Finding the right CBD dose isn’t necessarily easy, you’ll probably have your work cut out for you trying to find a straight answer. One of the reasons is that CBD is not one-size-fits-all, therefore, each dose is going to be different depending on the person taking it. (Click to tweet)
You’ll also notice that different vendors are going to have products of varying strengths, which makes it even more difficult to find that sweet spot. Luckily, you have the ability to experiment for yourself. Take a look at our guide to gain some insight as to what your starting dose should be. We even have dosage suggestions categorized by health condition, so keep reading.
Table of Contents:
1. CBD Dosage: Difficult to Find an Answer
2. CBD Dosage: Basic Guidelines
3. Dosage Suggestions By Health Issue
4. Best Ways To Take CBD
5. Conclusion
1. CBD Dosage: Difficult to Find an Answer
Because of the confusion about what is legal and what isn’t in terms of using cannabis for medicinal purposes, it has left a lot of physicians scratching their heads. On the other hand, it’s also left a lot of patients frustrated with the lack of professional medical assistance.
Despite the fact that many states have now legalized the use of medical cannabis, it can still be difficult to have a doctor fully on board with this new alternative medicine. This is partially due to the inconsistencies in law between federal and state agencies, and partially because cannabis as medicine is not something that is typically taught in med school.
Without any previous professional experience in this industry, physicians typically prefer to play it safe and avoid CBD altogether. Their reluctance hasn't stopped their patients from experimenting on their own however. (Click to tweet)
These days, if no professional assistance is available, people are turning to others to get their questions answered regarding the proper dosages for cannabidiol products.
Now:
It probably doesn’t help that the CBD industry isn’t fully regulated, at least in the sense that there are no common dosage strengths, quantities, frequencies for brands to follow. Considering cannabidiol products come in many formats, including oils & tinctures, edibles, and capsules, this can lead to many discrepancies between products. Due to these irregularities, patients are left to their own devices, trying to figure out which dose is best for them.
2. CBD Dosage: Basic Guidelines
The most important rule in regard to CBD dosage, is to know that dosage is literally different for everyone. Your body size matters, your metabolism matters, what health issue you have matters, and they all change what specific amount will work for you. (Click to tweet)
The main guideline to follow is to always start at the smallest suggested dose, and gradually increase over time to find your desired result. This takes patience, but the end results are worth the wait. (Click to tweet)
Because different brands often have different potencies, it's always important to read through all the available forums, blogs and other online content, to see how others have rated the CBD oil. Once you determine the strength of the specific brand you have purchased, it’s easy to then start experimenting with it.
Something to keep in mind is that drug interactions do exist, even with cannabidiol and prescription medications. This is especially true for certain opioids. If you’re concerned that one of the drugs you may be taking might interact with CBD, speak with your doctor and ask for their opinion. They will let you know if it is safe or not.
2.1 CBD Dosage Side Effects
Thankfully, CBD doesn’t operate like other medicines, alternative or not. It is able to provide a myriad of health benefits without posing a risk for overdose, and without ever causing any harsh side effects at all. In fact, the only main side effect that people report with the use of CBD is a sense of relaxation. Also, scientists currently haven’t found a lethal CBD dose, which means that it's assumed to be physically impossible to overdose.
3. Dosage Suggestions by Health Issue
If you have a certain health condition and you are trying to figure out what dose you should be taking to see results, take a look at the information we’ve compiled below.
Remember:
Age, genetics, weight, lifestyle and severity of condition all play an important role on the effect of dosage.
Glaucoma
This may be the only case where a specific dosage is highly recommended, and anything above it may lead to a worsening of symptoms. The recommended dosage is 20-40 mg to reduce pressure behind the eyes, but anything over 40 mg is to be avoided as it actually might worsen the symptoms.
RELATED: CBD for Glaucoma: How Does it Help
Schizophrenia
The variation with this dosage is significant, and therefore it is recommended to start at the lower end, and find the perfect amount through gradual increases. Take 40-1280 mg daily, for up to four weeks. [1]
RELATED: CBD’s Impressive Effects on Mental Illness
Chemotherapy Side Effects
To deal with nausea & vomiting, and increase appetite in chemotherapy patients, the recommended dosage is 1 mg of CBD, taken orally daily for up to six weeks. [3]
RELATED: How to Dose CBD for Cancer
Movement issues (Huntington’s Disease)
The recommended dosages to maintain fluid movement and reduce tremors is 10 mg per kilogram of body weight for up to six weeks. [2]
Chronic Pain
The recommended dose is 2.5-20 mg taken daily, orally, for up to 25 days. [4]
RELATED: Here's How To Determine Correct CBD Dosage For Pain
Seizures
To treat seizures associated with epilepsy, take 200-300 mg daily for up to four and a half months. This dosage should not be followed for children. [5]
Insomnia and Other Sleep Disorders
Take before sleep, 40-160 mg orally. [6]
RELATED: What Does CBD Do to the Mind, Body, and Your Sleep?
Multiple Sclerosis
The recommended dose is 2.5-120 mg daily. The dosage can be split up throughout the day. [7]
RELATED: How CBD Has Been Used for Multiple Sclerosis
5. Best Ways to Take CBD
There are limitless ways to consume CBD, through a myriad of different methods. Some people prefer CBD tinctures that are held under the tongue and topicals that are applied on the skin. Still others source edibles or capsules as their preferred method of consumption.
If you are trying to experiment with dosage, it’s a good idea to choose a source that can be measured, for example through a CBD oil, or through an edible. Other methods, like smoking CBD flower, may make it difficult to determine how much CBD was actually consumed.
Also, always hold the sublingual CBD tinctures under the tongue for at least 90 seconds to confirm as much absorption as possible. This is because much of the CBD gets absorbed through the digestive system when swallowed, and absorption allows for benefits throughout the body.
6. Conclusion
Finding the right CBD dose is ultimately going to depend on you as an individual. You’ll have to consider whether or not you’ll need something strong, whether you’re going to need to dose multiple times a day, and what is your preferred form of ingestion.
After you’ve tried a dose for a couple of weeks, you can always increase it if needed. Experimenting with your dosage and finding that sweet spot is going to take time and patience, but it will certainly be worth it.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4357541/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16849753/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29579828/
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/210365lbl.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3763649/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4357541/
