A common question CBD users find themselves asking is Can you overdose on CBD? While CBD is a generally well-tolerated and safe substance to use, it can have certain side effects on the body, especially in the beginning. Can too much CBD be harmful? How much CBD is too much? Can I overdose on CBD? are some common questions that pop up in the head of new and intermediate CBD users.
In this article, we understand how dosage works in CBD products, why is it important, and what to do in case you consume too much CBD. Towards the end, we answer the question Can you overdose on CBD?
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound present in the cannabis plant. It is non-intoxicating in nature and has numerous therapeutic and medicinal benefits for the human body. Regular use of CBD (in the form of oil drops, gummies, or topical products) can provide relief from stress, pain, anxiety, neurological, psychological, and auto-immune disorders.
Can You Overdose on CBD?
CBD Dosage for Beginners
When using CBD products, the most important part is to know what dosage to use. If you’re using CBD for the first time, make sure you start with a small dose, gradually increasing it according to your body’s reaction.
You can go by the ‘up-titration method’ which means gradually increasing the CBD dosage until you get the desirable results. If after a set time period, you haven’t achieved your aim then try adding one more drop to each dose and observe the outcome for a few more days. This can be continued until you find what works the best for you.
Small Dosage can mean Different Things in Different Products
CBD products are differentiated on the basis of their type and strength. Isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum are 3 types of CBD extracts commonly used in India. Numbers such as 500mg, 1500mg, 5000mg represent the strength of CBD, and the quantity of a product is denoted by figures like 10mL, 15mL, etc.
It is important to understand that a small dosage of a CBD isolate can be very different from a small dosage of broad- or full-spectrum CBD. This is because, in the case of isolate, only one single compound (CBD) is present and it needs to be consumed in a corresponding dosage in order to experience sufficient effect.
But in the case of broad- and full-spectrum CBD extracts, other compounds accompany CBD. All these compounds work together and provide a stronger relief as compared to an isolate. Therefore, the dosage would need to be calculated accordingly.
Typically, in the case of CBD isolate, 1mL of 1000mg is a small dosage. However, in the case of broad- and full-spectrum CBD, 1mL of 1000mg is a moderate and strong dosage respectively.
To ensure that you correctly calculate the dosage for your product:
- Refer to the dosage guide on the product label.
- Speak to a professional (doctor, medical consultant, or the platform from where you’re buy CBD in India).
Why is Dosage important in CBD products?
Even though CBD has no intoxicating effects on our body, one needs to be responsible for how much CBD they are taking. It is important to understand the potential side effects before taking CBD. The dosage matters the most, and it depends on various factors such as:
- Weight: Every individual has a different body weight and composition which can affect how CBD is processed. Hence, it is important to know how much CBD is enough for your body. Factors that affect absorption in relation to weight are:
Absorption Rate: The rate at which the body’s endocannabinoid system absorbs CBD.
Metabolic Rate: The rate at which the body metabolizes CBD.
Distribution Rate: The rate at which CBD is distributed in the body. The distribution of cannabinoids help in its absorption.
- Type of CBD product: There are at least 4 different ways to use CBD—each with its own pros and cons. Dosage is administered differently in each type of CBD product. We will learn the process of administering dosage in each type of CBD product below.
Calculating Dosage in Different CBD Products
Let us briefly understand how to calculate dosage in each type of CBD product.
Oil Drops & Tinctures
Oil drops and tinctures usually come in a glass bottle with a built-in dropper. This dropper has markings in mL, making it easy to measure each individual dosage. If you have a 30mL bottle of 1500mg CBD, then each mL has 1500/30=50mg CBD.
If your dosage is 25mg of CBD twice a day, you need to take 0.5mL of CBD in the morning and 0.5mL at night.
Edibles
Edibles are ready-to-eat food and drink items that are infused with CBD oil. Some common examples of CBD edibles are chocolates, gummies, tea, and coffee. Measuring the dosage in edibles is fairly simple. They come with a pre-set amount of CBD that gets equally divided among the total number of servings.
If you have a pack of 15 gummies with 300mg of CBD, then each gummy will have 300/15=20mg of CBD.
If your dosage is 40mg of CBD per day, you need to take 2 gummies throughout the day. You can take one gummy of 20mg in the morning and one at night. Or you can also take 2 gummies of 20mg each together at one time.
Capsules
Dosage in CBD capsules works similar to edibles. If you have a bottle of 30 capsules with 750mg, then each capsule has 750/30=25mg of CBD. If your dosage is 50mg of CBD a day, you need to take 1 capsule of 25mg in the morning and 1 at night.
When consuming more than one capsule in a day, it is advised to take them separately i.e. one in the morning and one at night.
The effect of dosage of each product depends on various factors like CBD strength, body weight, the medical condition being targetting, composition, and rate of absorption of each product, etc. For example, if you take one gummy, it will act slowly as compared to taking CBD oil sublingually. This is because the rate of absorption in oil is more than that of edibles.
Can You Overdose on CBD?
The answer to the much-anticipated question, Can You Overdose on CBD is no, you cannot. Can there be side effects if you take too much? Yes, that is possible.
It is important to remember that CBD is just another chemical compound and our body will need time to adjust to it. Therefore, experiencing some side effects when we start using CBD is very common.
Side Effects of CBD
Some common side effects of CBD include drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea, and gastrointestinal issues. None of these side effects are life-threatening and subside once you become regular with your CBD usage.
What to do if you’ve taken too much CBD?
If you experience these symptoms, the first thing to do is remind yourself that there is no chance of a CBD overdose becoming lethal. Make yourself comfortable, distract yourself, and stay hydrated. If you still don’t feel better, it is important to consult a doctor.
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