Drug & supplement interaction

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) + Lacosamide

Lacosamide brand names: Vimpat, Motpoly XR.

Minor Interaction
The bottom line Minor

Lacosamide falls into 2 drug categories that Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) can interact with; the most serious is rated minor. Theoretically, THC might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP2C9 substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMinor
LikelihoodUnlikely
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Lacosamide

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) interacts with whole categories of medication. Lacosamide falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Minor).

Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Lacosamide

Lacosamide 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 short version on combining THC with your Vimpat (lacosamide). Lacosamide is partly cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP2C9, and lab studies suggest THC might slow that enzyme down a little. If it did, lacosamide could build up slightly in your system, which in theory could mean more of its usual side effects, things like dizziness, drowsiness, blurred or double vision, nausea, or feeling unsteady on your feet.

That said, I don't want to overstate this. The concern comes only from test-tube and animal research, and a human study actually found that oral THC did not meaningfully block this enzyme. So a real-world problem here is unlikely. Since both THC and lacosamide can cause drowsiness on their own, it's still worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before mixing them.

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.
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Lacosamide 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 for combining THC with your lacosamide (Vimpat). The concern is that THC might slow down a liver enzyme called CYP3A4, which is one of the pathways that helps clear lacosamide from your body. In theory, if that enzyme works slower, a bit more lacosamide could hang around, which might bump up side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, blurry or double vision, or feeling unsteady on your feet.

That said, I want to keep this in perspective. This is rated a minor and unlikely interaction, and the worry comes mostly from lab dish studies. One human study actually found oral THC didn't block this enzyme at all. Still, since THC on its own can cause drowsiness and cloudy thinking, the two together may stack up. Check with your pharmacist or doctor before mixing them.

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 762 moderate, 335 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Lacosamide 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 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 Lacosamide

This page covers Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lacosamide page lists 151 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 · 107 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Lacosamide page

“If you take lacosamide (Vimpat, Motpoly XR) for seizures, start with the three major entries here: grapefruit, St. John's wort, and activated charcoal.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Lacosamide interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Lacosamide 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Lacosamide
Top 25%

#662 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 Lacosamide

What Is Lacosamide Used For?

Brand names: Vimpat, Motpoly XR

Lacosamide is used to treat partial-onset seizures (seizures that start in one part of the brain) in adults and children. The age at which it is approved depends on the specific product: Vimpat tablets, oral solution, and injection are approved for partial-onset seizures in patients as young as 1 month old; most other formulations are approved from age 4 and up; and Motpoly XR is approved for patients weighing at least 50 kg.

Lacosamide is also used as adjunctive (add-on) therapy for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures involving the whole brain) in adults and children 4 years of age and older, including Motpoly XR for patients weighing at least 50 kg.

See full Lacosamide 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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Lacosamide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) with Lacosamide?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) and Lacosamide?
Lacosamide 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 Lacosamide 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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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.