What Are the Side Effects of CBD Oil?

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is skyrocketing in terms of its popularity. In fact, online CBD searches increased by 160.4% in 2018. By April 2019, 6.4 million were searching for CBD information on Google. Why this sudden increase in interest? Well, there are a few different reasons. 

First of all, scientists are finally studying this hemp-plant extract and discovering its many potential health benefits. This research is still new because, prior to 2018, CBD was a controlled substance and scientists shied away from its study. 

Of course, that brings us to the second reason why CBD is very popular right now: the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp production, and made CBD use legal at the federal level. Already, we’re seeing CBD put to use for medical purposes: the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a Cannabidiol (CBD) oral solution for the treatment of seizures in two rare and severe forms of epilepsy. 

In other words, the more we learn about CBD, the more popular its use becomes. In fact, as of this writing, a whopping one in seven Americans say they personally use CBD products. And that number is only expected to rise! 

Naturally, with more wide-spread use, CBD newcomers will have questions. And one of the most common questions we hear is: “What are the side effects of using CBD oil?” Below, we’ll give you a full low-down on CBD oil use: how you take it, dosing guidelines, and what, if any, CBD side effects you need to look out for. 

What Is CBD Oil?

The cannabis plant is packed with 113 different compounds, known as cannabinoids; CBD is the second most prominent of these. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is also a cannabinoid–in fact, it’s the cannabis compound responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects. Now, because they’re both cannabinoids, people tend to confuse CBD and THC. Therefore, many assume that CBD also has psychoactive components. But this just isn’t true. Also, while THC carries some addictive properties; there are no signs to indicate that CBD is addictive. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about becoming dependent on CBD, making it a safer, legal alternative to THC use. 

CBD Uses and Benefits

CBD oil can be linked to many different health benefits, but some are more scientifically backed than others. The benefit with the strongest research behind it, as mentioned above, is CBD’s potential in helping symptoms of rare epilepsy syndromes. Because of this, the FDA approved a CBD-based drug.

Several studies also back up claims that CBD use may help with symptoms of pain, anxiety, and even insomnia. For instance, this study showed that transdermal Cannabidiol was able to help reduce inflammation and pain-related behaviors in a rat model of arthritis. Now, let’s explore CBD’s other suggested benefits. 

Anxiety

There’s plenty of research to suggest that CBD oil may help reduce anxiety and symptoms of related disorders. Plus, unlike popular anxiety medications, CBD is all-natural and doesn’t come with serious side effects or the risk of dependency. As a result, people seeking natural anxiety relief may benefit from CBD use. 

Acne

At lower doses, CBD appears to transmit anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, studies suggest that CBD may be effective for individuals with acne. 

Drug Addiction

Studies show that CBD might help combat opioid, cocaine, and psycho-stimulant addiction. Early research suggests CBD use may help curb opioid use by giving people a natural and non-addictive way to address pain.

Seizures

As we discussed earlier, the FDA has already approved a CBD-based medication for the treatment of rare seizures related to different syndromes found in younger kids. Now, researchers are exploring whether CBD can help patients with other seizure disorders. And, though it’s too early to know for certain, early results are hopeful. 

Insomnia

Another well-researched CBD oil benefit is its potential ability to help insomnia sufferers. While we aren’t exactly sure why CBD may help improve your sleep, it seems to be tied to CBD’s possible ability to address anxiety-related symptoms. Many people who suffer from insomnia have heightened levels of cortisol in their bodies; they can’t fall asleep because they are in a constant state of panic and anxiousness. By addressing that anxiety, you may achieve a more relaxed state, which in turn may induce sleep.

Is CBD Safe – What Are the Side Effects?

CBD causes little to no harsh side effects, unlike many medications. However, some CBD users do experience unwanted effects with CBD use. These are some purported side effects of CBD oil: 

1. Feely sleepy
2. Diarrhea
3. Changes in Appetite and Weight
4. Irritability
5. Dry Mouth
6. Lightheadedness

As you can see, these CBD oil side effects aren’t serious. Plus, they only tend to develop when you take larger-than-recommended doses. Now, how much CBD is too much, you may ask? Well, studies show that humans may tolerate chronic CBD use and high doses of up to 1,500 mg/day. Basically, it’s very difficult to overdose on CBD. That being said, however, if you want to enjoy your CBD experience, without any fear of side effects, you should proceed with caution when choosing your dose. Start with a very low CBD oil dose, then gradually increase your intake until you achieve your desired effects. 

One more note on CBD side effects: cannabidiol may affect your body’s ability to process other medications, so always talk to your healthcare provider before starting this or any new supplement. And don’t use CBD products if you are pregnant or breastfeeding since we still don’t know if or how the cannabinoid affects fetal and infant development. 

Potential Medicine Interactions:

Blood Thinners

If you are taking a blood thinner medication like Coumadin, don’t use CBD products. CBD use can increase the concentration of blood thinner medication in your body in much the same way that drinking grapefruit juice does.

There are plenty of other medicine interactions that can result from CBD use. Some are mild, some are more serious. For that reason, we can’t stress enough how important it is to discuss taking CBD products with your health practitioner. That way, you’ll receive personalized advice as to the safety of starting a CBD regimen. 

Knowing Your CBD Source Is Crucial for Safety

Before you purchase cannabidiol, you must understand that the CBD marketplace is not currently FDA regulated, which means no governing body verifies the purity of available CBD products. As a result, it’s very much a buyer-beware kind of market. 

We know that sounds scary, but you can protect yourself by purchasing CBD from reputable retailers. And, in the absence of federal regulations, here’s how to spot a legitimate CBD producer: transparency. Any reliable CBD brand can provide ingredients lists, as well as third-party lab tests and information about product sourcing. Without these three elements of proof, manufacturers could sell you anything, call it CBD, and hope you don’t get sick or sue. 

One more note on CBD products: they come in a variety of forms, from full-spectrum to CBD isolate. These terms refer to the ingredients manufacturers include in their CBD products. With a full-spectrum CBD product, manufacturers include additional cannabinoids and terpenes, which are additional, beneficial compounds naturally found within the cannabis plant. These additional compounds work synergistically to give users the entourage effect, which allows your body to utilize more of the CBD you ingest, maximizing your cannabidiol experience. Broad-spectrum products contain additional cannabinoids and terpenes, without any traces of THC. And CBD isolates only contain CBD which can limit the effectiveness of these products.

At Tanasi, we value your safety. We are committed to producing the highest quality, full-spectrum CBD oil products on the market. We manufacture our CBD products using a patent-pending Full Spectrum hemp extraction formula, created by university-based scientists. Plus, we offer full transparency about the contents of our products, as well as their concentrations, so you know you’re purchasing a safe and effective CBD product. We invite you to explore our many forms of CBD oil and reach out with any questions you may have about the exciting world of cannabidiol.