What Happens If You Take Too Much CBD?

It wasn’t that long ago that possession of cannabis and cannabis related products could have you in serious trouble with the law in many countries. Times have changed though. Even some countries with the world’s strictest cannabis regulations such as Thailand, are now relaxing laws and opening up to this new herbal opportunity.

An effective medicine for pain relief and mental health disorders such as depression and social anxiety, CBD is inexpensive and easy to administer. However, questions arise around how much you should take? And what happens if you take too much?

How does CBD affect us

Where do CBD medications come from?

CBD also known as Cannabidiol is found in cannabis with the compound accounting for 40% of the plant’s extract. The use of Cannabinoids can be traced back almost 5,000 years. Starting with the Chinese around 2900 B.C. many civilizations have found medicinal uses for cannabinoids to treat everything from muscular pain through to malaria.

After CBD is extracted from the plant, the concentration is usually mixed with a dilute such as oils, e-liquids, or a topical. Other methods of consumption preparation include processing the concentrated CBD into capsules or other edibles.

How does CBD affect us?

Humans have an endocannabinoid system and CBD can affect receptors within it. It forms part of our central nervous system including the brain. Research into CBD effects and the endocannabinoid system are still only in the early stages. Despite that, evidence is starting to suggest that it may be involved in the regulation of both physiological and cognitive processes.

A recent U.S study undertaken by OnePoll for a Forbes Health survey found that 60% of adult Americans have now tried CBD wellness products at some point. When citing their reasons for trying CBD products most referred to the potential health-promoting benefits such as pain relief, sleep improvement, and anxiety management.

CBD doesn’t make you feel high as it contains no tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC is the psychoactive compound associated with the intoxicating effects of ‘getting high’ and feelings of dizziness or drunkenness.

How much CBD should you take?

When looking at dosing of CBD products it’s important to understand that each person’s body is different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. An amount of CBD that works for one person may be too much or not enough for another. It’s often but certainly not always linked to body size and mass.

It’s normally recommended to start a course of CBD medication by taking just the smallest dose. After all, you can always work your way up to higher doses, but you can’t take it out of your body once you’ve digested it.

It’s always good to consult your doctor first before taking Cannabinoids. Depending on what kind of CBD product you’re using, normally with oils and edibles you can start by taking two doses per day. If that seems like too much, it’s fine to take one dose a day to start and see if you already feel the effects. If you don’t you can always up the dosage.

Different CBD products like topicals or balms can be applied more frequently, up to four times a day. When applying such lotions try to use long strokes to cover all of the skin. This will increase the chance of your skin absorbing the CBD properly.

Is it dangerous to take too much?

CBD can produce a few side effects. They can occur whether you take too much or not, but obviously higher doses will increase the intensity of any such effects. Also, it’s never advised to take more than the prescribed amount of any medication and CBD is no different.

Increased tolerance levels can become an issue if too much CBD is taken over long periods of time. Again, like with most medications the body’s ability to metabolise cannabinoids improves through persistent use and more and more needs to be consumed to achieve desired effect.

The problem is that often people expect an almost instant effect similar to when cannabis is smoked. CBD oil works and is metabolised quite differently, often taking much longer than people expect.

cbd oil effect

Most common side effects of CBD oils

1. Dry Mouth

CBD oil can make your mouth feel dry as it reduces the amount of saliva production. It can occur as the saliva producing glands can be inhibited by the CBD. It’s quite rare and only likely to occur if you take high doses.

2. Reduced Blood Pressure

It’s possible that CBD oils can cause slight drops in blood pressure especially straight after dosing. It can cause mild lightheadedness or dizziness if standing up too quickly.

3. Sleepiness

Some CBD oils can have a sedative-like effect and can induce sleepiness. This is ok if you take them for that purpose but be cautious if you take them during the day, especially if you need to drive or operate heavy machinery.

4. Diarrhea

It’s possible that CBD oils can cause loose stools, especially at higher doses. It’s a result of the way cannabinoids react with intestinal receptors.

Summary

It goes without saying, you should always be careful when trying out new medications. Always consult your doctor before proceeding with any course of treatment, even for herbal remedies like CBD.

Find the right medium for you is a difficult task with so many CBD products present in the market. As mentioned, CBD is processed into many different products these days. If you have joint pain you may find a topical balm applied directly to the area works better than dropping oils or other edibles.

Finally, give the treatment time to take effect. As previously discussed, CBD doesn’t hit at the same speed as THC. It’s not comparable to smoking weed. Take your dose, then sit back and relax, allowing the product time to take effect.

About Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is the CEO of BioEnergy Consult, and an international consultant, advisor and trainer with expertise in waste management, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, environment protection and resource conservation. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Salman has successfully accomplished a wide range of projects in the areas of biogas technology, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, recycling and waste management. Salman has participated in numerous national and international conferences all over the world. He is a prolific environmental journalist, and has authored more than 300 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. In addition, he is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management and environmental sustainability through his blogs and portals. Salman can be reached at salman@bioenergyconsult.com or salman@cleantechloops.com.
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