Table of Contents
- Do I need to take a different CBD dosage depending on my condition?
- CBD dosage
- CBD oil dosage: how serving sizes work
- CBD dosage: how to calculate your ideal dose
- CBD dosage: condition by condition
- CBD dosage for anxiety
- CBD dosage for sleep
- CBD dosage for pain
- CBD dosage for mood
- Dose of CBD oil: other factors
- How much CBD: why cannabinoid ratios matter
- CBD dosage: summing things up
- FAQ
Do I need to take a different CBD dosage depending on my condition?
CBD isn’t a cure all, but its effects become most impressive when you get your dosing right.
There’s a catch, though: different conditions and health challenges respond best to different doses.
Here’s what you need to know about CBD dose and how it varies depending on your individual needs.
CBD dosage
One of the most commonly asked questions about CBD is how much CBD you should be taking. This can depend on a variety of factors that are specific to your body and what condition you are tending to. But before we go into this, let’s look at how CBD dose is measured.
The measurement used for CBD is mg per serving size, or per product. As a wide variety of products exists to help different people with various conditions, it is important to pay attention to how many mg CBD is in your chosen product. This information should always be readily available on the label. Most CBD oils and tinctures list their strength in terms of mg/mL: milligrams of CBD per milliliter of liquid.
CBD oil dosage: how serving sizes work
Products that are of individual serving sizes, such as capsules or gummies, will have dosages measured out by the manufacturers. The advantage of this is you know exactly how much you are taking each and every time, no guesstimation involved. Meanwhile. CBD oils come with an estimated amount in each drop or serving size — but this cannot be as precise.
However, this does mean that you can alter your dosage more freely by adding a couple of drops, instead of doubling it as the case would be with gummies or capsules.
CBD dosage: how to calculate your ideal dose
A person’s optimal dosage is calculated via multiple elements. As we know, no two people are the same, inside or out. To use CBD oil dosage calculator you will need to take into consideration factors such as your body weight, metabolism, and the acuteness of your condition. For new users, the recommended starting dosage is 10/15mg, which is generally the serving size in products such as CBD capsules. Note down how much, how often, and the effects you are feeling — this way you will be able to pinpoint your personal optimum.
CBD dosage: condition by condition
The condition you are trying to treat will also play a role in the dosage. Let’s take a look at some of the researched and analyzed dose CBD for various conditions:
CBD dosage for anxiety
Finding a way to treat anxiety naturally is a big goal for many people, and CBD is a very popular answer. In 2011, a human study was carried out which showed potential for using hemp-derived CBD products with social anxiety disorder. This study gave the participant a single 600mg dosage. However, this is far higher than the usual dosage. It is believed that (depending on weight and metabolism) to reduce symptoms of anxiety, 40-80mg daily is recommended.
CBD dosage for sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is like gold dust. We would do anything to ensure an uninterrupted 8 hours of shut-eye. CBD can promote homeostasis, as well as promote relaxation and reduce pain which are all vital factors to getting a better night’s sleep. In higher doses CBD can act as a mild sedative, up to 80mg is recommended 30 minutes before sleep.
Another note about sleep CBD dosage: larger doses are more sedating than smaller doses, and full-spectrum CBD is more sedating than CBD isolate. CBN might be the best cannabinoid of them all when it comes to sleep — studies going back to the 80s show that it’s more sedating than other hemp-derived compounds.
CBD dosage for pain
CBD has the ability to act like chemical painkillers (such as paracetamol), naturally. This means avoiding the potential side effects that painkillers can have. A study from 2012 shows how cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system which suppresses the inflammatory response and reduces pain. As there are so many varying levels of pain, there are currently no clear-cut guidelines for CBD and pain. It’s recommended to take the same dose times a day, for example, 30mg x 3, at regular intervals. If you’re suffering from muscular pain try out a CBD topical skin cream.
CBD dosage for mood
Dialing in your dosing when it comes to your mood is perhaps the easiest option of all. Even super small amounts of CBD (aka microdoses) can have a big impact on your mental state. Unlike dosing CBD oil for so many other conditions, taking CBD for your mood is simple, straightforward, and forgiving. CBD oils, tinctures, and vape pens are all common favorites of those who take CBD for mood.
Why? Because all these products — particularly vape pens — can be dosed by feel. Be sure to start with a very low dose (just a few milligrams) until you know how CBD will affect you.
Dose of CBD oil: other factors
Here are some other factors that can affect your optimal CBD dosage, from the experts over at Project CBD:
- Decide how you want to take cannabis. Cannabis oil is available in sprays, capsules, edibles, and other products.
- Find your ratio. Cannabis products have varying amounts of CBD and THC. A high CBD or high THC product is not necessarily superior to a strain with a balanced ratio. Find the proper combination to optimize your therapeutic use of cannabis.
- Begin with a low dose especially if you have little or no experience with cannabis.
- Take a few small doses over the course of the day rather than one big dose.
- Use the same dose and ratio for several days. Observe the effects and if necessary adjust the ratio or amount.
- Don’t overdo it. “Less is more” is often the case with cannabis therapeutics.
- Be aware of possible side effects. Cannabis is a safe and forgiving medicine. But depending upon delivery method and individual tolerance, it can amplify anxiety and mood disorders. Other possible side effects are dry mouth, dizziness, and faintness.
How much CBD: why cannabinoid ratios matter
For anxiety disorders, depression, spasms, and pediatric seizure disorders, many patients initially find they do best with a moderate dose of a CBD-dominant remedy (a CBD: THC ratio of more than 14:1). But a low THC remedy, while not intoxicating, is not necessarily the best therapeutic option. A combination of CBD and THC will likely have a greater therapeutic effect for a wider range of conditions than CBD or THC alone.
For cancer, neurological disease, and many other ailments, patients may benefit from a balanced ratio of CBD and THC. Extensive clinical research has shown that a 1:1 CBD: THC ratio is effective for neuropathic pain.
What to do if you take a too-high CBD dosage
Taking an overdose of CBD on a one-time occasion will not leave you with any severe side effects. It is likely that you will feel drowsy and fatigued, but as there are no psychoactive elements your health or safety is not at risk. Studies have found that humans receiving repeatedly high dosages of CBD (1500mg or more) tolerated it well.
If you are currently taking any prescribed medication or have any medical concerns, please speak to your doctor before taking CBD. High-quality CBD products from trusted manufacturers should be forthright when it comes to the potency and doses of their CBD products, making your experience as a customer as simple as possible.
CBD dosage: summing things up
All in all, finding the right CBD dose of the right CBD product is a process that’s meant to be enjoyed! Take the above factors into consideration and you can’t go wrong. When in doubt, just select a premium product, start low, and be slow when it comes to raising your daily dose. We’re sure you’ll be feeling better in no time.
“Dosage is everything” - Greek physician, Paracelsus
Disclaimer: The statements made regarding cannabis plant (CBD) products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. CBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
FAQ
1.What is the right CBD Dosage for me?
The CBD dosage that you need will depend on a range of factors, including your unique biochemistry, how you consume it (i.e. smoking or vaping), the concentration of CBD in the product and more.
2. How to calculate CBD dosage?
There are a few different ways to calculate your ideal CBD dosage. Below we cover the most common method:
- Using your weight
- Using milligrams in your product
- Using milligram strength of the product you're using
3. Is it possible to take too much CBD?
Can you overdose on CBD? While the idea of overdosing on a supplement sounds scary, it is actually pretty difficult to do with CBD. It is estimated that taking over 1,500mg of CBD would lead to adverse effects and several studies have shown that taking up to 1,200mg of CBD.
4. What CBD dosages are safe?
Many reputable sources recommend using products containing less than 0.3% THC to avoid any psychoactive effects and remain safe from failing a drug test. That being said, it's important to remember that there is no established standard for an effective CBD dosage and what works for one person may not work for another.