Like pain relief, the number one side effect of CBD oil is a non-existent one.  No one has ever died from a side effect of CBD oil.  It’s quite the contrary:  CBD is a highly recommended supplement that can be safely used in all areas of your life without any toxicity.  However, if you are new to the world of CBD, you might be wondering “what are CBD side effects?”

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is a hemp derivative that has recently gained popularity as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments. But, what are CBD oil side effects and how can you avoid them? This blog is specifically aimed at helping you know the possible CBD oil side effects and provide some tips on how to avoid them.

Despite the fact that research is still in its infancy, studies have proven that CBD is safe to use and consume on a daily basis, even in large dosages.

CBD use, like any other chemical, may have adverse effects, and it can also interact badly with medications. Although it’s always advisable to contact a doctor before beginning a new supplement or medication regimen, this article will go over the fundamentals of the potential side effects and why CBD should not be used.

CBD’s Side Effects (Quick Answer)

Despite the fact that CBD promotes physical and cognitive sensations of relaxation and calm, it does not provide the same high that THC does. This is due to the fact that CBD does not connect to the same CB1 receptors as THC.

After taking CBD, many individuals experience the following symptoms:

However, there are a few frequent CBD side effects that may be deemed negative. These are some of them:

  • Drowsiness
  • Mouth is parched
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • gastrointestinal problems/diarrhea
  • Medication interactions that are harmful

CBD Vaping and Its Consequences

CBD vaping is a common CBD ingestion technique. It entails heating the CBD and breathing it via a device that resembles an e-cigarette.

To begin with, vaping is not appropriate for youngsters; they should always take CBD in another form. However, individuals who determine that vaping is the ideal form of intake should be aware that it may have somewhat different adverse effects than other methods of consumption, such as oral ingestion.

CBD skips the digestive system since it is absorbed via the capillaries in the mouth and lungs. This implies that, although the benefits aren’t as long-lasting as they are with oral intake, they may be felt nearly immediately. After vaping CBD at higher dosages, the user may feel sleepy and/or light-headed.

It’s worth mentioning that vaping may have negative side effects in general.

A research published in 2018 looked at the lung function of individuals who had never smoked cigarettes after vaping liquids with and without nicotine [1]. The findings revealed that vaping affected normal lung function in otherwise healthy lungs, regardless of whether the fluid included nicotine or not. However, since the sample size was just ten individuals, the findings cannot be considered definitive.

CBD Topical Side Effects

two topical CBD, a hemp leaf and dried hemp flowers

Many CBD products include additional chemicals in their formulas, which are typically aimed towards treating particular skin problems. Essential oils, for example, may help calm inflamed skin.

Some individuals may have adverse effects such as a rash or itching as a result of these additions, so it’s critical to check the entire list of components in the recipe. Stop using the product and see a dermatologist if this happens.

CBD’s Common Side Effects

Drowsiness

People often report feeling sleepy after taking CBD. While some may see this as a positive (CBD is often used to treat insomnia), others see it as a bad side effect.

If you combine CBD with other sedative medicines, the effects may be too powerful, according to Dr. Jas Matharu-Daley of the LA County Department of Public Health. To prevent this, start with a low dosage of CBD and gradually increase until you reach your desired level.

Dry Mouth

It’s not impossible that CBD may cause your mouth to get dry. Cotton mouth is another name for this condition. It has a similar impact on the eyes as well.

It’s worth noting that this is more likely to happen after ingesting THC, but it won’t last long if it occurs after consuming CBD.

Nausea/Vomiting

Simply said, some individuals have a hard time tolerating CBD, particularly in large dosages, and may feel nausea as a result. This may cause nausea and/or dizziness, but these symptoms will fade as your body processes the CBD and it exits the circulation.

Starting low and gradually increasing the dose will reduce the chances of this occurring.

Gastrointestinal Issues/Diarrhea

After taking CBD, some individuals may suffer gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea. However, this typically happens after a large dosage and is very dependant on the person and their medical history. If you encounter this adverse effect, stop using the product right once and seek medical assistance.

As previously said, it is recommended to begin with a modest dosage and gradually raise it to prevent any unpleasant stomach problems.

Medication Interactions That Can Be Harmful

CBD, like any other chemical, has the potential to interact with other drugs, resulting in more potent negative side effects. It may also be dangerous when used with some prescription medications.

The cytochrome P450 enzyme family, commonly known as CYP450, is a set of liver enzymes that play a role in the metabolism of more than 60% of medicines and poisons in the body. Certain drugs, on the other hand, may interact with the CYP450 system and delay or speed up the metabolizing process. This may have negative consequences for the body.

CBD may temporarily deactivate the CYP450 system, particularly the CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 enzymes, changing how other substances are processed by the liver [2]. This may cause some medicines that also utilize the CYP450 system to metabolize more slowly, allowing them to remain in your system longer and have greater and longer-lasting effects.

The CYP450 system is known to be used by a variety of drugs, including but not limited to:

  • Steroids
  • Inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase
  • Calcium channel blockers are drugs that inhibit calcium channels in the body.
  • Antihistamines
  • Prokinetics
  • Antiviral drugs for HIV
  • Modulators of the immune system
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Antiarrhythmics
  • Antibiotics
  • Anesthetics
  • Antipsychotics
  • Antidepressants
  • Anti-epileptics
  • Beta-blockers
  • PPIs
  • NSAIDs
  • Blockers of angiotensin II
  • Hypoglycemic agents used orally
  • Sulfonylureas

How to Stay Away From CBD’s Side Effects

Hand holding a bottle of CBD oil extract with dried hemp flowers and a phone at the back

CBD activates CB receptors throughout the body, assisting the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in maintaining homeostasis (balance). However, since the ECS affects so many distinct body processes, both physical and mental, it is impossible to anticipate an individual’s response before they try it.

To put it another way, everyone is different, so what works for your friends and family may not work for you. When first experimenting with CBD, it’s recommended to start with a low dosage and gradually increase it. This manner, you can keep track of the effects and progressively increase them until you get the best outcomes.

CBD cannot be fatally overdosed, according to the National Cancer Institute and other specialists, reducing the danger of experimenting [3]. However, just to be cautious, we always recommend contacting a medical expert first.

Who Isn’t a Good Candidate for CBD?

Although we’ve previously discussed how CBD interacts with prescription medications, there are a few additional situations in which CBD use is risky or undesirable.

If You’re Pregnant or Nursing a Baby

Much more study is required before we can tell if CBD is safe for fetuses and newborn infants, but owing to ethical concerns, this is unlikely to happen. However, in certain instances, the benefits of CBD may exceed the dangers, such as if you have problems that would normally need harsher prescription medications.

It’s usually a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, particularly if you’re nursing. They’ll be able to advise you on the best course of action depending on your specific situation. 

If You’re Suffering From Mental Illness

Marijuana usage has been associated to an increased risk of mental illnesses such as sadness, anxiety, psychosis (schizophrenia), and drug use disorders in many studies [4]. This is mostly due to the THC in marijuana, so if you’re using CBD isolation, you shouldn’t be concerned.

If you reside in a state where medicinal and/or recreational marijuana use is allowed, you may be able to buy CBD with a THC content higher than 0.3 percent, which is the permissible maximum set by federal law. Make sure you know precisely what you’re eating and, if required, get medical guidance before doing so.

What to Look for in CBD Products

The US Food and Drug Administration has yet to authorize CBD for human ingestion. As a result, the industry is unregulated.

Because there are no uniform guidelines for manufacturers to follow, nearly anything may be branded and marketed as a “CBD product.” According to a study performed in 2017, 70% of CBD products examined were mislabeled in some manner [4].

Because high amounts of heavy metals, pesticides, and chemicals may make a person very sick, you should only purchase CBD products from a reputable producer.

Every CBD product should have a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) on display, proving that it has been tested by a third-party lab. This is when a company submits samples of all of its goods to a third-party laboratory, which analyzes them and gives complete, detailed findings that may be proudly exhibited.

The CoA specifies the extract’s purity, potency, total content, and quality, so you know precisely what you’re getting. This will also reveal if the producer utilized a high-quality hemp source as well as high-quality cultivation and extraction methods.

Look elsewhere if you can’t locate an up-to-date CoA for a CBD product you’re considering purchasing. It’s certainly worth it, even if it means taking a little more time and paying a little more.

Last Thoughts

To summarize, CBD use is generally safe for the majority of individuals. However, like with any new supplement or medicine, there are potential adverse effects, so proceed with care in case you encounter any.

You may be certain that, unless you fall into the group of people who should avoid CBD entirely — whether it’s due to interactions with prescription medications or because you’re pregnant or nursing — any adverse effects you do encounter will be minor.

Drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea aren’t pleasant, but they’ll be short-lived and non-life-threatening if you do have to cope with them. Still, it’s recommended to start with a low dosage and gradually raise it to avoid suffering any of the adverse effects described in this article. Of course, if you’re still concerned, you should seek medical advice.

In this article, there are a number of references that were used.

  1. Staudt, M. R., Salit, J., Kaner, R. J., Hollmann, C., & Crystal, R. G. (2018). Altered lung biology of healthy never smokers following acute inhalation of E-cigarettes. Respiratory Research, 19(1), 1-10.
  2. Bornheim, L. M., Everhart, E. T., Li, J., & Correia, M. A. (1993). Characterization of cannabidiol-mediated cytochrome P450 inactivation. Biochemical pharmacology, 45(6), 1323-1331.
  3. Campolongo, P., Trezza, V., Cassano, T., Gaetani, S., Morgese, M. G., Ubaldi, M., … & Cuomo, V. (2007). PRECLINICAL STUDY: Perinatal exposure to delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol causes enduring cognitive deficits associated with altered cortical gene expression and neurotransmission in rats. Addiction Biology, 12(3‐4), 485-495.
  4. Bonn-Miller, M. O., Loflin, M. J., Thomas, B. F., Marcu, J. P., Hyke, T., & Vandrey, R. (2017). Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online. Jama, 318(17), 1708-1709.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common side effect of CBD?

The most common side effect of CBD is drowsiness.

Is it safe to use CBD oil everyday?

It is safe to use CBD oil everyday.

What does CBD make you feel?

CBD makes you feel relaxed, sleepy, and sedated.

This article broadly covered the following related topics:

  • cbd benefits chart
  • cbd oil side effects on liver
  • cbd oil side effects on kidneys
  • cbd oil side effects
  • cbd oil benefits
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