Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active compound that derives from marijuana and hemp plants. Unlike Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not have intoxicating or addictive effects.
CBD is becoming increasingly popular for its wide range of benefits, which include pain relief, anxiety relief, sleep improvement, weight loss, and treatment of seizure disorders. How much CBD should you take to enjoy these benefits, though?
The optimal dosage of CBD is different for everyone, but the most common dose is 20-40mg per dose. You may need to take as little as 1mg or as much as 100mg, depending on various factors, such as your weight and age, as well as the potency of the product.
You may find that the best dose for you is 20mg of CBD, but another person who weighs the same as you may need only 10mg to experience similar effects. In this article, you will learn how to find the ideal dose for your body and overall health goals.
Determining Your Ideal CBD Dosage
To find the correct CBD dosage for your needs, you should start with small amounts and work your way up. While a small dosage is generally safe for adults and children, excessive consumption may deliver more effects than necessary. The amount of CBD you should take depends on several factors, including your body composition, age, intended purpose, and previous experience with cannabinoids.
Let’s explore some of the most important factors that influence CBD oil dosage.
Body Composition and Weight
According to available medical data, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that stimulates CBD to deliver its effects is in the body’s fat cells. If you use CBD edibles, like gummies, you will need to consider your body size when determining the correct dosage.
Generally, individuals with more body mass require a higher dosage to experience CBD’s effects. A good rule of thumb to determine your ideal dosage is to take one to six milligrams of this compound for every 10 pounds of body weight, depending on your health condition.
For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, 15-25mg of CBD would be an ideal starting dosage. A person weighing 200 pounds may need to start with 20-33mg of CBD.
Sex
While research is still in the early stages, preliminary findings suggest that your sex could affect how CBD works in your body. Studies suggest that behavioral and hormonal differences between men and women could influence the overall effects of CBD.
In general, cannabinoids may have a greater physiological effect in men and a greater behavioral effect in women. Since these findings are preliminary, be sure to figure out what works best for you instead of abandoning CBD use altogether.
Age
For your body to effectively use cannabinoids, like CBD, you must break them down into usable parts through the metabolism process. Age is one of the major factors that affect our metabolism.
The older you are, the longer you will have to wait to experience the effects of CBD, so you will need to take smaller doses. For younger individuals, their metabolism is quite fast, so they may need to take CBD more often to enjoy its benefits.
Previous Experience with Cannabinoids
Another critical factor to consider when deciding how much CBD to take is your previous experience. Scientists are still looking for a conclusive answer regarding what happens when you repeatedly use CBD. According to some studies, your tolerance increases with increased exposure to CBD, making your body need a higher dose to experience similar effects.
However, other studies suggest that consistent use of CBD does not result in a cannabidiol tolerance. If you are using CBD for the first time, start with a small dose of concentrated formula once or twice a day.
Your Purpose for Using CBD Oil
We use CBD oil for various reasons, including treating nausea, arthritis pain, stress, fibromyalgia, and other medical issues. The purpose of using CBD also matters when determining the correct dosage.
For example, the Arthritis Foundation advises those struggling with arthritis pain to start with only a few milligrams of a sublingual CBD product twice a day. Then, they should increase the dosage by the same amount after one week if the pain persists.
This recommendation may not work if you are using CBD to treat another ailment. Here are some dosages that studies recommend for various conditions:
- Bowel disease: 10mg per day
- Anxiety: 300 – 600mg per day
- Parkinson’s disease: 75 – 300mg per day
- Cancer pain: 50 – 600mg per day
- Psychosis: 600mg per day
- Poor sleep: 25mg per day
Other Medications
Other medications that you are currently using may also affect how much CBD you should take. CBD can affect drug metabolism, and some studies suggest that it may interact with immune suppressant drugs, antidepressants, and blood thinners. If you are using any other drugs, be sure to consult your doctor before using CBD to avoid any adverse reactions.
How to Calculate CBD Dosage
Some CBD products, like capsules, pills, and gummies, make it easy for you to calculate dosage. These products provide information on how much CBD you get in a single serving. For example, a bottle of CBD capsules might have a label indicating that each capsule contains 5mg of CBD.
For CBD oil, the product usually comes in a dropper bottle, with the packaging indicating how much CBD a single drop contains. With this information, you can easily determine how many drops you should take to get the desired results.
Some CBD oil brands only specify the total amount of CBD contained in the whole bottle. This makes it challenging to find out how much CBD you will get in a single drop.
One drop is about 0.05ml on average, meaning that a 10ml bottle of CBD will give you 200 drops. If the 10ml bottle contains 1,000mg of CBD, each drop will give you 5mg of CBD.
If your dose is 20mg of CBD oil, you will need to take four drops of the product. Consider using an online CBD dosage calculator to accurately convert your desired CBD dosage in milligrams to milliliters or drops of CBD oil.
What’s the Best Delivery Method for Your CBD Dosage?
Once you have figured out your ideal CBD dosage, you need to choose the most effective delivery method. The most common ways to administer CBD include the following:
Tinctures
CBD tinctures are available in small dropper jars of concentrated CBD oil that you place under your tongue. Your mouth’s sublingual glands will then absorb the product into your system. Manufacturers usually express the concentration of CBD tinctures in milligrams, and the dropper can hold a specified number of milliliters of CBD oil.
Edibles
Edibles refer to food products infused with CBD, and they include drinks, gummies, cookies, and capsules. These edibles often represent the easiest way to calculate the correct dosage, as they often come in packages where one gummy or capsule equals a single dose of CBD. While the bloodstream absorbs CBD edibles via the digestive system, the effects of the edibles usually take longer to kick in.
Topicals
A CBD topical is any lotion, cream, or salve infused with CBD that can be applied directly to the skin. Applying CBD topical to the skin can relieve various skin issues, including inflammation and pain. A 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology shows that CBD can help treat skin conditions, such as psoriasis and contact dermatitis. Some studies show that the skin also has the endocannabinoid system (ECS), so using topicals loaded with full-spectrum CBD can deliver effective relief for muscles and joints.
Is It Possible to Overdose on CBD?
Researchers suggest that you can take up to 600mg of CBD per day without worrying about any adverse effects. According to another study, you can safely take up to 1,500mg of CBD per day and still tolerate the doses well.
Generally, CBD is safe, non-addictive, and has no dependence potential. While the likelihood for a dangerous overdose is nonexistent, some people may still experience side effects, such as the following:
- Upset stomach
- Appetite changes
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Weight changes
- Nausea
Research on CBD is still ongoing, and as of now, experts do not fully understand the potential long-term effects of CBD usage and overdosing. To be safe, always discuss your CBD usage with your doctor.
Final Thoughts
To get the desired results from CBD oil use, you need to figure out the correct dosage. While no CBD dosage is perfect for everyone, the common dosage is 20-40mg. A variety of factors, such as your age, body composition, previous cannabidiol use, and the intended use, will help you determine your ideal CBD dosage.
Start with a lower dose and work your way up until you find the amount that works best for you. Also, talk to your doctor about finding out how much CBD you should take.
If you want to learn more about CBD, visit The Other Path. We are committed to making it easy for you to find top-quality CBD goods while providing you with valuable education on CBD and its related products. Contact us today at 818-825-2739 or email [email protected] for all of your CBD needs.
