Side Effects of CBD Explained: Can You Overdose on CBD?
The list of side effects of CBD oil is ridiculously short. Even when they occur, they don’t put one’s health or life at risk. Scientists have concluded that you can’t fatally overdose on CBD. Try as you might, but the lethal dose of CBD doesn’t exist.
That doesn’t mean the side effects of CBD oil are nonexistent. In fact, there are a few things you should know about, especially when just getting started with hemp CBD products.
Let’s get started!
What is CBD?
CBD is one of the major cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, it doesn’t make you feel high because it isn’t intoxicating, or psychoactive, in a way THC is.
Of course, CBD can elevate your mood, bring back emotional stability, help you sleep better, and improve your appetite due its modulatory properties. But CBD doesn’t produce euphoric sensations associated with the effects of THC.
What Are the Effects of CBD? What Does CBD do?
CBD interacts with the human endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is the prime neurochemical network in our bodies; it controls the majority of vital processes, such as mood, memory, appetite, cognition, fertility, sleep cycle, body temperature, immune function, and more.
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The main role of the endocannabinoid system is to maintain chemical balance in the body known as homeostasis.
A properly functioning endocannabinoid system helps us stay healthy.
Whenever homeostasis gets compromised, the ECS sends its own neurotransmitters (endocannabinoids) to regulate these imbalances and bring the body back on track.
However, sometimes the Endocannabinoids are not enough. They live for a very short time and the ECS don’t produce them in quantities large enough to help with the problem.
By interacting with the endocannabinoid system, CBD signals it to produce more endocannabinoids. It also blocks the enzyme that breaks them down, making them more available for the body.
How Does CBD Make You Feel?
Before we discuss the side effects of CBD, let’s take a look at how it works for people.
CBD can help you:
- feel more relaxed
- be less anxious
- sleep better
- stay focused for longer
- boost your immune system
- alter pain transmission
- reduce food cravings
- cope with withdrawal symptoms from addiction
It’s amazing that one compound can have so many positive effects on one’s health.
But is CBD safe?
Let’s see what scientists and experts are saying about CBD.
Is CBD Safe?
CBD is generally considered a safe substance. In 2017, The WHO issued a comprehensive review of CBD where they concluded that this compound has a high safety profile and absolutely zero potential for abuse.
On top of that, the WHO recommended CBD as safe for human consumption, even when administered at doses as high as 1,500 mg daily.
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What Are the Side Effects of CBD Oil?
Now that we’ve established CBD oil is well-tolerated in humans, let’s talk about its side effects.
There are only a few side effects of using CBD oil. Some of them are universal for all cannabis compounds, but some are unique to CBD.
The most common reactions to CBD include:
- Dry mouth
- Temporary drop in blood pressure
- Changes in appetite
- Sedation
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
In the next section, we’ll cove these side effects in detail.
1. Dry Mouth
If you feel parched after taking CBD oil, you’re just experiencing the signature side effects of all cannabis compounds.
Cannabinoids have the ability to inhibit the production in saliva in the mouth. The mouth gets dried, hence the thirst.
You can easily deal with this side effect by simply drinking water after you take CBD oil. However, the best solution for this problem is to chew something sour to stimulate your salivary glands.
2. Drop in Blood Pressure
CBD has been proven to reduce blood pressure, which can be helpful to people suffering from hypertension. However, if you have a naturally low blood pressure, or you’re taking any pressure-lowering medications, CBD oil can actually make you feel tired, lethargic, and generally out of order.
3. Changes in Appetite
This side effect of CBD is weird, to say the least. CBD can act as a mild appetite suppressant; it also promotes fat browning, the reason why people use CBD to lose weight. However, it can also boost your appetite under certain circumstances.
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For example, when a person is struggling with loss of appetite, the reason for this is often rooted in hormonal imbalances. CBD can help regulate those imbalances and bring the hormonal stability back.
When the hormones responsible for the feelings of hunger are back to normal, your appetite naturally increases.
We would consider this side effect of CBD a positive one.
4. Sedation
Sedation is a common side effect of high doses of CBD.
When taken in small amounts throughout the day, CBD can increase your alertness and focus. But at higher doses, CBD can have sedating effects on the body — it’s the reason why so many people use CBD for sleep.
Now, when you take high doses of CBD in the morning — when you have lots of stuff to do — sedation may become an actual side effect of your CBD oil.
5. Dizziness
This side effect is associated with CBD’s ability to temporarily lower blood pressure. If your blood pressure is naturally low, taking high doses of CBD can make you feel drowsy and dizzy.
It’s also important that you consult your supplementation with CBD oil with your doctor if you’re taking any medications for hypertension — drug interactions with CBD are real and shouldn’t be neglected.
6. Diarrhea
Side effects like diarrhea aren’t common among CBD users, but when a lightweight person takes a very large amount of CBD oil at a time, it can cause you to experience upset stomach.
Related: 7 Different Ways to Use CBD Oil During COVID-19 Quarantine
However, this side effect isn’t caused by CBD oil per se. It’s due to the fact that the person has ingested too much fat and the body wants to get rid of it.
Diarrhea is less likely to occur if you consume CBD extracts that aren’t suspended in carrier oils. However, the lack of a carrier oil impacts the bioavailability of CBD.
How to Avoid the Side Effects of CBD Oil
Most people don’t use extremely high doses of CBD in their regime. While side effects like dry mouth are inevitable regardless of the dose, you just need to stick to your effective dosage range if you don’t want to experience any unwanted reactions.
It’s also important to know what you’re using CBD for. If you use high doses during the day and wonder why CBD doesn’t boost your energy and focus, then it’s not the CBD oil to blame. By another analogy, taking lower doses at night and expecting that CBD oil will put you to sleep like a baby is also a pipe dream.
Always have realistic expectations about CBD. With a rational approach, the list of potential side effects gets reduced to a minimum.
Final Notes on the Side Effects of CBD
Let’s summarize the main conclusions from this article:
- CBD is a natural and safe substance
- It doesn’t get you high because it’s not intoxicating
- CBD has many positive effects on one’s mental and physical health
- It doesn’t have any side effects when taken in normal doses (aside from the dry mouth)
- The side effects of taking too much CBD oil include dry mouth, sedation, dizziness, changes in appetite, and diarrhea
- It’s impossible to fatally overdose on CBD
- CBD interacts with many prescription drugs, so always consult with your doctor before buying CBD oil.
Do you experience the above side effects of CBD? Or is it just the dry mouth? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
