Cannabidiol (CBD) is available in a variety of formulations, including oils, tablets, and lotions. The optimal dosages vary depending on the product’s type and intended use. Because there has been limited research, doctors have not yet been able to confirm the safe and useful dosages for each application.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is an active component found in the cannabis plant. Products containing CBD may have some health benefits, but they may also constitute a risk to the user’s health.
The CBD market is rising at a rapid pace, and the volume of research on the subject is growing as well. However, there is still some ambiguity over the legislation, how to use CBD, and the safety and usefulness of the compound.
CBD products are lawful in all 50 states, while their legal status differs from state to state. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the majority of CBD products on the market. As a result, the quality, the amount of CBD in each dose, and the safety of the products can all vary significantly, making it impossible to determine the most effective dosage.
This post examines CBD dosages, including studies into which dosages are safe and beneficial, as well as the potential hazards associated with the use of CBD products.
Is Cannabidiol (CBD) legal? CBD products derived from hemp that contain less than 0.3 percent THC are allowed under federal law, but they are still banned under several state regulations. CBD-derived products manufactured from cannabis, on the other hand, are prohibited under federal law but allowed under some state regulations. When travelling, especially in foreign countries, always sure to check local legislation. It’s also important to remember that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved nonprescription CBD products, which may be labelled incorrectly.
Uses and dosages
Only one cannabis-derived medicine, Epidiolex, has been approved by the FDA thus far; it may be obtained only through a prescription. Specifically, this approval pertains to the treatment of seizures in persons who have severe forms of epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, respectively.
The recommended dosage for Epidiolex, a CBD oil formulation, is as follows:
- The starting dosage is 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) twice daily, making a total dosage of 5 mg/kg each day.
- After 1 week, people may increase the dosage to 5 mg/kg twice daily, which is a total of 10 mg/kg per day.
Due to the fact that all other CBD-containing products are outside the scope of FDA regulations, there are no official standards for their usage. Some CBD product producers are marketing CBD products that make unsubstantiated medicinal claims, and the quality and safety of these products can vary widely from one manufacturer to another.
Before using any additional CBD products, a person should consult with their doctor to determine the proper amounts for them.
Each individual’s dosage will be determined by the method of administration that they employ as well as the specific product being utilised. The following are examples of administration methods:
- CBD oil solutions
- CBD capsules
- tablets that a person places under the tongue (sublingual)
- nasal sprays
Recently, a broader choice of CBD-containing products has become accessible on the market. Food products, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and animal health products are some of the items on this list.
The study of CBD therapy is still in its early stages, and scientists will need to perform many more research studies in order to evaluate the benefits and hazards of using CBD products in the future. Furthermore, researchers must determine the optimal CBD dosages that are both safe and helpful for each illness under investigation.
CBD oil has sparked a great deal of attention in the scientific community as a therapeutic option.
Several studies, according to a study published by the World Health Organization (WHO), have revealed that CBD oil may also have therapeutic benefits for the following conditions:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- multiple sclerosis
- Huntington’s disease
- hypoxia-ischemia injury
- pain
- psychosis
- nausea
- inflammatory diseases
- rheumatoid arthritis
- infection
- inflammatory bowel disease
- cardiovascular disease
- diabetic complications
Research
Because the FDA has only approved the use of CBD for specific forms of epilepsy, doctors are unsure of the appropriate dosage to administer when CBD is used for other purposes. For every medicine, the optimal dosage is one that produces a therapeutic effect while also being well tolerated by the patient.
When conducting clinical investigations, researchers have employed a variety of oral CBD dosages ranging from 100 to 800 mg per day.
Some trials have used even larger doses of the drug. The results of a review revealed that an individual claimed an improvement in his or her psychosis after consuming 1,200 mg per day for a few weeks. Individuals with schizophrenia reported advantages after taking increasing dosages of 40–1,280 mg per day for four weeks, according to a separate study.
The effects of CBD on patients with Parkinson’s disease and psychosis were investigated in a research in which six subjects had considerable improvement in their symptoms after taking 150 mg of CBD per day.
The following table summarises the CBD delivery methods and dosages that researchers have employed to investigate the therapeutic effects of CBD on a variety of medical ailments over the years.
| Medical condition | Dose of CBD | Form |
| anxiety | 300–600 mg | oral |
| bowel disease | 5 mg twice daily | sublingual (olive oil drops) |
| type 2 diabetes | 100 mg twice daily | oral |
| pain due to cancer | 50–600 mg per day | oral |
| Parkinson’s disease | 75–300 mg per day | oral |
| Huntington’s disease | Up to 12 sprays per day | Sativex nasal spray (contains CBD and THC in 1:1 concentration) |
People should speak with a doctor in order to decide whether or not a CBD product is safe, as well as the most efficient dosage.
Factors that may have an impact on dose
A variety of factors may influence the amount of medication that people are able to take. According to the medical condition or the reason for taking CBD, each individual will require a different amount of the substance.
Some people require substantial doses of medication to control their epilepsy, but smaller doses of medication may be beneficial for treating anxiety.
Another thing that people should take into consideration before using CBD is their body mass index. Doctors compute a dose per kilogramme of body weight in many clinical trials and when prescribing Epidiolex to patients. Because of this, persons who weigh less should take lower doses of medication than people who weigh more.
The sedative effect of CBD may be enhanced by the consumption of alcoholic beverages and other central nervous system depressants. People who take other medications that can make them drowsy should avoid using CBD or reduce their dosage if they do. Before using CBD with alcohol or other medications, a person should consult with their doctor to ensure that the combination is safe.
People must also take into consideration the dose requirements for each kind of CBD. The amount of CBD in a capsule is predetermined, whereas the dosage of oral solutions is determined by the volume of solution used. For example, if a person consumes a full teaspoon, which is equal to 5 ml, of a CBD solution containing 25 mg per millilitre (ml), he or she will receive 125 mg of CBD.
What are the safest dosages?
Despite the fact that data on the effects of pure CBD in humans is still scarce, experts believe that it has a low level of toxicity.
It is not known whether CBD has any effect on the bodily functions or behaviour of monkeys unless the animals are given doses more than 30 mg/kg orally every day for 90 days or 150 mg/kg intravenously.
In a four-week study on human physical dependence, researchers administered 1,500 mg of CBD each day to participants. After the 28-day trial period, none of the study subjects had withdrawal symptoms. Another study discovered that dosages of up to 1,500 mg per day were well tolerated by the participants.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CBD is generally well tolerated by the general public. In contrast to cannabis, CBD does not produce a psychoactive high and does not have the same potential for abuse as THC.
Side effects of CBD
The amount of information available on the safety of CBD is minimal. The information that is now available indicates that there are potential dangers that consumers should be aware of before consuming CBD for any reason.
Some of the CBD’s adverse effects are visible, and they include:
- drowsiness or other changes in alertness
- digestive issues, such as diarrhea and decreased appetite
- changes in mood, such as irritability and agitation
Other side effects can occur without the individual being aware of the underlying cause, such as:
- liver failure
- interactions with other medications
- injuries that result from mixing alcohol or other depressants and CBD
Conclusion
A number of factors influence the amount of CBD that a person can consume, including the intended purpose and the individual’s weight. Despite a paucity of data, researchers have identified a number of medicines that interact with CBD, which may also impact the amount of CBD that a person can tolerate in a given dose.
Only one CBD product has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The investigation into the potential applications, doses, advantages, and safety of CBD is still underway.
Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22129319
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327518
- https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/5.2_CBD.pdf
- https://www.alchimiaweb.com/blogfr/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Current-Status-and-Prospects-for-Cannabidiol-Preparations.pdf
- http://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-regulation-cannabis-and-cannabis-derived-products-including-cannabidiol-cbd
- https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-drug-comprised-active-ingredient-derived-marijuana-treat-rare-severe-forms
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6898965/
- https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/39/10/1777.long
- https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=8bf27097-4870-43fb-94f0-f3d0871d1eec
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5958190/
- http://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis
