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CBD oil has been in the spotlight for a few years, and by now everyone is more or less familiar with the numerous CBD oil benefits. However, there aren’t many articles or studies on the correct CBD dosage, so many people are left wondering how much cannabidiol they should take and whether they could actually take too much and overdose.
That’s why we have made this ultimate guide to taking CBD oil. Keep reading to learn more about how to take CBD oil, what is CBD used for, and many other useful tips. You can also discover more about these side effects and which conditions’ symptoms it can ease. We’ll also tell you how CBD oil can help your pets.
So, let’s jump right in.
CBD Dosage for People
First things first, you should know that there’s no exact number of milligrams or drops of cannabidiol oil you should take unless you take some factors into consideration.
Every person is different, and the CBD daily dosage an individual needs depends on factors such as diet, genetics, weight, metabolism, the environment, the consistency of the product, and more. Likewise, not everyone reacts the same to the same CBD dose, which makes it even harder to decide on the correct dosage.
So, how much CBD should I take?
The safest thing to do is to follow your doctor’s recommendations. However, if they don’t provide them, the second-best thing to do is start with a small dosage, and increase it slowly over time.
Here are some general guidelines for choosing your dosage, based on your weight and the CBD strengths you’re using. Remember, this is just a recommended CBD dosage. Some people will require more, whereas others will require less.
| Low strength CBD | 1 mg CBD per 10 pounds, or 0.2 mg/kg |
| Medium strength CBD | 3 mg CBD per 10 pounds, or 1.0 mg/kg |
| High strength CBD | 6 mg CBD per 10 pounds, or 1.5 mg/kg |
To determine your CBD oil dose successfully you should also know:
- How many mg in a ml? One milligram equals 0.001 milliliters.
- How many milligrams in a teaspoon? One teaspoon of oil equals 4.67 grams, which equals to 4,670 milligrams.
- and how many drops in an ounce? A one-ounce bottle can hold about 29.5 ml, or 7.4 teaspoons, which equals 29.5 droppers, or 1,000–1,200 drops.
How Do You Use CBD Oil?
There’s a wide variety of CBD products, and some manufacturers put extra effort into. For instance, Charlotte’s Web CBD dosage chart can help you choose between oils, tinctures, edibles, powders, capsules, lotions, balms, vape pens, and other CBD products that can aid your condition.
Here’s the full list:
- CBD products that are taken orally include powders, capsules, and edibles. They’re recommended to people who want more control over their dosage or to be more discreet. The effects last 2 to 4 hours, but their onset takes longer — usually 30 to 90 minutes. Moreover, you don’t have to calculate the dosage for edibles as the CBD gummies dosage, for example, is indicated on the packaging.
- CBD extracts that are inhaled through a vape pen are for those who like to smoke and want fast action. You should start feeling the effects after only a couple of minutes, but they also won’t last long.
- CBD oils are taken sublingually, and their onset is much faster as they enter the bloodstream directly under the tongue. Hence, you’ll start feeling the CBD effects after just 5 to 20 minutes.
- CBD products that are applied topically include lotions and balms. They’re the best for treating targeted areas, because of their quick onset. Inflammations and pains are relieved within minutes of the application, and the effects can last for hours.
- Transdermal patches are also great for managing chronic pains and for people who don’t have access to consuming CBD in other forms. Their onset could take hours, but their effect lasts for 1–2 days.
CBD Oil Dosage for Different Conditions
Cannabinoids affect the human body in various ways, and the health benefits of CBD are numerous. It’s important to mention that CBD isn’t psychoactive, and it won’t get you high. What’s more, it can help you reduce anxiety levels, improve sleep, heart health, reduce seizures, alleviate pain, and soothe inflammation.
CBD Dosage for Anxiety
Conditions like anxiety and depression are linked to low levels of serotonin that are responsible for regulating the mood. You may be wondering how to use CBD oil for anxiety and how it helps.
Well, CBD activates the serotonin receptors, which in turn increase the serotonin levels in the brain. The most common source of anxiety is PTSD, and there are some theories and studies that are promising when it comes to treating PTSD with CBD oil. CBD could also be helpful in treating social anxiety disorder.
CBD can interact with some antidepressants, so consult your doctor before taking any.
The recommended CBD dosage for anxiety in mg is 25mg. This was the dose used in a 2019 research, Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series, and it decreased the anxiety levels in the majority of the study participants. The dose was administered daily, in the morning, and it showed good results for people between 18 and 70 years of age.
CBD Dosage for OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder, so CBD oil is extremely helpful in managing the condition. Distressing and unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety resulting from obsessive and compulsive behavior can be successfully regulated with a dose of CBD oil.
A 2012 study conducted on rats and mice showed that a 120mg/kg CBD dosage for OCD proved effective for behaviors like marble-burying. Moreover, CBD was effective in reducing compulsive behavior for up to 7 days. Studies on humans are needed in order to set the exact dosage, but the results are promising.
CBD Dosage for Pain
CBD oil is highly effective in alleviating pain and inflammation due to the cannabinoid receptor type 1 and cannabinoid receptor type 2 found in our bodies. CBD binds to these receptors and helps the users feel better. You can use CBD oil for pain in your joints, back, muscles, etc. CBD is also effective in fighting arthritis pain and chronic primary and chronic secondary pain.
The dosage depends on your condition and CBD product you’re using.
For example, one study showed that cancer patients with uncontrolled pain felt positive effects after taking 25 mg/ml on a daily basis for five weeks. Additionally, a study conducted on rats with arthritis showed that taking a maximum of 62.3 mg per day, for just 4 days gives positive results.
Admittedly, the right dosage is difficult to determine because pain is a side product of lots of different ailments, so we can’t define one exact dosage for all of them.
CBD Dosage for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is the most common pain disorder that can be alleviated with CBD. The cause of the condition is unknown, and there is currently no cure, but a recent Israeli study on the efficacy of CBD oil for fibromyalgia revealed that taking 39mg of CBD per day for 6 months improved the symptoms of fibromyalgia for 81.1% of people.
CBD Dosage for Sleep
Research has revealed that CBD improves the quality of sleep and helps with different sleep disorders. A proper CBD dosage for sleep can help your body move from the REM rest into deeper NREM sleep. It’s also good for sleep disorders that affect the REM cycles. One research has discovered that CBD can also help people with insomnia.
We’d turn to the above study on sleep and anxiety for reference, and 25 mg/d is the good starting dose for 18-70 year-old adults.
CBD Dosage for Seizures
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder caused by head trauma, stroke, or genetics. Taking a CBD oil dosage for seizures can help you fight the seizures that epilepsy causes, no matter their duration, severity, or type. The way in which CBD oil for seizures works is that it binds to brain receptors responsible for these seizures. It also eases other epilepsy symptoms like anxiety and pain and is also a sleep aid.
Four studies showed that an average dosage of 15 mg/kg on a daily basis reduces seizure frequencies, duration, and severity. However, the dosage varies greatly depending on the severity of the condition, so in other research the dosage is 42mg/kg/d.
Furthermore, the average CBD dose of Epidiolex (the CBD-based prescription medicine used to treat seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome in children aged 2 and older) is:
- 2.5 mg/kg PO BID in the first week.
- After the first week, it can be increased to a maintenance dose of 5 mg/kg BID.
- If there’s still a need for seizure reduction, the dose can be increased to a maximum maintenance dose of 10 mg/kg BID (20 mg/kg/day) by increasing weekly increments of 2.5 mg/kg BID.
CBD Oil Dosage for Dementia
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease impact the patients’ speech, movement, and memory, causing them to experience frustration, anxiety, and even aggression.
There’s currently no cure for these conditions, but a study conducted with mice showed that CBD oil for dementia and Alzheimer’s has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. In the animal study, the administered dosage was 20 mg/kg CBD, daily.
CBD Oil Side Effects
A 2011 NCBI study revealed that taking CBD continuously, even in high doses of 1500mg/day, is not dangerous for people, and the 2017 update on the study has confirmed that. However, a 2019 study performed on mice has revealed that there may be potential liver damage if CBD is taken with other medications.
So, what drugs should not be taken with CBD? It’s essential to consult your doctor, they’re the most reliable source, though a list of interactions of CBD with other medications is a good starting point.
Apart from that, there are only a few possible CBD side effects that include changes in appetite and weight, fatigue, and diarrhea.
CBD Dosage for Pets
CBD is not only helpful to humans, but it can also treat different conditions your pets may be experiencing. CBD oil can improve the overall quality of their life.
CBD for Dogs
Just like people, dogs can also suffer from conditions like cancer, anxiety, seizures, chronic pains, allergies, glaucoma, IBD, and so on. Luckily, CBD oil can ease their troubles, even though it can’t cure medical conditions.
The right CBD dosage for dogs depends on many factors like:
- The condition your dog suffers from
- Their overall health condition
- Age
- Weight
CBD for Cats
Even though cats can also suffer from a wide variety of medical conditions that affect people, cat anxiety represents the biggest concern for cat owners. CBD oil for cats has the same effect it has on dogs and humans — tranquilizing and soothing.
However there is still no confirmed scientific data on how it affects cats, so be careful with the CBD oil for cats’ anxiety dosage. Depending on your pet’s weight and the product you use, HempRx for Pets’ chart, for example, suggests giving them 0.1 ml of regular CBD oil for pets to a 10-pound cat, twice a day, or one drop twice a day to a 3-pound cat.
The Bottom Line
No matter if you’re experienced or a first-time user, determining the right cannabidiol dosage can be incredibly confusing.
Since there isn’t a “one size fits all” CBD dosage, you need to go through some trial and error until you find the perfect amount for yourself.
Once again, we stress the importance of consulting with your doctor or vet about the perfect amount of CBD oil for you or your pet, especially if there are ongoing health issues. If you have any more qualms or questions, feel free to leave a comment.
By Marija Kovachevska
May 3, 2020
