REWARDS
CBD, the non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant, is creating quite the buzz across the U.S. for it’s many therapeutic health properties. CBD can aid in gut health, relieve inflammation, reduce symptoms of epilepsy and much more. However, many are wondering if the therapeutic cannabinoid is too good to be true, and if there are any negative side effects to taking CBD on a daily basis.
CBD does not have any documented negative side effects. The most common minor drawbacks, like tiredness, occur only in extremely large doses.
Here is what we know so far.
The Rundown on CBD’s Side Effects
Multiple studies have indicated that CBD has minimal to no side effects, and have claimed that the cannabinoid is safe for anyone to consume. However, your body may have some secondary responses to the effects of CBD.
Several small-scale studies have looked into the safety of CBD in adults to find the wellness supplement to be well-tolerated across the board under many circumstances.
To date, there have been no significant side effects in the central nervous system, effects on vital signs, or individuals’ moods among those who take CBD regularly or on occasion. The most commonly reported side effect of CBD has been tiredness. Other users have also noticed changes in appetite or weight, and in cases of extreme over consumption, bouts of diarrhea.
Potential Side Effects of CBD
There are numerous studies demonstrating the effectiveness of cannabidiol in treating various health conditions, most of which conclude CBD to be safe and free of any harmful side effects.
Although, in rare cases, there have been a few known side effects from taking CBD, all of which have been pretty minor. But, as mentioned previously, you should be well-informed before taking any forms of CBD.
Here are three potential side effects of taking CBD, according to health professionals from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. It is important to know that these side effects may only and most likely occur when individuals are taking high doses of CBD. For a better understanding of CBD dosing, check out our post on CBD dosage.
- Lightheadedness: This could be caused by the drop in blood pressure which can affect users taking very high doses of CBD. This potential side effect of CBD is temporary and can often be resolved by drinking a cup of water, coffee or tea.
- Drowsiness: In higher doses, CBD can reportedly cause drowsiness. If you do feel drowsy after taking CBD, you should follow the same protocol as other powerful medication directives — don’t operate machinery or drive your car. In most cases, however, CBD is a wake-inducing agent.
- Dry Mouth: Another reported side effect of CBD administration is an unpleasant dry sensation in the mouth. This seems to be caused by the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in the disruption of saliva secretion. This isn’t anything to be concerned about, as all a dry mouth will do is make you thirsty. And again, this is usually only the case if and when someone takes a very high dose of CBD.
Why are CBD’s negative side effects so minimal?
For starters, CBD does not contain mind-altering properties. This means that CBD can not get you “high” as THC does in marijuana.
A comprehensive review of 132 original studies by Bergamaschietal described the safety profile of CBD, mentioning several beneficial properties of the cannabinoid, including no alteration of major bodily functions including heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.
Studies conducted in June of 2017 ruled out any negative effects on both psychological (affecting the mind) and psychomotor functions of the body (like coordination, movement and speech). Another positive result from these studies is that the gastrointestinal transit and potential toxicity elements were not adversely affected.
Furthermore, chronic use and high doses of up to 1500 mg per day have been repeatedly shown through research to be well-tolerated by humans. To put that into perspective, one CBD capsule typically contains between 30-45 mg, so taking 1500 mg of CBD would be the equivalent of taking 33-50 CBD capsules in a single day.
In spite of the positive results from those particular case studies, some negative side effects have been reported from taking CBD, but those have been noted from animal studies, which included changes in cell growth, reduced fertilization capacity and hindrance of the cannabinoid’s metabolism.
So, more human studies need to be conducted to see if these same effects occur in the human body.
Though CBD is generally well-tolerated and considered safe, everyone’s body is different, and reacts differently to external substances. CBD could potentially cause adverse reactions for some people who do not respond well to the cannabinoid. If any negative side effects are experienced from the use of CBD, they are light and should not lead to any major concerns.
Takeaways
- CBD can provide relief for a variety of conditions with little (or no) side effects.
- Although rare, CBD’s most common side effect is tiredness
- More human studies need to be conducted to see if CBD has any further negative side effects
- Individuals may react differently to CBD, it is suggested that consumers find what works best for them.
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