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CBD dosage for sleep will vary based on several factors. This includes the severity of the sleep disorder and individual factors such as age, body fat percentage, metabolism rate, and one’s unique physiology. The trick is to start with the lowest possible dose and adjust upwards as you monitor the effects. As it may take a while for your body to adjust to any given dose, you should consider sticking with one dose before moving on to the next. A diary also comes in handy; use this to record each dose and how it affects your body. This is a sure-fire strategy to help you find a sweet spot that allows you to enjoy maximum benefits from CBD without getting overwhelmed.
What is CBD?
CBD is the abbreviation for cannabidiol, one of the numerous cannabinoids that are found in hemp and cannabis. Even though cannabis has over one hundred cannabinoids, only a handful have been investigated by researchers for their therapeutic potential. Of these, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD are the most popular. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, this means that it does not affect one’s mental status, however it may create a sense of well-being.
Does CBD Help With Sleep?
CBD is a sleep-promoting agent that is both safe and effective in a majority of individuals. CBD reduces the levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone whose levels are increased when one is under stress. This hormone triggers insomnia, this makes it difficult for one to sleep when they are stressed. One study showed that CBD can reduce cortisol levels and at the same time act as a sedative. [1]
Anxiety is another trigger for insomnia and CBD offers anxiety relief. According to the Sleep Foundation, too much worry and stress make it difficult to fall asleep and remain asleep throughout the night. Sleep deprivation worsens anxiety, and this creates a negative cycle of insomnia and anxiety disorders. [2]
The antianxiety effects of CBD have been an area of interest for researchers. One 2015 review concluded that CBD has considerable potential in the treatment of multiple anxiety disorders. [3] By relieving anxiety, CBD can enhance sleep. CBD is also a potent muscle relaxant that is useful in enhancing the quality of sleep. After consuming CBD users have reported waking up feeling well-rested and refreshed.
The Right CBD Dosage
There isn’t a specific dosage of CBD that can work for everybody, but there are some general guidelines that can be followed to direct dosing. The following factors affect how CBD is metabolized in the body and hence influence dosing:
- Your age and sex.
- The body weight.
- Your body chemistry.
- The severity of the sleep disorder
- The concentration of CBD in each gummy, pill, capsule, drop, and so on.
With those guidelines, experts recommend taking 1-6 mg per every 10lbs of body weight. Just like with other cannabinoids, the trick is to always start with low dosages as you work your way up. This slow titration gives your body ample time to adjust to the CBD as you also take note of how your body is responding.
For example, you could start with 20mg a day and hold this for three days before adjusting upwards. Subsequently, you could increase your dose by 5mg according to how you feel. You should always diarize each amount of CBD plus the effects.
The table below can help you as you start your journey on consuming CBD.
To be on the safe side, ensure you know how many milligrams are in each serving.
How to Calculate CBD Dosage
Here’s where you have to do some math. With gummies, capsules, and pills you won’t have to do any math because you will know how many milligrams are in each serving.
To know how much CBD to take if you are using tinctures and oils, do this. A drop is 0.05 ml, let’s say you have a 10 ml bottle, your bottle will have 200 drops. You divide the size of the bottle using the number of drops.
If that bottle contains 500mg of CBD content, you’ll get 2.5 mg of CBD content per drop. That means it’s 500mg of CBD content divided by 200 drops.
If you are ever unsure about dosing CBD, it is okay to consult your doctor who should be able to guide you on an appropriate dosage for CBD.
How to Consume CBD
CBD can be considered in different ways that include the following:
- Tinctures and oils. Also referred to as droplets or drops.
- Edibles such as cookies, chocolates, gummies, and beverages.
- Topicals such as balms, ointments, creams, and lotions.
- Pills and capsules.
- Vape juices and vapes, inhalation
The method of consumption will affect how soon you will begin to feel sleepy after consuming the CBD. Inhaling the CBD (smoking or vaping) will allow you to feel drowsy sooner because the CBD is taken up quickly from the mucus membranes into the bloodstream and brain. Edibles delay the process since the CBD has to go through the digestive system before it hits the bloodstream. However, once the effects set in they will have a longer duration.
Side Effects of CBD
Some people may experience some negative effects after consuming CBD. This is especially true for first-time users or those who have consumed excessive amounts. They may include the following:
- Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
- Extreme weight changes, either gain or loss
- Headaches
- Confusion
Beware of CBD Interactions
CBD interacts with drugs that are metabolized through a certain pathway that is known as the (CYP pathway). CBD may either amplify or minimize the therapeutic effects of these drugs. Such drugs include warfarin which is a blood thinner, amiodarone, a heart rhythm medication, and levothyroxine, a thyroid medication among others. In case you are on any medication, you should talk to your pharmacist before starting CBD treatment so that they can advise you if it is safe to do so.
CBD dosage is influenced by several factors including body weight, age, the severity of the sleep disorder, and the concentration of CBD. Experts recommend a starting dose of 1-6mg per every 10lbs body weight. You should always start with the lowest possible dose and titrate upwards as you observe the effects.
References
- Zuardi, A. W., Guimarães, F. S., & Moreira, A. C. (1993). Effect of cannabidiol on plasma prolactin, growth hormone and cortisol in human volunteers. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas, 26(2), 213–217.
- Sleep Org. Sleep and Anxiety. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health/anxiety-and-sleep
- Blessing, E. M., Steenkamp, M. M., Manzanares, J., & Marmar, C. R. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics: the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, 12(4), 825–836.
Image Credit – Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash
