Some people take CBD daily as a supplement–but is it safe to take CBD every day?
While CBD research is still in its infancy, experts generally agree that it’s safe to regularly take CBD. For example, Harvard Health has said, “for adults, CBD appears to be a very safe product” and a 2023 scientific review found that, “overall, CBD has an excellent safety profile, even with relatively high doses.”
Still, if you’re thinking of taking CBD every day, there are some things to think about. You should consider whether CBD could help your wellness goals, what dosage you should take, and whether it’s alright to take CBD with your current medications.
Let’s go over everything you need to know about taking CBD daily.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the two main compounds found in cannabis plants. Unlike the other main cannabis compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is non-psychoactive. So, people don’t take CBD for psychoactive effects. Instead, they take it for a variety of potential therapeutic effects.
Research and clinical studies suggest that CBD may help with:
Typically, people who take CBD are looking to treat symptoms like pain, anxiety, or insomnia. Some also take CBD for overall wellness, as research suggests CBD has an antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect.
People take CBD daily because they want to regularly experience the effects of cannabidiol. CBD doesn’t last for particularly long in the body, so it needs to be taken regularly if you want to keep it working in your system.
Wondering how long CBD lasts? One study showed that CBD has a fairly short half-life of 14 to 17 hours. This means half of the CBD you take is eliminated after that period. It takes around 5 half-lives for your body to clear a substance, which would be around 3.5 days for CBD.
Of course, keep in mind that how long CBD stays in the body can vary depending on dosage, your metabolism, and the type of CBD you take. Some studies also suggest that CBD may stay in your system longer if you take it regularly. Anecdotally speaking, that may be why some people find they need to take CBD for a few weeks before they start experiencing benefits.
It’s a good idea to go low and slow when you start taking CBD. While CBD isn’t psychoactive like THC, it can have side effects like nausea or irritability. Studies suggest you’re more likely to experience adverse effects from CBD at very high doses, so it’s best to not go overboard.
A good starting dosage for CBD is around 10 to 20 mg. Be sure to stay on the lower end of that range if you have a low body weight. Try a low dose for around a week, then slowly increase it each week until you find your ideal daily dose.
If you’re worried about taking too much CBD, know that research suggests even extremely high doses of CBD tend to be well tolerated. For example, one study found that regularly taking a daily dose of 1,500 mg a day was well tolerated. The maximum dose used in the study is far, far higher than most people consume. Typical cannabinoid doses don’t pose a safety concern.
Before you start taking CBD–or any supplement–you should ask your doctor if it would be right for you. Like many other natural products, CBD can potentially interact with medications or supplements.
When it comes to potential drug interactions, CBD is actually similar to grapefruit. Both CBD and grapefruit interact with enzymes in your liver, which can change the efficacy of certain medications that are also processed by your liver. This can end up making them less effective or more effective. Some common medications that CBD may interact with include the blood thinner warfarin, the antibiotic clindamycin, and the thyroid medication levothyroxine.
Additionally, if you take CBD with something that has similar side effects, you increase your risk of experiencing those side effects. The potential side effects of CBD include sleepiness, nausea, dry mouth, and appetite loss. So, for example, taking CBD with supplements like kava or melatonin can increase the risk of sleepiness.
The bottom line here is to ask your doctor about potential interactions before you make CBD a part of your daily routine.
If you want to take CBD daily, there are various types of products for you to try. There are two things to consider: product type and CBD type.
CBD is found in a range of products, including vapes, edibles, capsules, oils, and extracts. Any product can be great for daily use depending on your preferences, but we will say that CBD oil is one of the more popular options.
Then, each of these products can contain a different type of CBD. There are three types to consider:
Some evidence suggests full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products may be more effective than isolate products, but there’s still good research supporting isolate. If you don’t have an issue with consuming trace amounts of THC, we usually suggest going with full-spectrum. If you’d prefer to avoid THC entirely, broad-spectrum or isolate would be better for you.
While CBD research is still in its early stages, scientific evidence suggests CBD is a potential treatment for a variety of conditions.
There’s a substantial amount of evidence for the use of cannabidiol in treating certain rare forms of epilepsy. Many studies have shown that CBD was able to reduce seizures in patients with Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex, which are different types of treatment-resistant epilepsy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex, a prescription medication with CBD as the active ingredient, as a treatment for these rare disorders.
Evidence also suggests CBD has anti-inflammatory properties and the potential to treat a variety of conditions. CBD may be able to ease anxiety, depression, chronic pain, arthritis, PTSD symptoms, addiction, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, social anxiety disorder, abdominal pain, and insomnia.
The science of CBD is promising, but additional studies are needed before we fully understand things like long-term use outcomes and long-term safety. We also need more human clinical trials, as much of the current research has revolved around animal studies.
Luckily, there’s more CBD research happening today than ever before, so more knowledge is just around the corner.
In conclusion, CBD is considered generally safe, but you should talk with your doctor before using it regularly as a supplement. The most important thing to consider before taking CBD daily is whether it might interact with a medication or supplement you’re already taking.
Once you’re ready to find the perfect CBD product for you, visit a DC Collective dispensary. One of our team members would be happy to match you with a product that suits your needs and experience level.
⚠️WARNING: Products sold on this site can expose you to chemicals including marijuana smoke, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
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