Can I Take Too Much CBD?

Have you recently come across CBD? Are you wondering what it is and can I take too much CBD? Well, here is what you need to know about CBD and how much you are supposed to take.

What Is Cannabidiol?

CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol, a chemical found in cannabis plants. But it doesn’t cause the euphoric feeling usually produced by THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), yet another cannabis chemical. The most common formulation is oil. However, it is also available as an extract, capsule or vaporized liquid. Some cannabidiol-infused items include drinks, food and beauty products.

Currently, Epidiolex is the only CBD product approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for use in treating epilepsy.  the state laws authorizing its medicinal use vary. Additionally, ongoing research suggests it may benefit people with diabetes, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety, multiple sclerosis and more.

Can I Take too Much CBD: What Is A Typical Starting Dose?

The right dosage depends on your body weight, underlying conditions, body chemistry and concentration in each capsule, pill, gummy or drop. Before taking CBD, you need to discuss it with a doctor to ensure you have the right dosage and avoid any potential risks. Make sure you stick to your doctor’s recommendation when it comes to dosage. It’s very important for people who are taking prescription medication with cannabidiol such as Epidiolex.

If your doctor doesn’t provide you with guidelines, you need to start small and increase gradually. Ideally, you should start with 20mg to 40mg a day. After about a week, you can increase the dosage by about 5mg. You may continue with this gradual increase until you feel that CBD is actually targeting your symptoms effectively.

For instance, if you use cannabidiol to manage severe pain, can start with 40mg. Take this amount when you are in severe pain then increase it to 45mg after the first week. Eventually, you will feel the pain is bearable. However, you need to take note of how much you are taking or if your symptoms are actually improving.

Following Label Guidelines

To help guide your dosing choices, some products such as gummies, pills and capsules have instructions on CBD content. If you take CBD oil, it will come in a dropper bottle. The packaging will easily specify how much is in a single drop and you will be able to figure out the amount of CBD in a drop. Sometimes, it may be tougher to figure this out, especially if the label indicates dosage for the entire bottle.

Remember, one drop of oil contains 0.05ml. as such, a 10ml bottle contains 200 drops. If the packaging for that 10ml bottle indicates that the whole bottle contains 1,000mg of CBD, each drop contains 5mg of active ingredients. As such, if your dosage is 20mg, you should take 4 drops for the best results.

Can I Take too Much CBD: Is an Overdose Possible?

Research reveals that CBD presents a lot of antinausea, anti-inflammatory, and antipsychotic effects. As such, it is used to treat various physical and psychological symptoms in both animals and humans. Due to these various uses, there is a wide range of dosage recommendations. Recent research revealed that an average person can safely tolerate about 1,500mg each day. Note that a 1-ounce bottle contains about 300mg to 1,500mg of active ingredient.

Keep in mind that there is still a lot of undergoing research about all cannabis extracts. So, before you start taking CBD, it’s a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional to identify the best-recommended dosage for you. Additionally, a medical professional will identify whether or not cannabidiol will interact with any medication you may currently be taking.

What Are The Side Effects Of Taking A High Dose?

Yes, you can tolerate CBD in high doses, mostly because it’s not intoxicating. However, it may have some unwanted side effects. You may suffer from drowsiness, vomiting or diarrhea if you take too much CBD.

CBD may also interact with other medications you may be taking. It’s always a good idea to avoid taking cannabidiol when taking other types of medications, especially those with a grapefruit warning. Note that cannabidiol and grapefruit may cause interactions with the same medications. For instance, in 2020 a man (56 years old) took 2 packages of gummies (370mg of CBD) for back pain relief.

He started slurring his speech and vomiting so he was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. The healthcare professional administered intravenous fluids, anti-emetics, oxygen and consistent stimulation. By the following day, he had fully recovered. We aren’t sure what caused these reactions, but the product may have been contaminated.

If you ingest a large dose, and experience symptoms such as trouble breathing, unconscious or seizures, someone should call 911 immediately as well as the local poison control center. Make sure the following information is available. Be sure of the product involved, when and how much you ingested and your current weight and height.

Developing Tolerance

If you are a regular user, you should not develop a CBD tolerance. Note that CBD doesn’t bind to the CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system the same way as THC. As such, cannabidiol shouldn’t desensitize them.  In fact, according to some research, this cannabinoid may actually cause a reverse tolerance. This means that many people take less cannabidiol with time. Still, if you take high doses regularly, you may notice your effects are less pronounced. If that’s the case, trying taking a short break from cannabidiol. When you return to the supplement, you should enjoy a full reset.

Final Thoughts

Since medical cannabis was legalized, it has helped a lot of people. But dosing is key to getting the desired effects without unwanted symptoms.  When identifying the right CBD dosage, talking to your doctor should always be the first step, especially if you are currently on any other type of medication.

Keep in mind that not all doctors can provide you with ample information about CBD, especially depending on the state laws. However, some doctors can always recommend the best dosages and the best CBD brands for the best results. No matter your reasons for taking CBD, you need to remember it changes the way your body works. As such, you need to be able to understand how your body’s mechanisms to make sure that it’s safe to use CBD.

As previously mentioned, there is still a lot of undergoing research about CBD. Therefore, you need to be careful about how much you take and always do it under medical advisement from your healthcare professional to avoid any serious reactions. If you or someone close to you has taken too much CBD, it’s a good idea to contact the local poison center to avoid worsening symptoms.

References

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/is-cbd-safe-and-effective/faq-20446700
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-dosage
3. https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-overdose#maximum-dose
4. https://cannalogue.ca/column/column/health/cbd-tolereance/#:~:text=tolerance%20to%20CBD%3F-,No.,they%20don’t%20become%20desensitized.