By: Shari Berman
Have you ever asked yourself, “How Much CBD should I take?” If so, here’s what a real life cannabis coach has to say about CBD dosage.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is flooding the market and everyone seems to be talking about it. You can buy it almost everywhere- on-line, at the drugstore, supermarket, spa and even the gas station.
Are you curious about trying CBD? Have you tried it without success?
What most people don’t understand is that CBD may be helpful for symptom management for conditions such as anxiety, inflammation, pain, sleep and certain types of seizures, however, figuring out how to achieve those effects is a bit more complicated.
The biggest question people have is around dosing. How much CBD should you take and how often? What type of product or delivery method should you use?
It is important to understand that we each metabolize CBD differently. People may have various responses based on the product itself, how it is delivered and factors such as our metabolism, our age and even how much we ate or slept that day.
What this all means is there isn’t a one size fits all approach or a recommended dose.
Really? I know this may come as a surprise. What does this mean for you?
Finding your ideal form of CBD consumption may take some experimentation and a methodical approach. Many people do find relief from CBD and it may be worth the journey.
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If you are interested in using CBD, I would recommend this 3-step process.
How to determine your CBD dose
- Determine the type of product and how it is administered
- Start low. Go slow.
- Journal your progress
Choosing products
It is important to understand that CBD is not regulated by the FDA. Quality can vary widely. So buyer beware.
Always look for a product that provides lab results. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) shows the product was made properly, does not contain pesticides or heavy metals (and verifies CBD content as well as other compounds, such as terpenes).
There are also different forms like Full Spectrum and Isolate. So which one works best?
Full spectrum means that the product contains most of the naturally occurring cannabinoids and terpenes of the plant. Many agree that full-spectrum CBD is the preferred option because of something called the “entourage effect.”
This refers to how cannabinoids work together to become more effective and as a result, may provide a better therapeutic outcome.
Isolate contains only CBD in its purest form and does not include other compounds. This is good for people who may not want added compounds that could cause drowsiness or other unwanted effects. Isolates often require a higher level of dosing to get the desired effect.
CBD Dosing
There are very few human studies on CBD and as a result, dosages are not standardized so there is no “one size fits all” in dosing. Some people have found relief with small amounts of CBD and others require very large amounts.
It takes a methodical approach to determine what works for you. Often it can take weeks of regular dosing and readjusting the dose to get a positive effect.
So, those labels on CBD bottles in the store with dosing information may not help you at all.
The dosage required, of course, depends on the quality of the product and the reason for its use.
To further add to the confusion, CBD comes in many forms — oils and tinctures, creams and lotions, pills, vaping, and edibles — and each one has differences in terms of bioavailability (the percent of active ingredients that gets into your bloodstream).
Delivery Methods of CBD
Inhalation – Smoking or vaping has the fastest onset. Many use this method for immediate relief. Onset is seconds to minutes and lasts for 2-3 hours. Dosing can be a little more challenging. Take 1 puff, wait a few minutes and assess how you feel before you take another puff.
Under the tongue/sublingual – Onset is 15 minutes to an hour and lasts 4-6 hours. CBD is absorbed directly into the blood vessels in the mouth and under the tongue.
Edibles (capsules or oral ingestion) – This is a slower onset of 1-2 hours but can last for up to 8 hours. If you take CBD after a fatty meal, you will have a higher absorption rate of CBD.
Topicals – These are a common way to use CBD for skin conditions or joint/pain issues. They will not be absorbed into the bloodstream. Onset is 10-20 minutes with a duration of 2-3 hours.
Start low. Go slow.
The best approach is to start with a low dosage and titrate up as needed over time.
A tincture or oil may be best to start because you can best control your dosage, especially at a low level.
Start with a low dose (5mg, twice a day) for 2-4 days. After 2-4 days, if you are not seeing a benefit, increase your dose by 5 mg, twice a day. Continue this pattern until you start to feel relief and do not feel any negative side effects.
It is all about dialing into your system and finding that “sweet spot”. This can take up to 6 weeks to determine whether it is working for you and what dosage is best.
Make sure you don’t give up too quickly. The best outcomes are achieved by paying attention to your response and methodically adjusting the treatment.
It is important to monitor how you are feeling and how you respond to different amounts and different methods of delivery. For example, smaller amounts can make you more alert and larger amounts can be sedating and not as effective or vice versa.
Other side effects may include gastrointestinal upset and changes in appetite and mood.
Journaling
As you embark on your journey using CBD, keep track of your dosing and information such as time of day, whether or what you ate and how it makes you feel. Keeping a journal is an important way to track your success and help you find your ideal dosage and product.
If you’re worried about taking too much, just know that clinical trials have prescribed CBD doses up to 1,200 mg daily for months without observing any serious side effects.
That said, higher amounts are not necessarily better for your symptom management and can actually have an opposite effect. It is important to find the lowest dosage that gives you the best relief.
Although CBD is generally considered safe, it could lower your blood pressure and can also interfere with your body’s ability to process certain pharmaceutical drugs.
Both CBD and grapefruit juice inhibit cytochrome p450, so take extra caution if you are on a medication that comes with a warning not to consume grapefruit.
You can also use a drug interaction tool, such as Medscape for this.
Topical or inhaled products help minimize this interaction.
There are no established guidelines for the best way to use CBD to achieve your health goals. Prepare for a process that requires experimentation and diligence.
I wish you success on your journey.
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Shari Berman is a patient advocate and cannabis coach. She educates people on CBD and cannabis as a complementary and alternative therapy.