Can You Take Too Much CBD?

How Much CBD is Safe to Take?

Figuring out the ideal and effective CBD dose for an individual can be complex. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved only one prescription drug (Epidiolex) for treating seizures in patients 2 years or older. 

The use of other CBD products (e.g., CBD gummies, CBD syrups, CBD oils) isn’t regulated by FDA. That’s why you should always consult a healthcare professional to know the suitable CBD dose for your body. 

However, reputed CBD brands always provide a COA (Certificate of Analysis) certificate that shows the CBD profile, and their product labeling mentions the recommended dosage. But if you want to determine the ideal dosage for your body weight, then you should keep reading. 

CBD dosage is expressed in mg or milligrams. According to PubMed, an individual can tolerate up to 1500mg of CBD per day. 

However, CBD dosage mostly depends on the symptoms and conditions you need to treat, body weight, and the body’s unique endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is associated with your central nervous system. It affects biological functions like eating, learning, memory, metabolism, and reproduction. 

The amount of CBD you need to take depends on the following factors: 

•  Age 

•  Gender 

•  Body Weight 

•  Metabolism 

However, more research needs to be conducted to gain more accurate information about CBD dosage, its efficacy, and safety. However, according to experts, the best practice is to start taking a small dosage of CBD and gradually increase it.  

Calculating CBD Dosage 

CBD gummies or capsules have specific CBD content. So, these products don’t provide dosage flexibility. For instance, you can’t split up a 50 mg CBD capsule or gummy. But, if you want to take CBD oil or tincture, you may need to calculate the CBD dosage.  

Most CBD oils (made with carrier oil) and tinctures don’t provide how many drops to consume to reach the right amount of CBD dose. For instance, CBD oil products may only state 1500 mg of CBD in a 20 ml bottle. Now how you can figure out how many drops to take to get the desired dosage? Let’s find out. 

CBD Dosage Table for Different Ailments

The following table shows a list of medical conditions and the recommended dosage. Note that the FDA hasn’t approved CBD for the treatment of any medical conditions except epilepsy and cancer. 

As we’ve said earlier, it is quite challenging to overdose on CBD. Most of the CBD products only contain 0.3 percent THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is psychoactive. Taking a great amount of THC may reveal unpleasant side effects like paranoid delusions, abnormal heart rate, extreme nausea, or vomiting. 

However, CBD product won’t cause you high or severe side effects due to the low amount of THC it contains. Also, pure CBD (Isolate CBD Products) doesn’t contain any THC. To make sure you’re not likely to experience any side effects, you can take CBD Isolate. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) CBD in its pure form doesn’t appear to have any abuse potential. 

In case you want a more effective solution to your conditions, then full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD are available. These CBD contain a small amount of THC, flavonoids, and terpene.  

Now the major concern of CBD consumers is that taking too much CBD or overdosing on CBD might have side effects or not. There are possible side effects of taking too much CBD. 

List of possible side effects or common symptoms of a CBD overdose: 

•  Drowsiness 

•  Dry Mouth 

•  Nausea or Vomiting 

•  Dizziness 

•  Diarrhea 

•  Severe abdominal cramp 

•  paranoia or hallucination 

•  Breathing difficulty 

•  Agitation, Seizures 

•  Loss of balance or coordination 

•  Low blood pressure 

Besides these side effects of taking too much CBD, there are other major concerns like drug interaction. Researchers have 139 medications that can potentially interact with CBD. 

Read more: Side effects of CBD Cream 

Here is a list of possible drug interactions of CBD: 

•  Blood Thinners (Warfarin)  

•  Benzodiazepines 

•  Antipsychotics 

•  Antidepressants 

•  Antihistamines (such as Benadryl) 

•  Thyroid medication (levothyroxine)  

•  Heart rhythm medication (amiodarone) 

•  Alcohol

What Happens When You Take Too Much CBD?

If you take too much CBD, the adenosine level increases. The higher adenosine level makes you feel extremely sleepy and lethargic. Apart from experiencing the common side effects, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) also states that CBD can cause serious harm to individuals. 

For example, slow brain activity, and liver injury. Also, taking CBD with alcohol may increase the risk of sedation or drowsiness. 

A Case Study of CBD Overdose

To date, there is no fatalities have been reported from consuming CBD. Also, there is not much research available on the effects of consuming excessive CBD. But a 2020 case study, published by the NIH (National Institute of Health) presents a rare case of a 56-year-old male. The male person was on no medication or known medical history. 

He had legally purchased 2 packets of “CBD gummies” for relieving pain and anxiety. He was hoping to get some sort of relief from a recent back injury. So, he ate all the gummies which were a total dose of 370 mg. After three hours he was taken to the hospital via ambulance by his coworkers. 

This male patient experienced the following symptoms: 

•  Vomiting 

•  Bizarre Behavior 

•  Slurred Speech 

The patient went through supportive care with intravenous fluids, anti-emetics, and oxygen via nasal cannula. The next day, 18 hours after admission, he made a full recovery. The researcher was unable to definitively determine whether or not the subject was experiencing CBD intoxication. 

What to Do If You Take Too Much CBD?

First, make sure not to take excessive CBD doses. However, if you accidentally or deliberately take too much CBD and feel sick or any discomfort, you should consider the following advice: 

1.  Stay calm, and don’t panic.  

2.  Drink plenty of water to help flush it out. 

3.  Rest and relax in a comfortable environment. 

4.  Monitor your symptoms and conditions. 

5.  Consider eating a light nutritious meal. 

6.  If symptoms worsen, consult a healthcare provider. 

7.  Be honest with the healthcare provider about CBD use. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some questions that are asked by searchers to learn about taking too much CBD and its effects. We’ve answered these relevant queries to provide you with more insights. 

1. Can I Take Too Much CBD?

Taking too much CBD isn’t fatal. But it may negatively affect your health. The most common side effects an individual may face are drowsiness, and dry mouth. These effects are usually mild.  

2. Can I Take Too Much CBD Cream?

CBD cream is topically applied to the skin. So, it is less likely to mix with the bloodstream. However, there are some rare side effects of taking excessive CBD cream. For instance, skin irritation, itching, dryness, rash, redness etc. 

3. Can You Take Too Much CBD Oil?

You can’t overdose on CBD oil. But in some rare cases, ingesting too much CBD oil may cause unpleasant side effects like tiredness, sleepiness, change in appetite, and diarrhea. Of note, CBD oil is completely safe and well-tolerated by most users, and it has many health benefits.

The Bottom Line

CBD users should not take too much CBD in any form. Whether it is edible or topical, consumers must take it following the recommended dosage and guidelines. Although taking too much CBD may not cause major health problems, it is best not to ingest excessively to be on the safe side. 

However, if someone overdoses on CBD, and feels sick, he or she must seek medical attention. The most common side effects an individual may face are dry mouth, drowsiness, stomach upset, and nausea or vomiting. If someone unintentionally consumes too much CBD, it is strongly advisable to stay calm and seek medical attention.