CBD Dosage: How Much to Take for Pain, Anxiety and Sleep

CBD, short for cannabidiol, has been praised to cure various everyday issues, from pain and anxiety, to sleep problems(1). You can find plenty of CBD dosages, which raises an important question – just how much should you take every day for it to be effective? In this guide, we’ll tackle how to measure your dose depending on the symptoms you’re experiencing. It’s important to know that CBD doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all rule and most recommendations should be used as a point of reference.

Things To Consider

In order to determine how much CBD you should take, it’s always important to consider the product itself and its potency. Alongside this, you should take into consideration your weight, other medications you’re taking, and your overall condition. It’s important to note that CBD oil isn’t a cure for serious problems and it’s always best to consult with your doctor or physician before committing to your CBD intake.

CBD comes in many forms. The most common ones include oils, pills, vaping liquid, edibles, and creams. Oils are considered best to help with stress and anxiety, while creams are typically used for skin treatments. However, oils and vaping liquid tend to be the most potent and effective CBD forms. It’s also important to note the maximum dose available for each form and its potency.

A Note On Bioavailability and Concentration

Bioavailability(2) relates to just how much CBD your body actively absorbs(3) into the bloodstream. Typically, CBD vapes have an average bioavailability of 56%, oils have 30%, edibles from 5 to 15%, and creams 1% or lower.

Then, you also need to consider the concentration of the product. The same concentration you’ll get in creams won’t bring you the same result as you would in CBD vapes. It’s important to note that creams don’t affect the bloodstream, which is why the bioavailability is significantly lower than with any other forms.

How to Measure a CBD Dosage

While it may be easier to measure dosage for other forms, it’s slightly more difficult to do so for dropper bottles. The dropper carries 1ml of liquid. In order to determine the quantity of CBD in a single dropper, you need to know the total amount of CBD in the bottle as well as the number of milliliters in the bottle.

Divide the total amount of CBD with the number of milliliters and you’ll receive how many milligrams of CBD there are in a single dropper. Use this handy formula to do so:

[Total CBD in the bottle] ÷ [Number of milliliters in the bottle] = mg of CBD in a dropper.

CBD vaping liquid may also be difficult to measure, however, the effects of vaping are stronger and faster-working than they are with any other form. There’s no simple answer to find the right dosage for your vape oil – you’ll know it when you start feeling the effects.

CBD Dosage Chart

How Much Should You Take for Pain, Anxiety, and Sleep

Each concern has a different recommended dosage provided by scientists. For anxiety, a dose of 40mg(4) has shown positive results in studies. It’s important to note that this only relates to social anxiety(5) – the does for any other anxiety forms may be higher. If you’re ever in doubt, it’s best to consult with your doctor to determine the correct dose in relation to any other medication you’re taking for anxiety.

Chronic pain sufferers have seen results when taking anywhere between 2.5 to 20mg of CBD oil. Positive effects of CBD on pain-related symptoms depend on the person’s body mass, as well as the severity of the pain.

CBD is also frequently used to treat various sleep disorders. Since it reduces stress and anxiety, it positively affects the quality of your sleep. You may be able to fall asleep faster by consuming a higher dose, however, it’s recommended to use anywhere between 25 and 175mg of CBD to treat a sleep disorder.

Side Effects of CBD

While you’re not able to overdose(6) on CBD, it’s important to remember that you may experience some unwanted side effects. These include dry mouth, dizziness, sedation, and lowered blood pressure and heart rate. If you’re unsure whether CBD is the right choice for you, it’s always best to consult with a doctor and decide on the dose you need together.

CBD Dosages For Anxiety, Sleep, And Pain

The long list of benefits of CBD is backed by evidence from numerous preclinical and clinical studies. Among the benefits of CBD are its ability to help with anxiety, sleep issues, and pain.

CBD is mostly legal in the US now(1), but it remains unregulated by the FDA. This is part of the reason why there are still no formal guidelines from experts about the specific dosage of CBD to take for different ailments. Another part is that an effective dosage can vary depending on things like an individual’s weight, metabolism, and tolerance.

However, because of the amount of CBD studies as well as the fact that many people have been experimenting with it as an alternative medicine over the past few years, there are some general guidelines available for CBD dosages.

Why CBD Doesn’t Have A Universal Dosage

There is still much to learn about CBD. So far, researchers have discovered that it acts on at least 60 different molecular pathways in the body(2). So, it goes without saying that the how CBD interacts with the brain and body is complicated. Coming up with a universal dosage or daily serving size then becomes challenging.

Additionally, a person’s specific biochemistry impacts how CBD affects them. This includes things like a person’s weight, metabolism, their condition’s severity, other medications being taken, and potentially their tolerance to CBD as well. For instance, the more a person weighs, they can expect their effective CBD dosage to be higher.

The way CBD is consumed s another factor regarding why there is no one-size-fits-all dosage. Consuming CBD orally, as in eating it in food or drinks or swallowing CBD oil directly, has longer-lasting effects but lower bioavailability, at around 5 to 15 percent. This means that less of the quantity being consumed creates an effect on the body.

Consuming CBD either sublingually (under the tongue) or inhaled has greater bioavailability but the effects do not last as long. CBD taken sublingually has a bioavailability of about 20 to 30 percent. The bioavailability for inhaled CBD is around 56 percent. Bioavailability is not relevant for CBD used topically because it never enters the bloodstream.

CBD Dosage Guidelines For Anxiety, Sleep, And Pain

Before taking CBD, talk to your doctor about it so they can guide you and let you know about potential interactions with other medications you may be taking. Also, start with a lower dose, then increase it gradually until you find the lowest effective amount to take for your body and condition. Experts report that beginning with between one and six milligrams per pound is about right.

For CBD oil, which typically comes with a one-milliliter dropper, the quantity you’re taking is pretty easy to calculate regardless of the strength of the product. You take the total amount of CBD in the bottle divided by the number of milliliters in the bottle to get the amount of CBD that fills a one-milliliter dropper. From there you can calculate the quantity of CBD oil to take per dose.

For anxiety, the science and anecdotal evidence seem to indicate taking anywhere from 40 to 300 mg of CBD sublingually per daily dose. For pain, the daily dose seems to range between 2.5 and 50 mg orally. To help with sleep issues, taking between 25 and 175 mg orally before bed is the recommended range. Again, be sure to begin with a lower dose and gradually increase it until you find the right amount for you.

Because CBD does not get you high and is generally considered safe for human consumption up to 1,500 mg daily, there are virtually no risks and lots of benefits to be had for trying CBD for anxiety, sleep, and pain.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

*Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or prior to using any CBD products.