Can You Take Too Much CBD?

​If you have started using CBD products, you might be wondering if it is possible to take too much CBD.  Most CBD products come with recommended dosage guidelines, but if you take more is that dangerous?  The safety and efficacy of CBD have been well-established through numerous studies. While it is nearly impossible to take enough CBD to be toxic, you can take too much.

​Can you overdose on CBD?

For humans, it would be very difficult to ingest enough CBD to actually “overdose” on CBD.  A 2011 study by the Current Drug Safety, found that a human would need to ingest 20,000 mg of CBD in order for it to become toxic.  An entire bottle of Blue Lake CBD Tincture contains 1,000 mg of CBD, which means you would have to ingest 20 bottles of CBD (at one time)  to consume a toxic dose.  Even when people use high doses of CBD regularly, approximately 1,500 mg a day, it is still well tolerated by humans.

​If you are giving CBD to your pet, you may need to use more caution.  When purchasing CBD for your pet, you should only buy CBD designed for pets, as some of the ingredients in CBD products for humans are not good for pets. Additionally, pets are more sensitive to CBD and THC. Many experts recommend that pets not consume CBD products that contain THC.  

CBD is safe for pets to take, but you should always start with small doses. Too much CBD can cause your animal to have an upset stomach, dry mouth, or drowsiness. Much like humans though, it would take a large amount of CBD to cause toxic effects.  According to one study, in order for a 40 lb dog to consume enough CBD to be toxic, they would need to ingest 4,600 mg of CBD in one dose.

​How much CBD is too much?

​You should always follow the recommended dosage guidelines listed on the label of your CBD product when you start using CBD.  However, how much to take to achieve therapeutic results can greatly vary. It may take some experimenting to find the right dose. To get the best results, without taking more CBD than you actually need, increase your dosage gradually.  As stated earlier, even high doses of 1,500 mg of CBD a day are generally well-tolerated.  

It is possible to take too much CBD, but generally, it’s not enough to cause side effects. Keep in mind that taking more CBD does not always result in more benefits. If you are not achieving the benefits you had hoped for, consider switching to a full-spectrum CBD product.  Full-spectrum CBD products use the entire cannabis plant. This means they contain a trace amount of THC.  This amount is less than .03% and does not cause you to feel “high”.  Because they use the entire plant, many find they provide better results.  This may be a better option than increasing your dosage.

​If you take a very high dose of CBD oil, you may notice side effects that include nausea, diarrhea, drowsiness, or an upset stomach.  For most people, this does not happen from the typical, regular use of CBD.

​How much CBD is recommended?

​CBD can be used daily for a variety of health issues. While we can’t claim that CBD is an effective treatment for medical conditions, numerous research studies support its potential health benefits for a myriad of health conditions.

When you start taking CBD always start with the smallest recommended dose. There are no established standard dosage guidelines for how much CBD to use. Generally, most people start with 20-40 mg of CBD oil once a day.  This can be gradually increased by adding a second dose later in the day or increasing the dose by 5-10 mg per day.  Before you just start taking more and more CBD, give each dosage increase about a week to see if there are improvements before you make an increase.  

There are a lot of variables when it comes to determining the right dose for each individual. How much do you weigh? What are you using CBD for? What type of CBD product are you using?  Every person has their own unique body chemistry. Some may notice a difference from a small dose of CBD, while others may need more.