Are you looking at a shelf full of a variety of CBD products? Are you pretty sure you took more than the recommended serving of your gummies, capsules, or tincture? You don’t have to sweat just yet — but, by all means, if you were about to work out, carry on. We’re here to discuss an important question: can you take too much CBD?
Overdosing on CBD
CBD — it’s found in more and more products with more and more varieties. As the FDA continues to evaluate how safe CBD is to regularly consume, this may also determine what products become available in the future, or if others taper off. If you’re not careful, you could be regularly using and consuming more CBD than you intend to. But this won’t happen without some oversight.
When should you actually worry?
In short, you should be aware of how much CBD you use or consume. There are some studies to suggest that CBD use among pregnant women and others, generally speaking, could pose a risk of health complications, particularly to the liver. However, other experts have weighed in and advise that the average user shouldn’t worry. So, can you overdose on CBD if you take more than the average user? According to this resource, referencing studies from the World Health Organization — no, but effects vary. If you put more CBD in your body than it can handle, you’ll likely experience a few or all of the following side effects:
- Extreme drowsiness
- Lethargy
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
- Among others described as “unpleasant”
Can you take a lethal dose of CBD?
Taking a lethal dose of CBD is basically impossible on your own. Most tincture bottles contain anywhere from 100mg to 1,500mg of CBD. For a dose to be lethal, you would have to take more than 20,000mg of CBD, practically all at once. No one is capable of doing so, not to mention the volume of product that would require. That volume of CBD, much like smaller servings, would likely have to be transported via a carrier of some sort. For example, 20,000mg of sugar wouldn’t go down very easy, even if it were in some sort of hyper-concentrated formula.
What happens when you take too much CBD
So, we’ve discussed that the average — even avid — CBD user is not at risk of overdosing on CBD to the point where their life would be in danger. However, it is quite possible to take too much CBD for your system as it stands. Though your life isn’t at risk (unless it becomes a regular occurrence, and, even then, studies vary) you are susceptible to an array of undesirable side effects discussed prior. And, you may also be wondering if taking more CBD than you need would create some sort of “high” or “body high.” Read more about CBD and body highs here. You may already be aware that THC, the active chemical in marijuana, is psychoactive, while CBD is not.
How to talk to your doctor
According to this review and others, CBD is still considered safe in reasonable quantities. However, you should always consult your physician before adding CBD into your regimen. This is especially true if you’re pregnant, have certain health conditions, or if you are taking medication of any kind. Though it may be intimidating, having an open and honest discussion with your physician about CBD is essential. Like any medication or health concern, open discussions are the key to success for both how you feel in the short-term as well as your long-term prognosis. If you believe you overdid it on CBD and are not feeling well, monitor your symptoms. If they persist or worsen, you should seek professional medical attention.
