CBD is generally safe in moderate dosages, though it may interact with certain medications if taken simultaneously. Furthermore, it may increase blood pressure or cause side effects like diarrhea or changes to appetite and weight.
As illegal synthetic CBD or cannabis products (commonly referred to as “spice” or “bath salts”) can trigger psychotic reactions in some users, it is best to choose third-party tested CBD products with clear dosing instructions from third parties.
Medical Conditions
Researchers are studying CBD’s effectiveness for anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pain management and various other conditions. (Link is external) Studies suggest it could even help people quit smoking altogether!(Link is external).
CBD products are not subject to the same regulation as pharmaceutical medications are, so their quality and dosage may differ greatly. When selecting products with third-party quality tests it is key. When taking blood thinners, antiepileptics, immunosuppressants or any other medications alongside CBD it may require more frequent liver function tests; additionally CBD may interfere with how quickly citalopram and fluoxetine antidepressant medication are metabolized in your body.
Research in animals has suggested that high doses of CBD could decrease fertility in males who take testosterone-producing medications, even those who already use fertility treatments such as Clomid. (Link is external). As further study on humans is necessary, further research should also be conducted.
Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding
Pregnant women might be tempted to try CBD as a treatment for morning sickness, pain and other symptoms during their pregnancy; however, research on its safety remains limited and CBD can interact with certain medications such as blood thinners, antiepileptics and immunosuppressants which are broken down by liver enzymes; in turn causing abnormal results for liver-related blood tests.
There is some concern that exposure to cannabis during pregnancy or breastfeeding could have adverse consequences on a baby’s mental health, since both THC and CBD can bind with CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain.
Therefore, both the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise avoiding all forms of cannabis during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Instead, speak with your healthcare provider about safer, natural ways of relieving common pregnancy symptoms like nausea, headache and sore joints and muscles – including diet changes, massage therapy, physical exercises and relaxation techniques.
Children
As more parents seek CBD for their children to help alleviate anxiety, aggression, and self-injury symptoms caused by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there has been increasing media coverage about its potential to ease AS symptoms – but unfortunately no scientific data supporting its efficacy yet.
Most CBD products are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration and may be mislabeled. According to one JAMA study, some products contained levels of THC (the psychoactive component of marijuana) that could be harmful to children. Furthermore, CBD may interact with prescription medications metabolized by liver so children taking medications must take extra precaution when choosing a source for CBD.
Respondents reported that most had not discussed CBD use with their child’s rheumatologist; those that did expressed concern over what their physician might think or say (35%). It is important for pediatric rheumatologists to become familiar with its safety so that they are comfortable discussing it with patients without jeopardizing relationships or undermining care.
In the Workplace
CBD products offer many medical advantages, yet can impede work performance and raise safety issues at the workplace. To maintain a secure working environment, employers should remain informed and implement policies that honor employees’ wellness choices while supporting an environment conducive to productivity and wellbeing.
As THC can exist even in trace amounts in CBD products that haven’t been regulated by the FDA, employees need to understand that there’s no way of knowing their supplement is free from THC. To keep employees informed and avoid confusion or liability claims from potential users, training them on how to identify potentially THC-containing supplements is advisable.
Employers need to carefully consider if and how they need to allow recreational marijuana use in the workplace, which will depend upon where their employees live and work. Employers should keep up-to-date on local laws and regulations, while also considering ways of educating employees about selecting CBD products that won’t lead to false positives on standard drug tests; workplace drug tests typically detect THC (psychoactive component of cannabis), but there may also be cross-reactivity with some over-the-counter pain relievers and antidepressants that cause false positives on standard drug tests – this means there may be cross-reactivity between THC testing results and those testing other substances containing THC such as over-the-counter painkillers and antidepressants which may lead them into being detected as false positives on standard drug tests – when standard drug tests test for THC, potentially giving false positive results causing false positive results causing false positive results and false positive results triggering false positives due to cross-reactivity between different substances commonly used together such as over-the-counter pain relievers and antidepressant medications which test positive when tested alongside THC testing will give false positive results due to cross-reactivity with THC being tested as well. Workplace drug tests typically test for THC; however there could be cross-reactivity with substances often used with THC, including over-the-counter pain relievers and certain antidepressants (antis).
