.

References
  1. Nasrin S, Watson CJW, Perez-Paramo YX, Lazarus P. Cannabinoid Metabolites as Inhibitors of Major Hepatic CYP450 Enzymes, with Implications for Cannabis-Drug Interactions. Drug Metab Dispos 2021;49(12):1070-1080. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Cannabinol (cbn) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Cannabinol (cbn) has 388 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Cannabinol (cbn)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Cannabinol (cbn). Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen

This page covers Cannabinol (cbn) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen page lists 342 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).

By severity: 7 major · 290 moderate · 45 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen page

“Combogesic pairs acetaminophen with ibuprofen, so it inherits the vulnerabilities of both drugs, and its supplement list deserves real attention before you add anything to it. Of the 342 ingredients on file, 7 carry a major rating, and those are the ones to understand first.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Cannabinol (cbn) and Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Cannabinol (cbn)
Top half

#613 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen
Top 10%

#146 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Cannabinol (cbn)

What is Cannabinol (cbn)?

  • Sleep support
  • Relaxation
  • Pain or discomfort
  • Appetite-related concerns

Cannabinol (CBN) is a minor cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, often marketed as a 'sleep' aid, but solid human research is very limited. Because it comes from cannabis and product quality varies widely, talk with your pharmacist or doctor before trying it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Cannabinol (cbn) monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Cannabinol (cbn)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Cannabinol (cbn) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
388Moderate
0Minor
2,441No known interaction
Moderate

388 interactions

Showing 60 of 388 moderate interactions — see all 388 on the Cannabinol (cbn) page.

No interaction 2,441 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Cannabinol (cbn) and Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen Together: Common Questions

Can you take Cannabinol (cbn) with Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Cannabinol (cbn) and Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen?
Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen belongs to more than one drug category, and Cannabinol (cbn) interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Cannabinol (cbn) and Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen and Cannabinol (cbn)?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.