Drug & supplement interaction

Cannabis + Butabarbital Sodium

Butabarbital Sodium brand names: Butisol Sodium, Sarisol #2.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Butabarbital Sodium falls into 2 drug categories that Cannabis can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, cannabis might have additive effects if used with other CNS depressants.

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

Cannabis and Butabarbital Sodium

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Butabarbital Sodium

Butabarbital Sodium falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Cannabis interacts with.

Theoretically, cannabis might have additive effects if used with other CNS depressants.
Cannabis can have CNS depressant effects. Combining cannabis with other CNS depressants might result in additive or synergistic effects. A small clinical trial in healthy adults shows that inhaling a high-grade cannabis (Bedrocan International B.V., Veendam, The Netherlands) 100 mg, containing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol 21.8% and cannabinol 0.1%, modestly increases subjective feelings of sedation when compared with cannabis alone.
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

Butabarbital is a barbiturate, a strong sedative that already slows down your brain and nervous system. Cannabis does something similar through its own pathway, so the worry here is simple: the two can pile on top of each other. Together they may leave you more drowsy, dizzy, foggy, or slow to react than either one alone, and that can affect your breathing, balance, and driving.

To be fair, this concern is mostly based on how these drugs work rather than hard studies, and one small trial only showed a modest bump in sedation. Still, with a sleepy medicine like butabarbital, it's smart to play it safe. Please don't change anything on your own. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Marinol Prescribing Information. Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Rev March 2008. Available at: http://www.solvaypharmaceuticals-us.com/static/wma/pdf/1/3/2/5/0/004InsertText500012RevMar2008.pdf (Accessed 2 July 2009).
  2. Hollister, L. E. Interactions of cannabis with other drugs in man. NIDA Res.Monogr 1986;68:110-116. DOI
  3. van Dam CJ, van der Schrier R, van Velzen M, et al. Inhaled Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol does not enhance oxycodone-induced respiratory depression: randomised controlled trial in healthy volunteers. Br J Anaesth 2023;130(4):485-493.
Moderate

BARBITURATES

2 of 2

Butabarbital Sodium also falls under BARBITURATES.

Theoretically, cannabis might increase the levels and adverse effects of barbiturates.
Some research shows that synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) increases the elimination half-life of pentobarbital by 4 hours when dosed concomitantly.
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

Butabarbital (Butisol) is a barbiturate sedative, and it's a strong central nervous system depressant on its own. The concern here is mostly about overlap: cannabis can also make you drowsy, foggy, and slow to react, so stacking the two could leave you more sedated, dizzy, and unsteady than either alone. On top of that, lab-based pharmacology suggests THC may slow how the body clears barbiturates, which could let the drug linger a bit longer and deepen those effects.

To be fair, this is a theoretical, low-strength signal, not something proven in everyday use. Still, with a sedative like this, even a little extra drowsiness can affect breathing and safe driving. Please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Marinol Prescribing Information. Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Rev March 2008. Available at: http://www.solvaypharmaceuticals-us.com/static/wma/pdf/1/3/2/5/0/004InsertText500012RevMar2008.pdf (Accessed 2 July 2009).

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

Cannabis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Cannabis has 2 major, 1,108 moderate, 25 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Butabarbital Sodium one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 Moderate 1,108 Minor 25 No known interaction 1,695 (incl. Butabarbital Sodium)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Cannabis

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Cannabis. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Cannabis or Butabarbital Sodium

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Cannabis or Butabarbital Sodium, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Butabarbital Sodium

This page covers Cannabis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Butabarbital Sodium page lists 97 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Kava (major).

By severity: 7 major · 74 moderate · 16 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Butabarbital Sodium page

“Butabarbital sodium (Butisol Sodium) is a barbiturate, an older sedative prescribed for sleep and anxiety, and this class of drug leaves little margin once sedation stacks, so its list of 97 interacting supplements deserves genuine respect. The dominant theme, covering 78 of the ingredients, is added nervous system depression: anything…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Butabarbital Sodium interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Cannabis as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 21 real supplement products containing Cannabis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Cannabis. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Butabarbital Sodium too, on top of Cannabis — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Cannabis and Butabarbital Sodium 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 Cannabis
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Butabarbital Sodium
Top 25%

#466 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 Cannabis

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis
  • Chronic pain
  • Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
  • Muscle spasticity (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Sleep problems
  • Appetite stimulation

Cannabis contains many active compounds, mainly THC (which causes a 'high') and CBD (which does not). Some uses, such as chemotherapy-related nausea, certain seizure disorders, and muscle spasticity, have meaningful evidence, while many other popular uses are not well proven. It can cause real side effects and impairment, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist and follow your local laws before using it.

Read the full Cannabis monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Cannabis

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

2Major
1,108Moderate
25Minor
1,694No known interaction
2 Major 1,108 Moderate 25 Minor 1,694 No interaction
Major

2 interactions

Moderate

1,108 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,108 moderate interactions — see all 1,108 on the Cannabis page.

Minor

25 interactions

No interaction 1,694 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Cannabis against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,694 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Cannabis list.

See the full Cannabis interactions page
See every supplement checked against Butabarbital Sodium, ranked by severity
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
Cannabis monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Butabarbital Sodium supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Butabarbital Sodium, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Cannabis and Butabarbital Sodium Together: Common Questions

Can you take Cannabis with Butabarbital Sodium?
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 Cannabis and Butabarbital Sodium?
Butabarbital Sodium belongs to more than one drug category, and Cannabis 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 Cannabis and Butabarbital Sodium 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 Butabarbital Sodium and Cannabis?

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.