CBD is widely misunderstood and unfamiliar. It is currently under-researched considering its growing worldwide popularity, long term effects are not yet known. But like any supplement, you need to be careful about taking too much or overdosing on CBD. The question is if one can really overdose on CBD>
Can you overdose on CBD? Yes, scientifically you can overdose and take too much CBD but that means you have to consume around 414,000 mg. An average bottle of CBD pills contains around 500 mg so it is not easy to take too much.
You can’t take too much CBD without meaning to.
In order to feel any adverse effects from taking CBD, you would have to consume over 2000 mg (an average bottle of CBD pills contains around 500 mg), you would have to consume multiple bottles worth of pills or tinctures in order to ‘take too much’. Even then, the side effects are minimal and non-lasting.
Read on to find out what these side effects are.
Many variables have to be considered with CBD because it depends on the product, the quality of it and how some people metabolize CBD differently, just as with any biohacking supplement.
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How much is too much?
A 2017 study on CBD along with many other studies, has shown persistent intake of CBD up to 1500 mg a day is well tolerated by humans.
In taking over 2000 mg it is still unlikely that adverse effects will be felt, but taking more increases the chances of side effects. Side effects of taking too much can include:
- Anxiety
- Decreased appetite
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Fever
- Increased heart rate
- Jitteriness
These side effects are nonfatal, and not long-lasting, they will usually fade within a few hours.
Side effects from taking CBD have decreased appetite, diarrhea, and fatigue, all in the list above as well.
Again, these side effects are rare, if you experience them when taking CBD however, either lower your dosage or stop taking the pills if you become uncomfortable.
Can you overdose on CBD?
The matter of fact the answer is yes, but the real answer is no. Estimates suggest that you would have to consume around 414000 mg to overdose on CBD.
With the average bottle of pills containing around 500 mg, it is practically impossible to overdose on CBD.
Dosage recommendations depend on your ailment, the amount suggested is often between 20 mg to 2000 mg daily.
Trials have shown that taking up to 1200 mg daily for months does not present any serious side effects.
Recommended dosages
Studies show that CBD is Bi-phasic. This means its effects vary and are dependant on how much is taken.
When taking a small amount you may feel an uplift in mood, but in taking large amounts the user may feel drowsy. The amount is taken to help with different ailments also varies.
For anxiety, it’s recommended that users take 10 to 50 mg of CBD. Universal guidelines for CBD dosage are currently lacking, this is due to the lack of studies and testing done on CBD as it was only recently legalized.
However, there are recommendations around from reputable websites and users of CBD themselves. Adjust, test and trial with the amounts that are recommended until you feel the desired effect.
The Mayo Clinic suggests these dosages the following ailments:
Chronic pain: 2.5 – 20 mg of CBD
Epilepsy: 200 – 300 mg of CBD daily
Movement problems due to Huntington’s disease: 10 mg of CBD per kg of body weight daily for six weeks
Sleep disorders: 40 – 160 mg of CBD
Schizophrenia: 40 – 1280 mg CBD daily
Glaucoma: 20 – 40 mg
Is CBD addictive?
CBD is a cannabinoid, it comes from the cannabis plant.
There are many cannabinoids in cannabis plants, the human body actually produces its own, and has receptors for cannabinoids. One of the other cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant is THC.
THC is the psychoactive element of the cannabis plant, it has been found to be addictive. CBD does not contain THC (it is legally required to contain less than 0.3%) so it does not have any ‘high’ or other psychoactive effects.
CBD has in fact been shown to help in recovery from drug addiction.
Risks of CBD
Side effects are rare and, if they do present, are minimal, it’s practically impossible to overdose on it, it can help with a variety of ailments and it isn’t addictive.
Are there risks to using CBD and if so, what are they?
Effect of CBD with other pharmaceutical drugs
CBD is an inhibitor to the CYP450 system. Inhibitors can cause levels of certain drugs to increase to potentially harmful levels. CBD is metabolized in the body by the enzymes in the CYP450 system, the same enzymes used by other drugs.
In competing for these enzymes, CBD can reduce the metabolism of other drugs. This means less dosage is likely to be required.
Because the CYP450 enzymes metabolize the drug slower, the drug stays active for a longer time and therefore less is needed in order to achieve the desired effect.
CBD and drug tests
Because drug tests look for both THC and its metabolites false positives in drug tests are a risk in taking CBD.
Drug tests don’t actually look for CBD but because trace amounts of THC are still present in the majority if not all CBD products this can present false-positive results.
Trace amounts of THC are present in CBD because the Hemp and Marijuana plant, which CBD can be derived from, both contain THC.
The amount of THC in Hemp plants is legally limited to a maximum of 0.3%however whereas with the Marijuana plant there is no limit, rather, the plant itself is illegal.
Conclusion
There is no need to worry about taking too much CBD without meaning to.
A user would have to swallow a huge amount of bottles of CBD pills in order to get to the estimated 414000 mg of CBD required to overdose.
Taking ‘too much CBD’ does not provide any serious side effects and even so the side effects are rare. Headaches, anxiety, drowsiness, and dizziness may present after taking over 2000 mg of CBD but will not last long afterward.
The recommended dosages of CBD vary from ailment to ailment, so look around find recommendations and due to the lack of side effects, it is relatively risk-free to adjust and trial the dosages.
CBD is widely risk-free but it can make you fail a drug test due to trace amount of THC that may be found in the product.
It can also interact with and interfere with the metabolization of some pharmaceutical drugs, so it is recommended that you consult your medical advisor before starting to take CBD alongside any other drugs.