Drug & supplement interaction

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) + Flurbiprofen

Flurbiprofen brand names: Ansaid, Flurbiprofen, Froben, Flurprofen, Froben SR, and others.

Minor Interaction
The bottom line Minor

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) has a minor interaction with Flurbiprofen. Theoretically, THC might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP2C9 substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMinor
LikelihoodUnlikely
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Flurbiprofen

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Flurbiprofen

Flurbiprofen falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES — the group Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) interacts with.

Theoretically, THC might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP2C9 substrates.
In vitro research shows that THC moderately inhibits the CYP2C9-mediated 7-hydroxylation of S-warfarin in a concentration-dependent manner. In vitro research also shows that cannabis extracts containing THC modestly inhibit the CYP2C9 metabolism of tolbutamide; extracts providing the specific cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG) alone had stronger inhibitory effects than extracts containing both THC and CBD. Theoretically, THC may inhibit the metabolism of other CYP2C9 substrates. Conversely, a crossover clinical study in healthy adults shows that oral THC does not inhibit CYP2C9.
Severity Minor Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

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

Here's the gist for flurbiprofen and THC. Your liver uses an enzyme called CYP2C9 to clear flurbiprofen out of your body. In lab dish studies, THC has shown it can slow that enzyme down a bit. In theory, that could let flurbiprofen build up slightly and nudge up its usual NSAID side effects, things like stomach upset, heartburn, or a higher chance of stomach irritation or fluid retention.

That said, I wouldn't lose sleep over this one. The evidence is weak (test-tube data only), and a study in real people taking THC by mouth found it did not actually block CYP2C9. So the real-world risk looks low. Still, if you use cannabis regularly and take flurbiprofen often, mention it to your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye on things.

References
  1. Damkier P, Lassen D, Christensen MMH, Madsen KG, Hellfritzsch M, Pottegård A. Interaction between warfarin and cannabis. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2019;124(1):28-31. PubMed
  2. Treyer A, Reinhardt JK, Eigenmann DE, Oufir M, Hamburger M. Phytochemical comparison of medicinal cannabis extracts and study of their CYP-mediated interactions with coumarinic oral anticoagulants. Med Cannabis Cannabinoids. 2023;6(1):21-31. PubMed
  3. Bansal S, Zamarripa CA, Spindle TR, et al. Evaluation of Cytochrome P450-Mediated Cannabinoid-Drug Interactions in Healthy Adult Participants. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2023.

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

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) has 762 moderate, 335 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Flurbiprofen one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc). Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) or Flurbiprofen

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) or Flurbiprofen, 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 Flurbiprofen

This page covers Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Flurbiprofen page lists 118 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), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and Wine (major).

By severity: 5 major · 83 moderate · 30 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Flurbiprofen page

“Anyone taking flurbiprofen (Ansaid), an NSAID pain reliever, should treat this list with genuine care, starting with the entries that pile onto the drug's own weak points, the stomach lining and the kidneys. Drinking alcohol, beer and wine both make the list, raises the chance of stomach bleeding beyond what any NSAID already carries,…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Flurbiprofen interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Flurbiprofen 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 Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc)
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Flurbiprofen
Steady interest

#1,884 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 Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc)

What is Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc)?

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc)
  • Chronic or nerve pain
  • Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
  • Appetite loss and weight loss
  • Muscle spasticity
  • Sleep problems
  • Anxiety and stress

THC is the main mind-altering compound in cannabis and is best known for causing a 'high.' A prescription form (dronabinol) is approved for chemotherapy-related nausea and appetite loss, but for most other uses the evidence is mixed or limited, and THC can impair thinking and driving. It should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding and used only with medical guidance.

Read the full Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Flurbiprofen

What Is Flurbiprofen Used For?

Brand names: Ansaid, Flurbiprofen, Froben, Flurprofen, Froben SR, Ocufen

Flurbiprofen tablets (sold as Flurbiprofen and Lurbiro) are used to relieve the pain, swelling, and stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Flurbiprofen Sodium eye drops are a separate product used during eye surgery — specifically to keep the pupil from constricting (getting smaller) while the procedure is underway. This use applies only to the ophthalmic (eye drop) form.

See full Flurbiprofen drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
762Moderate
335Minor
1,732No known interaction
Moderate

762 interactions

Showing 60 of 762 moderate interactions — see all 762 on the Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) page.

Minor

335 interactions

Showing 60 of 335 minor interactions — see all 335 on the Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) page.

No interaction 1,732 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 Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Flurbiprofen Together: Common Questions

Can you take Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) with Flurbiprofen?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Flurbiprofen interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

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

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