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Side Effects of CBD:
(Common & Uncommon)
Instead of reaching for pills, more and more people are reaching for a bottle of CBD.
Insomniacs, the chronically anxious, epileptics, you name it. In fact, the more time goes on more I think it'd be easier to tell people what CBD can't be used for as opposed to what it can thanks to the latter growing in number on a near daily basis.
The science is there to back it up, too. More and more studies are coming forward about the benefits of CBD each and every day.
This isn't snake oil, people.
Caveat:
While the positive potential is there, it does nobody any good to leave out the negative potential of CBD. Cannabinoids have proven truly unique in that everyone does react to them differently, it isn't if X then Y like with a lot of medicines. Have a headache? Take a Tylenol, simple enough. You can't apply the same thinking to CBD, though. This is because the endocannabinoid system is extremely complex and quite frankly under researched.
Also, it's worth noting that some effects of CBD that are desirable for some conditions aren't very desirable for others. How much you dose & how you dose is very important to only receive the effects you want and none of those that you don't. For this reason, we've written an in-depth CBD dosage guide.
Some people only report these side effects at high doses, some people get these side effects no matter what, and some people don't report these side effects at all.
Is CBD Safe?
CBD oil is extremely well tolerated by humans and is generally regarded as non-psychoactive. It's effects in normal people are considered to be very mild when compared to most pharmaceutical and recreational drugs.
But, one man's cure can be another man's disease. It's not a miracle drug, and that's why I think CBD is worthwhile, actually. Anything that's too good to be true usually is.
Here's what some people have reported as side effects of CBD ingestion:
Common Side Effects Of CBD:
Sleepiness
Typically only reported in very high doses, CBD is known to produce a feeling of drowsiness in some users. Once the drowsiness hits, the only real cure is to sleep it off, there's little a coffee or Red Bull can do to undo this side effect once it hits.
If in your daily life attentiveness and attention to detail is necessary, make sure to spend extensive time finding out how to properly dose CBD without it impairing your daily function before diving in.
Dry Mouth
Ah, the dreaded cottonmouth. It stands to reason that this would be a side effect of CBD, dry mouth is one of the most common side effects of marijuana itself, and CBD is just one of the many cannabinoids that are involved in the complex chemical dance of the endocannabinoid system. Luckily this side effect is easily treated by keeping some water handy.
This happens because the endocannabinoid system is altered in such a way that saliva production is inhibited, leading to the mouth drying out over time. So your internal hydration system in the mouth is out of wack, you'll have to supplement with external help.
Headaches/Lightheadedness
Some might come down with a bad headache or lightheadedness after consuming CBD recklessly, this is either due to CBD's dehydrating effects or it's effects in temporarily lowering blood pressure.
The best course of action should this happen to you is to have a tea and maybe a bottle of water for good measure. The water makes sure it's not due to dehydration, and the bit of caffeine in tea can raise blood pressure back to a comfortable level.
It's not recommended to take Tylenol or other acetaminophen containing over the counter headache pills to help this problem if you regularly get it with taking CBD. These NSAIDs are not healthy to take on a daily basis, your liver will thank you for seeking less extreme options.
The lightheadedness due to a drop in blood pressure is usually short-lived, so you need not worry, just take it easy for a bit and let your body adjust.
Uncommon Side Effects
These side effects I would consider extremely rare, based on my research my best guess is that they affect no more than 2%-7% of the people who have taken CBD and written about their experiences online.
Poor Metabolism Of Prescription Meds
In some individuals, high doses of CBD inhibits P450 enzymes in the liver, while that sentence probably doesn't mean much to you right now: it's worth noting that nearly every prescription medication and many toxins are metabolized by this enzyme.
Some people are poorer metabolizers than others in general, so that would explain why this side effect is noticeable in some but not in others.
How long the enzymes are inhibited for and to what degree is still being looked into, but if you are already on medication you should ask your doctor before adding CBD into the mix, especially if you think doses at the more extreme range is where you're headed.
Anxiogenic Effects/Malaise
Occasionally some people feel uncomfortable upon administration of CBD, in a way that's commonly described as anxiety-like symptoms. Reports of this side effect are much more common when CBD from less reputable companies are used.
My thinking for this is that less reputable companies don't do as good a job at removing THC, and some use synthetic CBD instead of deriving it from the real plant.
Always make sure your CBD is from lab-tested and trusted sources, and be sure to read the label to make sure your product only contains what you want before you give it a go. Synthetic CBD is notorious for causing these poor reactions, and I personally am worried that a lot of CBD products marketed for pets most likely use synthetic CBD and not the real thing. I'd hate to be dosing my furry friend and have him not even able to tell me he's having a bad time.
Conclusion
It stands to reason that anything with effects will also have side-effects. You're playing with the chemistry of your brain and body, there's not a single substance on the planet that will meaningfully change an aspect of your body without repercussions, it's just not how things work.
Whether or not those repercussions make CBD worth it for you in the end is unfortunately still largely a matter of trial and error. I only hope that the future of CBD research is bright and the benefits of CBD can be maximized and the side effects minimized.
As CBD is a very finicky compound, I believe most people trying to grab some of the much coveted benefits will have to tinker and find a personalized treatment plan that works for them.
If you'd like to learn more about CBD, we're written an article dedicated to providing as much information about what CBD is, and why it's worth taking.
About the Author Taylor
A marijuana enthusiast, vaporizer connoisseur, a frequent user of CBD and he's also the founder of iMarijuanit.com.