Nothing’s worse than getting diagnosed with mono; you’re probably wondering about different methods to relieve your symptoms. You probably have a fever, sore throat, and some other symptoms too, but maybe a joint will help alleviate your symptoms.
But will it? We’re here to help you understand whether smoking weed while you have mono is a good idea or if you should take a break for a while until you recover.
So we have to ask, will it help or hurt? Well, first, you need to consider your symptoms. Generally, most medical professionals agree to stay away from smoking anything while you’re sick.
So you should probably avoid smoking weed until your mono has passed. However, there aren’t any specific medications you can take to make your mono pass quickly. It’s best to rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Depending on your symptoms, you might also want to take over-the-counter painkillers to alleviate your discomfort.
What Are The Symptoms Of Mono?
Mono is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which is spread through saliva. So, mono is also known as the kissing disease. Still, you can also get it if you’ve come into contact with any bodily fluids of someone who’s already got it.
You’ll find there are several symptoms of mono, including:
Body aches
Extreme fatigue
Fever
Headache
Rash
Sore throat
Swollen liver or spleen, occasionally both
Swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits
Everyone has different intensity with their symptoms, sometimes depending on age. We find that extreme fatigue is one of the most common symptoms, as it’s the body’s way of fighting mono and telling you to get some rest.
Sometimes, the fatigue can last for the longest time and remain even when the other symptoms are gone.
Most people also find that they will be coughing a lot more due to their sore throat (Also check out Smoking Weed With Strep Throat). Usually, your coughing and sore throat can continue for either a few days or a couple of weeks.
It’s more common for kids to show flu-like symptoms, while older mono-sufferers may have an inflamed liver or an enlarged spleen.
As you can see, the symptoms vary, but if you have mono, you should visit your doctor to find out what you can take. Depending on the severity, you may also wonder if it’s possible you can have some weed to try to alleviate your discomfort?
Can I Smoke Weed With Mono?
As a rule, doctors recommend you don’t smoke when sick, regardless of whether you smoke marijuana or tobacco. We have noticed that it does depend on the symptoms you have.
Aches And Pains
Some people take weed to relieve pain, so you might be tempted to smoke some to reduce your body aches or headache. But not everyone reacts this way, so it’s often recommended to take over-the-counter painkillers.
Fatigue
Mono is known to make its sufferers extremely fatigued, so it’s best to avoid smoking weed. Naturally, weed can make you more tired or sleepy, but some users say using Sativa strains can help boost energy. However, we recommend stepping away if you don’t know which strain is Sativa and which is Indica.
Fever
While fevers make your temperature rise, your body will still feel cold. Weed is known to have a similar effect, making you feel colder than usual. If you combine weed with fever symptoms, there’s a chance you’ll feel worse.
But if your fever is caused by inflammation, there is evidence to say that weed has anti-inflammatory properties. But before you smoke any, consider if you have any symptoms that will counteract this.
Rashes
If you have an allergy to weed, you’ll get a rash, which won’t help if you have rashes caused by mono. However, if you don’t have a weed allergy, you should be fine to smoke a blunt if you only have a mono-induced rash.
Sore Throat
When you smoke weed, you’ll be inhaling through your throat, so the weed will only make your sore throat more painful. Additionally, smoking weed will cause you to cough and leave you with a dry mouth.
These factors will make it difficult for your sore throat to recover, and you may worsen it long-term. However, because of weed’s anti-inflammatory properties, consider edibles or gummies instead, as they might relieve your symptoms.
Inflamed Liver/Spleen
Should you have an inflammatory liver or spleen, we recommend stepping away from weed until it’s passed. Your liver regulates your blood’s chemical levels, including the cannabinoids in marijuana.
Most doctors recommend avoiding anything that could inflame your liver, including alcohol, caffeine, and some junk foods, so you should probably add marijuana to your list of things to avoid until you recover.
We recommend taking your doctor’s advice and not smoking weed while you have mono. The good news is that your symptoms won’t last forever. Still, you should take other medication to ensure you recover properly.
What Should I Take For Mono?
Being sick is no fun, so you’re probably looking for a way to recover quickly. But what is the best way to recover? Truthfully, because mono is a viral infection, antibiotics won’t work.
We recommend avoiding any antibiotics containing penicillin, as these medications may worsen your symptoms.
Over-the-counter painkillers can help reduce your symptoms. You can take cough medicine or spray to help your sore throat, but remember these will only alleviate your symptoms and won’t cause the mono to go away.
The best way to recover from mono is by resting and drinking plenty of fluids. You’re already fatigued, so you should keep resting to help your body fight it off. Get plenty of sleep, and remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
As a rule, you should follow your doctor’s advice to ensure you recover. We know that it’s more convenient to self-medicate, but it will be better, in the long run, to listen to your doctor about what you should do.
What Can I Do To Prevent Mono?
Suppose you want to prevent yourself from getting mono. In that case, the best way to do so is by not kissing or sharing toothbrushes or food utensils with anyone with mono.
If you share joints, vapes, or bongs with someone with mono, you have a higher chance of getting it yourself.
Unfortunately, no vaccine can prevent you from getting mono. When you get it, no medicine can get rid of it quickly. All you can do is ease your symptoms when you’re infected and rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Conclusion
There haven’t been many medical studies on weed’s effects on mono. Still, most doctors agree that smoking it while you’re infected with mono is not a good idea.
As a rule, waiting until your symptoms have passed is better, or you might accidentally make some of your other symptoms worse.
We know that mono can affect your liver; when you use marijuana, the cannabinoids will go to your liver. While we’re not sure how the two together will impact your poor liver, it’s best to keep away from smoking weed until you fully recover.
Likewise, smoking weed won’t help your sore throat and could make it worse. Instead, you should take over-the-counter medications for your symptoms.
If you’re concerned about the medication you can take, we recommend consulting your doctor to get more information. After all, you want your mono gone quickly, and you don’t want to self-medicate without understanding how your body is affected by it.
If you have mono, remember to rest and drink plenty of fluids. If you do this, your symptoms may last for only two to four weeks; however, this, again, depends on each case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smoking Weed With Mono Dangerous?
You should consider your symptoms if you want to smoke weed while you have mono. While smoking weed with mono won’t kill you, you don’t want to aggravate your symptoms. You should ideally stay away from weed until you recover.
Can You Get Mono From Vaping?
You can get mono from sharing vapes and joints with someone with mono. Mono can be shared through kissing, sharing food utensils, and is most commonly spread through saliva.
So, you should probably not share your vape or joints with anyone with mono to avoid getting the disease yourself.
How Long Are You Contagious With Mono?
On average, a single person can be contagious with mono after the onset for six months. It’s caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which will remain in your body for the rest of your life.
Sometimes, you can still find it in your throat, despite being completely healthy.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Mono?
Most people will recover from mono within two to four weeks, but sometimes it can last longer. Symptoms have been known to remain for six months or longer. Some people will also remain fatigued for several weeks after they’ve recovered.
Hi, I’m Zack Finch and I work as a Budtender for a Health & Wellness center here, in sunny California. I have been using marijuana recreationally for around 6 years now, and have many a time enjoyed the benefit that weed has to offer.
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