CBD is available in many forms, including oils, tablets, and creams. The ideal dosages vary depending on both the form and usage.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active ingredient in the cannabis plant. Products that contain CBD may provide some health benefits, but they can also pose risks.
The CBD market is growing at a fast rate, and the body of research is expanding. However, there is still confusion about the laws, how to use CBD, and its safety and effectiveness.
CBD products are legal, though their legal status varies among states. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not control most CBD products. As a result, the quality, amount of CBD per dose, and safety of the products can vary dramatically, and it is difficult to calculate an optimal dosage.
There is also little research, so doctors are not yet able to confirm the safe, beneficial dosages for each use of CBD.
This article looks at the dosages of CBD, including the research into which dosages are safe and effective, as well as the possible risks of using CBD products.
Is CBD legal?The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC federally legal. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them federally illegal but legal under some state laws. Be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.
To date, the
The dosage for Epidiolex, a form of CBD oil, is as follows:
- The starting dosage is 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) twice daily, making a total dosage of 5 mg/kg each day.
- After 1 week, people may increase the dosage to 5 mg/kg twice daily, which is a total of 10 mg/kg per day.
All other products that contain CBD fall outside FDA regulations, so there are no official guidelines for their dosage. Some manufacturers are advertising CBD products with unproven medical claims, and the quality and safety of these products can vary.
Before using any other CBD products, a person should speak to their doctor about appropriate dosages.
The dosage that a person takes will depend on the method of administration that they are using and the specific product. Methods of administration include:
- CBD oil solutions
- CBD capsules
- tablets that a person places under the tongue (sublingual)
- nasal sprays
Recently, a wider range of products containing CBD has become available. These items
Research into CBD therapy is still in its early days, and scientists need to conduct many more research studies to determine the benefits and risks of CBD products. Importantly, researchers need to work out the ideal CBD dosages that are both safe and effective for each condition.
As a therapy, CBD oil has gained a high level of research interest. At Medical News Today, we have covered what the research to date has shown about the role of CBD in the following conditions:
- anxiety
- fibromyalgia
- migraines
- menopause
- weight loss
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- depression
- cancer
According to a
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- multiple sclerosis
- Huntington’s disease
- hypoxia-ischemia injury
- pain
- psychosis
- nausea
- inflammatory diseases
- rheumatoid arthritis
- infection
- inflammatory bowel disease
- cardiovascular disease
- diabetic complications
For more information and resources on CBD and CBD products, please visit our dedicated hub.
As the FDA have only approved the use of CBD for specific forms of epilepsy, doctors know little about what dosage people should take when they use it for other reasons. As with any drug, the appropriate dosage is one that provides a therapeutic effect and is well-tolerated.
In clinical studies, researchers have used various oral dosages of CBD, ranging from
Some studies use even higher dosages. According to a review, an individual reported an improvement in psychosis after taking 1,200 mg per day for a few weeks. In another study, people with schizophrenia reported benefits after taking increasing dosages of 40–1,280 mg per day for 4 weeks.
In a study into the effects of CBD in people with Parkinson’s disease and psychosis, six participants showed significant improvement in symptoms with a dosage of 150 mg per day of CBD.
The following table lists the method of administration and dosage of CBD that researchers have used to study its therapeutic effects on different medical conditions.
| Medical condition | Dose of CBD | Form |
| anxiety | oral | |
| bowel disease | 5 mg twice daily | sublingual (olive oil drops) |
| type 2 diabetes | 100 mg twice daily | oral |
| pain due to cancer | oral | |
| Parkinson’s disease | oral | |
| Huntington’s disease | Sativex nasal spray (contains CBD and THC in 1:1 concentration) |
To find out whether a CBD product is safe and to determine the effective dosage, people should consult a doctor.
Several factors may influence the dosage that people can take. Depending on the medical condition or the reason why a person is taking CBD, they will need a different dosage.
Some people need high dosages to control epilepsy, whereas smaller dosages may be effective for anxiety.
Another factor that people should consider before using CBD is their weight. In many clinical trials and when using Epidiolex, doctors calculate a dose per kg of body weight. People who weigh less should, therefore, take lower dosages than people who weigh more.
Alcohol and other central nervous system depressants may increase the sedation effect of CBD. People who use other medications that can cause drowsiness should avoid or lower their dosage of CBD. Before mixing alcohol and other medications with CBD, a person should ask their doctor whether it is safe.
People must also consider the dosage in each form of CBD. A capsule of CBD has a specific dosage, but the dosage of oral solutions depends on the volume. For example, a CBD solution containing 25 mg per milliliter (ml) can provide 125 mg if a person takes a full teaspoon, which equates to 5 ml.
Although data in humans remain limited regarding the effects of taking pure CBD, researchers suggest that it has relatively low toxicity.
In monkeys, CBD does not affect bodily functions or behavior unless the animals receive dosages higher than
In a human physical dependence study, researchers gave people 1,500 mg per day of CBD for 4 weeks. The study participants did not go through withdrawal after the 28 day trial. Another study found that doses up to
The
The data on the safety of CBD are limited. The data that are available point to possible risks that people must consider before taking CBD for any reason.
Some
- drowsiness or other changes in alertness
- digestive issues, such as diarrhea and decreased appetite
- changes in mood, such as irritability and agitation
Other side effects can happen without people being aware of the cause, such as:
- liver failure
- interactions with other medications
- injuries that result from mixing alcohol or other depressants and CBD
Several factors determine what CBD dosage a person can take, including the intended use and the person’s weight. Although evidence is still lacking, researchers have identified some drugs that interact with CBD, which may also affect the dosage that a person can tolerate.
The FDA have only approved one CBD product. Research on the possible uses, dosages, benefits, and safety of CBD is ongoing.