Are you experiencing CBD side effects, and looking for a way to make them go away? then this article is for you.
CBD, short for “cannabidiol”, is a natural compound found in hemp plants that has many therapeutic benefits. And like any other compound that has benefits, it’s also going to have certain side effects.
Nevertheless, CBD is a much safer molecule, and not a lot of people have reported experiencing CBD side effects. So, if its side effects are rare, then why are you experiencing them, and do they go away?
To answer this question, you need to understand its side effects.
What are the side effects of CBD?
According to research, CBD is a much safer profile for humans as compared to many pharmaceutical drugs and supplements. However, certain people have reported experiencing the side effects of CBD, like:
- Dry mouth and dehydration.
- Nausea, drowsiness, and fatigue.
- Change in appetite.
- Diarrhea.
Nonetheless, it’s not always the CBD that is at fault, there can be many other things that can be responsible for the discomfort you are facing, and knowing the root cause of these side effects can help you deal with them.
Why does CBD have side effects?
1- Poorly extracted CBD
There are many ways CBD can be extracted from hemp plants, but supercritical CO2 extraction and ethanol extraction are the most common and safe CBD extraction practices.
Although there are many other ways to extract CBD, most of them are not always safe and can leave a chemical residue that can cause problems.
If you are using a CBD product, where CBD is not safely extracted or the extraction process is not mentioned by the company then discontinue using that and use a CBD product from a company that clearly mentioned their CBD extraction process.
2 - Inappropriate ingredients profile of a CBD product
CBD is currently not regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Association) which allows many CBD companies to sell sub-par CBD products with poor-quality or mislabeled ingredients in the market.
Sometimes, the additional ingredients of a CBD product can cause an allergic reaction in some people, which results in discomfort. This could look like the CBD is at fault but it’s not.
It’s advised that you avoid purchasing CBD from gas stations, instead purchase CBD online from a reputable brand that is transparent about the ingredients used and does third-party testing of each CBD product they sell.
You can also read the COA and product reviews to understand a CBD product’s quality and its effectiveness.
3 - The issue with the types of CBD
There are three types of CBD:
- Full Spectrum CBD contains naturally found plant extracts including a wide range of cannabinoids (including up to 0.3% of THC), terpenes, and flavonoids.
- Broad Spectrum CBD contains all the naturally found plant extracts except THC.
- CBD isolates contain pure CBD only.
Full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products contain many other plant compounds like a wide range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, and there is a possibility that some people could be allergic to these other found plant compounds.
However, this is not the case with CBD isolate products, which contain up to 99% of pure CBD.
If you are using full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD and experiencing side effects then discontinue using that, instead, try CBD isolate products, which have a much safer profile.
4 - Incorrect CBD dosage
CBD does not work similarly for everyone. At the same dosage of a CBD product, different people experience different effects and sometimes a dose that works for others may not necessarily work for you.
CBD is safe for humans even at a dosage of 500mg per day. However, the wrong CBD dosage can cause some temporary discomfort in people.
It is advised that you start with a low CBD dosage (between 5 to 25 mg) and then slowly increase it if you have to, till you find the appropriate dosage that is safe and works for you.
Read more: CBD Dosage
5 - CBD's interaction with other medications
CBD has the potential to interact with other pharmaceutical or over-the-counter medicines in your body, especially the ones with the “grapefruit” warning mentioned on the label.
CBD can either increase or decrease the effects of the medicine you are using, which can lead to certain side effects. It is advised that you consult a healthcare professional before consuming any CBD products with other medicines.
However, CBD topicals like creams, balms, and lotions are safe in this condition, because they do not enter into your bloodstream.
6 - You body hasn't adjusting to CBD yet
If you started using CBD and experiencing discomfort, then there is a good chance that your body is adjusting to it, and reacting in a way that can seem like a side effect of CBD.
Once your body adjusts to it, the discomfort you are experiencing will most likely dissipate. It may take up to a week for your body to adjust to CBD.
For example, if you are constantly sleep-deprived or getting poor-quality of sleep, and you started taking CBD, then the initial response you may experience is that of drowsiness or sleepiness but you can’t call it a side effect.
With CBD, your body is adjusting to its natural order and once you get some quality sleep the drowsiness you are feeling will vanish. Just give it some time.
7 - CBD is just not for you
CBD is a natural molecule that has many benefits, but it doesn’t mean it’s going to work for everyone. In rare cases, it can be possible that your body is just rejecting the CBD.
CBD works by interacting with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) and helps it reach a state of homeostasis, and sometimes a person’s ESC is already at homeostasis, which makes the effects of CBD rendered useless.
What can you do to avoid CBD side effects?
If you are experiencing some discomforts or side effects while taking CBD, the best course of action you can take to make it go away is, to ask yourself these questions and act accordingly:
- Are you using full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate products? (CBD isolate has the least risk)
- Are you using the best quality CBD product from a reliable brand or not? (Quality is important, and don’t forget to check the lab results)
- Does the CBD product contain any ingredients you are allergic to? (People can be allergic to other carrier ingredients present in a CBD product)
- Are you taking CBD with other medications? (CBD reacts with other medicines)
If you still haven’t found the problem yet, it could be that your body is taking its time to adjust to CBD, and once it gets adjusted to it, you will be fine.
Nonetheless, you should consult with a healthcare provider if the side effects continue to persist.
Final thoughts
Let’s face it, CBD has the ability to change your life for the better, and there is no other natural compound that can provide benefits on par with CBD.
While CBD is new, it still needs to be studied properly, but many studies have leaned towards its strong safety profile.
Nonetheless, you can still experience the CBD side effects but it’s not always CBD that is at fault, so before disliking CBD altogether, use the above-mentioned reasons to figure out the root cause of side effects and act accordingly.
CBD takes time to build up in your body, so you might not find the CBD’s effects immediately, just have patience and let your body adjust to it.
Disclosure:
The information in this article is intended for general use only and may not always be appropriate for everyone’s needs. Your health and wellness are unique to you, so before acting on anything we say, seek personalized advice from a medical professional.
We value the accuracy and editorial integrity of all our articles, and we strive to ensure that the content we publish is accurate and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge.