As the CBD industry grows, so too has its need for clear guidelines regarding dosage. When dealing with edibles and oil drops from different companies, it may be difficult to know exactly how much CBD to take at one time.
CBD does not seem to build up a tolerance, and its effects tend to last longer. To start off safely and gradually increase dosage over time.
Dosage for Anxiety
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of CBD for relieving anxiety symptoms. One research paper 60 found that 400 mg oral CBD reduced self-reported anxiety among social anxiety disorder patients undergoing single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain imaging without leading to any physical or psychological sedation effects; however, very few clinical trials have examined chronic dosing of CBD for anxiety disorders.
CBD has demonstrated significant anxiolytic effects in animal models of anxiety such as the elevated plus maze (EPM), Vogel conflict test (VCT), and contextual fear conditioning paradigms. Notably, CBD’s anxiolytic properties appear to rely on 5-HT1AR activation as their mechanism. CBD also relieves anticipatory anxiety in healthy participants taking part in a public speaking experiment and enhances extinction of learned fear using operant conditioning as part of an operant conditioning paradigm. CBD has also been demonstrated to attenuate stress-induced increases in heart rate and blood pressure while decreasing skin conductance response amplitude during fearful stimuli, possibly through hippocampal AEA or through reductions in forward functional connectivity between amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex, depending on prior stress exposure.
Dosage for Pain
CBD acts as a positive allosteric modulator at micromolar concentrations for anionic ligand-gated ion channels such as GABAA and glycine receptors [38], while also inhibiting voltage-gated calcium channels Cav3.1 and Cav3.2 with an inhibitory effect [39].
Repeated administration of CBD had analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that were partially blocked by CB1 and CB2 antagonists, but not capsazepine or WAY100135. Furthermore, repeated CBD administration led to reduced mechanical allodynia, increased serotoninergic activity, and inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines – all findings supported by animal models of spared nerve injury neuropathic pain.
Pramhas et al. (4) reported that 8 weeks of high-dose CBD as an add-on therapy to paracetamol did not produce analgesic benefits in patients with knee osteoarthritis; however, it did reduce hospital stay duration and improve clinical global impression and functional tests. Zuardi et al. (6) discovered that 400 mg/day CBD reduced treatment-induced psychosis among Parkinson’s disease patients taking L-DOPA which increases brain dopamine levels and may induce psychosis.
Dosage for Depression
Studies indicate that CBD could help ease anxiety and depression. One study discovered that those taking CBD before public speaking events felt less anxious than those given a placebo pill, while another demonstrated reductions in symptoms among people suffering from social anxiety disorder after four weeks of CBD treatment.
CBD has been found to increase serotonin levels in the brain, which may account for its antidepressant effects. Furthermore, it’s been demonstrated to assist those dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is known to lead to anxiety and depression.
Noting the concentration of CBD can be difficult, making it hard for consumers to determine how much to take. Method of usage will also influence when and how fast CBD takes effect; an edible will take longer than an oil or tincture for instance. Speak to a medical practitioner who can recommend reliable brands as well as provide information regarding appropriate dosing.
Dosage for Insomnia
CBD may help those living with conditions that cause insomnia to sleep better, though research on its effectivity alone remains mixed.
Studies combining CBD and THC have shown it can assist those suffering from insomnia to fall asleep faster and enjoy higher quality restful slumber, but when tested alone in healthy people without other health concerns it failed to help them doze off faster or improve sleep quality.
When taking CBD for sleep, always consult a healthcare professional first. They can ensure it’s safe for you, suggest the appropriate product, recommend dosage amounts and indicate how often or infrequently to take it – that way minimizing tolerance to its effects and getting maximum benefit out of treatment.
