Doing It Wrong? How To Dose CBD Oil For Anxiety

person Larry Ostrovsky
calendar_today Mar 14, 2017

If you have dealt with anxiety before, you are not alone. As the author of a 2015 article published in the Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience says: "Anxiety disorders...are the most prevalent mental disorders and are associated with immense health care costs and a high burden of disease." Yet many are finding that pharmaceuticals won't do, especially for chronic use, and they are turning increasingly to supplements and cannabidiol (CBD) oil for anxiety. [1]

CBD is one of many cannabinoids sourced in the Cannabis sativa L. plant. It is not psychotropic, meaning that it is not the compound that causes the mind-altering effects associated with marijuana use.

Let's have a look at guidelines regarding the correct CBD oil dosage for anxiety, which CBD preparation would be best to take, a bit about the research, and also why you may want to consider replacing your pharmaceutical anxiolytic with CBD oil for anxiety.

CBD oil dosage for anxiety

RELATED: What is CBD (Cannabidiol)?

CBD Oil Dosage for Anxiety

CBD remains a relatively new alternative to address anxiety, and finding the correct CBD tincture dosage can take time and a little experimentation.

While large-scale and well-designed studies are still lacking, many small-scale human studies—as well as numerous animal studies—show that CBD is safe and non-toxic even in very large doses. [2]

Experimenting with CBD Oil Dosage

How much CBD to take varies from person to person. Since there are no official guidelines yet, it is up to you to find the right CBD oil dosage for yourself. This can take time and patience.

Also, remember that factors such as weight, age, and chemical makeup can cause variations in how people react to CBD oil for anxiety.

Take It on an Empty Stomach with Oil

Curiously enough, when considering how beneficial CBD is for the body, it isn't absorbed very well. This can be negated by taking the CBD on an empty stomach and with a little coconut oil or an omega-3 supplemental oil. CBD is lipophilic, meaning that it binds to oils to be taken up by the body. Also, if you're taking a tincture or oil, put the drops under your tongue for faster absorption.

Start with a Low CBD Dosage

With available information taken from sources ranging from personal experiences posted on social media to dosages used in the published studies, one can estimate the parameters. On average, it seems that effective CBD dosages fall within the 40 mg to 600 mg range.

However, always start with the lowest possible dosage, irrespective of the health issue you are using CBD oil for. This gives your body time to adapt to the cannabinoid and ensures that you are not taking too much right out of the gate.

Increase Dosage Slowly

If no effects are noticeable initially, increase your dosage every few days. It takes time for the compound to build up and affect the body. Other cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), trigger almost immediate results (the previously mentioned “high”), but CBD’s effect is milder. Changes can take a few days to become apparent. Therefore, it's important that you stick with the same dosage for a few days before deciding to increase it.

Separate into Smaller Doses throughout the Day

As you increase your dosage, you may find that you suddenly are taking many drops at a time. Although it is safe to take CBD in high doses under most circumstances, it may increase absorption rate and efficacy if you separate the doses and take smaller amounts throughout the day.

Speak with a Doctor

Although it is always a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional before starting on a new medication or supplement, it is especially important to do so when combining CBD oil with other medications. This is because CBD is metabolized in the liver, so it can significantly influence the efficacy and toxicity of certain pharmaceuticals.

Furthermore, never wean yourself off prescription medication without the guidance of a qualified physician. It is possible to switch medicines, though, as many can attest.

What’s the Best CBD Product for Anxiety?

Cannabidiol for anxiety comes in a few different product formats. Cannabidiol tinctures and extracts are some of the most popular preparations, but some people prefer to ingest it through a sublingual spray or vape juice. Each of these options has pros and cons, but it primarily comes down to product quality and personal preference.

It's essential to find the highest-quality product to ensure efficacy.

Should You Use a Tincture or an Extract?

Tincture quality comes down to the concentration of the final substance. Tinctures are concentrated substances, but not all extraction methods allow for concentration. Therefore, CBD oil labeled as tinctures will have higher concentrations of the medicinal properties than a simple extract.

Are Some Products More Potent than Others?

Depending on how the CBD was processed, the bioavailability of the medical compounds can differ dramatically. For example, most CBD oil has a bioavailability of only 15 percent.

There are a few ways that producers can increase the absorption rate of their CBD oil. However, this requires a greater investment in time and technology, which means that many low-budget companies continue creating products with low potency.

What Research Is Available on CBD for Anxiety?

What research is available on CBD for anxiety?

Good, large-scale clinical research on CBD oil for anxiety is still lacking, but there are a number of human studies available. Also, numerous in vitro and animal studies are showing that CBD oil has potential as a treatment for the following anxiety or related disorders:

Insomnia [3]
Posttraumatic stress disorder [3][5]
Generalized social anxiety disorder [4][5]
Panic disorder [5][6]
Obsessive Compulsive disorder [5][6]

The Problem with Anxiety and Mainstream Medication

The most common treatment option is medication, with prescription numbers skyrocketing in recent years—per year, one in six Americans takes medicine to treat psychiatric disorders, and Xanax, an anxiolytic, is the third most popular among these.

Prescription medications for anxiety are most often emotionally and physically debilitating.

Yet prescription medications for anxiety are most often emotionally and physically debilitating. Their use is commonly associated with a number of very unpleasant side effects, including the following:

Drowsiness
Sedation
Confusion
Stomach upset
Nausea
Diarrhea or constipation
Sexual dysfunction
Headache
Suicidal thoughts
High blood pressure/hypertension
Orthostatic hypotension
Dry mouth
Blurred vision
Increased heart rate
Abnormal heartbeat
Weight gain
Dependence and withdrawal symptoms [7]

People often develop problems that didn't exist prior to taking the anti-anxiety medication and are then prescribed another medicine to treat the new issue. The new medicine obviously comes with a list of its own side effects, for which more medicine is prescribed—a truly evil cycle perpetuated by a culture of pill popping and Big Pharma's greed.

Yet sometimes it is necessary to take something to manage symptoms, and for this, CBD oil for anxiety is an excellent, safe choice. As mentioned—never attempt to replace or complement your current medicine without the knowledge and cooperation of your prescribing physician.

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Doing It Wrong? How To Dose CBD Oil For Anxiety