Drug & supplement interaction

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) + Indinavir

Indinavir brand name: Crixivan.

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

Indinavir falls into 3 drug categories that Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, CYP3A4 inhibitors might increase the levels and clinical effects of THC.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Indinavir

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) interacts with whole categories of medication. Indinavir falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INHIBITORS

1 of 3

Why this applies to Indinavir

Indinavir falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INHIBITORS — the group Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) interacts with.

Theoretically, CYP3A4 inhibitors might increase the levels and clinical effects of THC.
THC is a substrate of CYP3A4 enzymes.
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 for these two. Indinavir is a strong blocker of a liver enzyme called CYP3A4, and that same enzyme helps break down THC. So when you pair them, your body may clear THC more slowly, letting it build up. In plain terms, that could mean a stronger or longer-lasting high than you expected, with more drowsiness, dizziness, a racing heart, or feeling out of it.

I'll be honest with you, this concern is theoretical, based on how the drugs work rather than real-world reports, so it may not amount to much for everyone. Still, since reactions vary, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them. Don't change your indinavir on your own, since staying consistent with HIV treatment really matters.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Product information for Marinol. AbbVie. North Chicago, IL 60064. August 2017. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/018651s029lbl.pdf.
Moderate

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

2 of 3

Indinavir also falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, THC might alter levels of drugs that are substrates of P-glycoprotein (P-gp).
Most in vitro research suggests that THC can inhibit P-gp and increase the accumulation of probe compounds by reducing P-gp mediated drug efflux. In vitro studies in kidney cell lines show that a 1-hour exposure to CBD and THC inhibits P-gp. THC may also alter the expression of P-gp, although this effect appears to vary based on duration of exposure. Some in vitro research in lymphoblastoid leukemia cell lines indicates that a 1-hour exposure to cannabinoids does not affect P-gp expression, while a prolonged 72-hour exposure decreases P-gp expression. Other in vitro research in these cell lines shows that a 4-hour exposure to THC and CBD induces P-gp gene expression, while exposure for longer than 4 hours and up to 48 hours does not induce P-gp gene expression.
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 for indinavir (Crixivan): your body uses a transporter called P-glycoprotein, or P-gp, to pump certain drugs back out of cells. Indinavir is one of those drugs. In lab dish studies (not in people), THC appears to slow this pump down. If that happened in your body, less indinavir would get pumped out, so blood levels could creep up. That might mean more of indinavir's usual side effects, like nausea, stomach upset, or kidney stones from the drug crystallizing.

I want to keep this in perspective, though. This warning comes only from test-tube and animal research, so we honestly don't know how much it matters in real life. Please don't start or stop anything on your own. Just loop in your HIV doctor or pharmacist so they can keep an eye on you.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Zhu, H. J., Wang, J. S., Markowitz, J. S., Donovan, J. L., Gibson, B. B., Gefroh, H. A., and Devane, C. L. Characterization of P-glycoprotein inhibition by major cannabinoids from marijuana. J Pharmacol Exp.Ther. 2006;317(2):850-857. PubMed
  2. Holland, M. L., Panetta, J. A., Hoskins, J. M., Bebawy, M., Roufogalis, B. D., Allen, J. D., and Arnold, J. C. The effects of cannabinoids on P-glycoprotein transport and expression in multidrug resistant cells. Biochem.Pharmacol 4-14-2006;71(8):1146-115 PubMed
  3. Tournier N, Lucie Chevillard L, Megarbane B, et al. Interaction of drugs of abuse and maintenance treatments with human P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) and breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2). Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2010;13(7):905-15. PubMed
  4. Arnold JC, Hone P, Holland ML, Allen JD. CB2 and TRPV1 receptors mediate cannabinoid actions on MDR1 expression in multidrug resistant cells. Pharmacol Rep. 2012;64(3):751-7. PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Indinavir also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, THC may increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that cannabis containing THC might modestly inhibit the activity of CYP3A4 enzymes, which might decrease the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates. It is unclear if this effect is due to THC, other constituents, or the combination. In vitro research also shows that cannabis extracts containing THC modestly inhibit the CYP3A4 metabolism of testosterone; extracts providing the specific cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG) alone had stronger inhibitory effects than extracts containing both THC and CBD. Conversely, a crossover clinical study in healthy adults shows that oral THC does not inhibit CYP3A4.
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 if you're combining THC with indinavir (Crixivan). Your body clears indinavir using a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In lab dish studies, THC (and some other cannabis compounds) appeared to slow that enzyme down a little. In theory, that could let indinavir levels creep up, which might mean more of its usual side effects like stomach upset, headache, or kidney stones from the drug crystallizing.

That said, I wouldn't lose sleep over this one. The evidence is weak (test-tube and animal data only), the interaction is rated minor and unlikely, and one human study actually found oral THC did not block CYP3A4. So real-world impact is probably small. Still, since indinavir is a key HIV medicine, run any cannabis use past your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Pellinen, P., Honkakoski, P., Stenback, F., Niemitz, M., Alhava, E., Pelkonen, O., Lang, M. A., and Pasanen, M. Cocaine N-demethylation and the metabolism-related hepatotoxicity can be prevented by cytochrome P450 3A inhibitors. Eur.J Pharmacol 1-3-1994;2 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 761 moderate, 336 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Indinavir one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 761 Minor 336 No known interaction 1,733 (incl. Indinavir)
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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Indinavir

This page covers Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Indinavir page lists 150 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 109 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Indinavir page

“St. John's wort can drop indinavir (Crixivan) levels far enough to cause HIV treatment failure and viral resistance, which is why this list calls for real care before adding any supplement.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Indinavir interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Indinavir 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Indinavir
Top half

#1,142 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 Indinavir

What Is Indinavir Used For?

Brand name: Crixivan

  • Indinavir is used along with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Indinavir is in a class of medications called protease inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of HIV in the blood. Although indinavir does not cure HIV, it may decrease your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer. Taking these medications along with practicing safer sex and making other lifestyle changes may decrease the risk of transmitting the HIV virus to other people.

See full Indinavir 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
761Moderate
336Minor
1,732No known interaction
761 Moderate 336 Minor 1,732 No interaction
Moderate

761 interactions

Showing 60 of 761 moderate interactions — see all 761 on the Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) page.

Minor

336 interactions

Showing 60 of 336 minor interactions — see all 336 on the Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) page.

No interaction 1,732 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,732 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) list.

See the full Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) interactions page
See every supplement checked against Indinavir, 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
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Indinavir supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Indinavir, ranked by severity Indinavir drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Indinavir Together: Common Questions

Can you take Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) with Indinavir?
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 3 interactions listed for Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Indinavir?
Indinavir belongs to more than one drug category, and Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) 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 Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Indinavir 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 Indinavir and Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc)?

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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.