Cannabis in later life: risks, medication, falls

The body changes over the years, and many people also take several medicines and have several conditions. That makes side effects more likely.
When you are high, your reactions and attention are impaired. That can lead to falls and injuries.
Talk to your GP about it, especially if you have heart disease or take medication regularly.

What changes with age

Older people have a particularly high risk of side effects from cannabis. Experts give these reasons: the physical changes that come with age, several medicines taken at the same time, their interactions and several illnesses at once. The body reacts more sensitively. With edibles, there is the added problem that the effect sets in slowly and with a delay. Anyone who takes more because they cannot feel anything yet risks an overdose.

What figures from North America show

In California, the number of cannabis-related emergency department visits among people aged 65 and over rose from 366 in 2005 to 12,167 in 2019. In Ontario, people aged 65 and over came to the emergency department with cannabis poisoning considerably more often after legalisation, most of all once edibles were allowed too. In about one in six of these cases, alcohol was also involved. The Deutsches Ärzteblatt sums up the study like this: older people apparently tend to choose edibles and often underestimate their effect. The figures cannot be transferred directly to Germany. But they show where the risks lie.

Falls and accidents

THC can slow down your reactions and disrupt your attention. That can lead to injuries and falls. One study found a higher risk of falling and a less steady gait in people aged 50 and over who use cannabis regularly. Further studies are still needed. What applies to driving is explained in the module Road traffic and the law.

Heart and circulation

Cannabis may be linked to a higher risk of heart attack, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Studies show this association, but there is no proof that cannabis is the cause. In the first hour after smoking, THC can trigger heart rhythm problems. The American Heart Association advises against smoking or vaping anything, cannabis included. If you have heart disease, you will find more in the module Who should avoid cannabis.

Medication

THC and CBD slow down enzymes in the liver that break down many medicines. This can affect antidepressants, anticoagulants such as phenprocoumon, medicines for heart rhythm problems and medicines for high blood lipids, among others. With the anticoagulant clopidogrel, on the other hand, the effect can become weaker. The data mostly come from laboratory studies; studies in humans are often lacking. How strong the effect is in everyday life therefore remains unclear. That is exactly why the question belongs in the doctor’s surgery or the pharmacy.

Memory

A study from Ontario followed people aged 45 and over. Those who had been treated in an emergency department or in hospital for the effects of cannabis use were diagnosed with dementia more often in the following years than people of the same age. The researchers stress that this is an association, not proof that cannabis is the cause.

Talking to your GP

Tell your GP openly whether and how you use cannabis. Doctors are bound by medical confidentiality. Anyone who takes at least three prescribed medicines at the same time is entitled to a medication plan. How to prepare for the appointment is explained in the checklist for talking to your doctor.

If you take cannabis or want to take it for pain or sleep problems, discuss it with a doctor. Cannabis as a medicine is regulated by the Medical Cannabis Act and is prescribed by doctors.

Cannabis in later life

What changes with age

What figures from North America show

Falls and accidents

Heart and circulation

Medication

Memory

Talking to your GP

Sources

Module of 9

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