Can you use water pills for THC detox?
Yes, you can use water pills for THC detox and flushing THC out of your system. But there’s a catch.
We’ll explain how water pills help detox THC and how to use them correctly.
How water pills (diuretics) work
Diuretics, also called water pills, are medications designed to increase the amount of water and salt expelled from the body as urine.
Most of them help your kidneys release more sodium into your urine. The sodium takes with it water from your blood, decreasing the amount of fluid flowing through your veins and arteries.
So theoretically, diuretics can help to remove THC metabolites faster.
Let us explain how our body removes THC metabolites:
Phase 1 of THC metabolism
During phase 1 of marijuana metabolism, THC is metabolized into 11-OH-THC and 11-COOH-THC. Actually, there are several other metabolites, but these two are primary.
These metabolites, as well as THC itself, are fat-soluble. They don’t dissolve in water and cannot be excreted with water after using water pills.
Phase 2 of THC metabolism
During phase 2, glucuronide molecule is added to the THC metabolites creating THC-COO-Gluc and THC-O-Gluc.
These metabolites are water-soluble and ready for excretion with urine and feces.
So if you use diuretics, your body will excrete more of these metabolites from the blood with water.
The problem is that diuretics increase the amount of water excreted as urine. And only 20% of THC metabolites are excreted with urine.
Most of the metabolites are excreted with feces.
So water pills will only slightly speed up the excretion of THC metabolites from the blood.
How water pills help to flush THC
The other effect of water pills is that they make you urinate frequently.
During urination, you flush THC metabolites from your bladder and their concentration in the urine decrease.
It can be helpful if you need to pass a drug test because this flushing will reduce the concentration of THC-COO-Gluc in the urine below the detectable level, and you’ll pass the test.
The problem
The problem with detoxing using water pills is that the other parameters of urine change also. Here are what lab supervisors say:
“Cleanses and teas can lower THC levels through their diuretic properties. They make individuals urinate a lot, which technically washes out the kidneys,” said Rossetti.
“This flushing of the kidneys can lower the specific gravity or density of the urine,” he added, “and a low specific gravity indicates contamination on the test, and the specimen could be discounted.”
Also, cleanses and teas may alter the amount of creatinine in the urine, another measure that drug tests look at.
Abnormal creatinine levels can indicate contamination, according to Rossetti. This means the tester could assume that you attempted to cheat on your drug test.
While that doesn’t mean a positive test, it does mean the sample is unacceptable, and you’ll likely have to retake the test.
How to use water pills for THC detox
You use water pills as described by the manufacturer. This will slightly improve the detoxification process. Just remember to drink enough water.
Here we explained how to get weed out of your system completely: THC Detox Guide. How To Get Weed Out Of Your System
How to use water pills to flush THC
If you need to pass a drug test, you can use water pills to flush THC. But you need to use additional supplements to restore natural urine parameters.
You need to take:
- Creatine ethyl ester supplement to restore creatinine levels.
- Electrolyte drink to restore specific gravity
- Vitamin B2 to restore the natural color
Here’s the detailed step-by-step guide: Proven Ways to Pass a Drug Test in 24 Hours With Flying Colors
Actually can do it without water pills because drinking a lot of water will make you urinate naturally, without additional diuretics.