CBD Dosage: How Much CBD Should You Take?

CBD Dosage

CBD Dosage: You’ve probably heard about CBD products, and the health benefits of CBD, but how much CBD do you need to take advantage of those benefits?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of over 60 active compounds in the cannabis plant. These active compounds, known as cannabinoids, affect your body in many different ways.

It isn’t psychoactive — meaning it won’t get you “high.” Instead, research suggests that it may help:

• reduce anxiety and depression
• improve sleep
• reduce seizures in people with epilepsy
• soothe pain and inflammation
• improve heart health
• improve symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  

No matter what condition you’re trying to treat with CBD, giving yourself an adequate dosage is key — or it might not work for you.

It can be tough to figure out how much CBD you should take. For example, in the USA, CBD isn’t currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and there are no official recommended dosages. In the UK, however, there are recommended daily limits.

Here’s what you need to know about figuring out how much CBD to take. First, a recap on CBD itself.

CBD Recap

Short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound found in the Cannabis Sativa plant, of which Hemp is a variety. CBD is a type of cannabinoid, of which there are many found in Cannabis Sativa. CBD is non-psychoactive, which means it won’t get you high. The compound that causes the high from cannabis, THC, is only found in trace amounts in hemp. CBD is legal, unlike THC, which is a controlled substance and illegal in many countries.

CBD products vary widely; the most common forms are oils, sprays, and vapes. It’s also available as a topical cream or muscle balm.

CBD’s actual effect on the human body is thought to affect our cell-signaling system (the endocannabinoid system), which helps to regulate functions such as sleep, immune response, and pain. This explains CBD’s potentially wide-ranging application.

CBD Dosage: The Numbers

The amount of CBD you should take depends on a range of factors, including:

• your body weight
• the condition you’re treating
• your individual body chemistry
• The concentration of CBD in the product

In order to work out an ideal CBD dosage for yourself, some sites offer a dosage calculator where you can insert this information.

In other words, there are a lot of variables that go into deciding how much CBD to take. Before trying CBD, be sure to talk to your doctor about an appropriate dosage and any potential risks. If your doctor tells you how much to use, stick to their recommendation. This is especially important if you’re taking a prescription medication that contains CBD, such as Epidiolex, a form of seizure medication.

If your doctor doesn’t provide a recommendation, it’s best to start with a smaller dosage and gradually increase it. This could mean starting with 20 to 40 mg a day. After a week, increase this amount by 5 mg. Continue this until you feel that it’s effectively treating your symptoms.

For example, you might start off with 40 mg to treat severe pain. You can take 40 mg on days when you’re in a lot of pain. After a week, you increase it to 45 mg, and after a second week, you use 50 mg. At this point, you might feel that your pain is bearable.

It might be wise to keep track of how much CBD you’re taking and whether your symptoms are getting better. Write it down on paper or in a notes app on your phone.

Can You Overdose CBD?

A 2011 review on the safety and side effects of CBD found that continuous use of CBD, even in high doses like 1,500 mg a day, is tolerated well by humans.

A 2017 update to this review also confirmed this. However, a 2019 study done on mice did raise some safety concerns about CBD’s potential for liver damage and its interactions with other medications.

Conclusion CBD Dosage

If you want to try CBD or any product containing it, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor first if you’re on any prescription medication or are pregnant. CBD Dosage