Everything You Need to Know About Dosing CBD Products Properly
If you’ve tried prescription drugs to treat your side effects and they didn’t work, you may want to consider trying CBD products. There are many types of products, and different suggestions for use depending on your symptoms. We’ll provide a comprehensive guide on how to choose the best one for you.
A Few Important Points to Remember
- Because there’s no universal dose that works for everyone, doctors can only recommend CBD products, not prescribe them.
- Your doctor may not know much about CBD, because most medical schools don’t cover CBD therapy in their pharmacology courses. These courses mainly cover substances that can be patented.
Everyone has a different dose.
The standard serving size for CBD is 25 mg twice a day. Additional research suggests adding an additional 25 mg every 3-4 weeks until your symptoms are gone. If symptoms get worse, decrease the dosage by 25 mg. Consider recording your experiences in a notebook so you can figure out what works best for you.
Amounts to Take for Different Symptoms
The Mayo Clinic recommends certain dosages for different symptoms. These recommendations come from scientific research, information in different publications, and traditional uses:
No appetite for cancer patients: Patients should take 2.5 mg of THC by mouth for six weeks. This can be taken with or without CBD.
Recurrent pain – 2.5-20 mg of THC by mouth, with or without CBD.
Epilepsy – 200-300 mg of CBD by mouth daily.
Movement problems from Huntington’s disease – Patients should take a six-week course of 10 mg of CBD for each kilogram of weight by mouth every day.
Sleep disorders – 40-160 mg of CBD taken by mouth.
Multiple sclerosis symptoms – Cannabis plant extracts with 2.5 to 120 mg of a combination of THC and CBD every day for 2 to 15 weeks. Patients usually take eight sprays in a three-hour period but should use no more than 48 sprays in 24 hours.
Know the Varieties of CBD Products
CBD oil comes in many different forms. Each contains a different amount of CBD and other phytocannabinoid products. Patients first need to decide how they’re going to use it so they can fit it into their lifestyle. Types of products include:
Digestibles
- Liquid hemp oil
- CBD paste.
- CBD oil capsules.
- Phytocannabinoid sprays or spritzes – these are usually sprayed below the tongue.
- Bottled water containing small CBD particles.
- Chewing gum infused with CBD.
- On-the-go dissolvable CBD powders – these are often infused with other adaptogenic herbs.
- Cooking oils, such as coconut or olive oil, infused with CBD.
- CBD-infused edibles, such as gummies, brownies or cookies. These are usually taken by people who are sensitive to CBD vapor.
Smokables
- Crystalline isolates
- Wax – this similar to shatter, a marijuana concentrate that contains THC.
- CBD-rich vape juice and vape cartridges – a CBD form of an e-cigarette.
Topicals
- Transdermal patches that contain CBD – these are similar to a nicotine patch.
- Salves, balms, lotions, shampoos or soaps infused with cannabidiol.
- CBD-infused bath bombs
Decide How You Want to Use It
Many options, such as chewing gum, need no instructions, but there are some tips you need to follow for certain types of CBD products.
Liquid CBD Oil, tinctures and extracts – Drops or tinctures list the suggested serving size and total milligrams on their packaging. You can use this information to determine the best amount for you. Place the correct amount under your tongue and hold the CBD oil in place for at least 60 seconds so the oil gets absorbed into the blood vessels beneath the tongue. After 60 seconds have passed, swallow the CBD oil.
Vape juice and vapor cigarettes – Vaping is a great method for people who are looking for an immediate response because it delivers CBDs to your brain and body quickly. To vape properly, start by exhaling gently, and inhale through the mouthpiece for three seconds. Then inhale additional air through your lungs hold for a few seconds – breathe out when you’re ready. If you don’t want to measure the dosage yourself, there are pre-filled vape pens and cartridges available. You can also purchase a more expensive vaporizer and refill it with CBD-infused e-liquid.
Edible CBD products – CBD edibles are the easiest delivery method – all you have to do is open the edible and eat it. The effects last longer, but take longer to kick in. They’re a great option for those who want sustained effects or people who don’t want others to know they’re using CBDs.
CBD Concentrates – If you’ve ever smoked hash, wax, or BHO, you’ll be familiar with this delivery method. Just sprinkle in a vaporizer or water pipe, light it, breathe in and enjoy. This is best for people who want to ingest more of the herb.
Choose the Best CBD Brand For You
Once you decide how you want to ingest the CBD, you’ll need to choose a CBD brand with a reliable dosage. There are many different CBD brands on the market, so choosing the best one can be a guessing game. No matter which brand you choose, remember you cannot overdose on CBD oil.
Talk to Your Doctor
Before you take any CBD product, talk to your doctor first. There are some risks associated with using CBD products in high doses for a long period of time. These include:
- Mild low blood pressure
- Dry mouth
- A light-headed feeling
- Sedation
- Less T and B cell activity.
- Decreased possibility of fertilization
- Less p-Glycoprotein activity – the Reduced activity of the Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) Enzyme – this can affect several classes of drugs, including steroids, calcium channel blockers, antihistamines, HIV-antivirals, benzodiazepines, and anti-epilepsy drugs.
When choosing a CBD oil product, it’s also important to consider the CBD oil percentage. Some products will list it as an actual percentage, others will list the number of milligrams. When choosing a product, look at the percentage and determine if it’s the correct one for you based on how it makes you feel.
The information in this article should help you get started choosing the best CBD product for you. When choosing a CBD product, be sure to notice how it makes you feel – does it help relieve your symptoms? Can you tolerate the side effects? If not, increase the dose or consider trying a different product until you find one that works for you.