Those new to the world of CBD often come armed with dozens of questions. You may find yourself wondering where you can find the best CBD oil in the UK.
One of the most common is CBD dosage: how much is the appropriate amount?
Unfortunately, the internet doesn’t yield a straightforward answer, which can be confusing for new users.
Not to worry – things aren’t as complicated as they may seem. There is a pretty simple way to find your feet and figure out how much CBD you should be using.
Spoiler alert: it depends on a few specific factors.
Check out this brief guide to learn everything you need to know.
Why Take CBD Oil?
People take CBD oil for all sorts of reasons.
A commonly reported reason is to lessen the severity of seizures; the UK and the USA have approved two forms of CBD for medical treatment in this area.
They are Sativex and Epidiolex, respectively.
Most often, though, the public uses CBD as a general health supplement or to help with things like anxiety and sleep.
For example, those attempting to manage epilepsy would need a much higher (and preferably doctor-supervised) dose than those using CBD daily as a supplement.
If you want CBD to work, you must be using the correct dose. As it turns out, the intended purpose of CBD can change the optimum dosage.
Unfortunately, there are no official guidelines or regulations when it comes to CBD dosage. Although this leaves some users in the dark, it’s not too tricky to figure out how much to take.
Calculating CBD Dosage
For the purposes of this dosage guide, let’s assume you’re just using CBD as a general-purpose supplement. In this instance, it’s unlikely that you will need a lot of CBD oil at a time.
The exact amount can vary between individuals. The correct dosage for you is likely to depend on:
- Your body weight
- Body chemistry such as metabolism
- Pre-existing conditions
- The intended purpose for which you are using CBD
- The concentration of CBD in the oil (or other product)
There is no hard and fast rule to establish the proper dosage for each of these factors. The variables are highly interchangeable, so the dosage is likely to be unique to you.
When starting out with CBD, it’s best to start low and work your way up. Many experts advise taking 10mg per day at first, keeping a diary of how much CBD you used and the effects you experienced.
Each week, increase the dose by about 5mg if you don’t feel any effects. Eventually, with the help of your journal, you may notice a difference.
It’s important to only increase a week at a time so you know when you’ve finally found the optimum dose.
What’s the Most Effective Dosage for CBD?
Typically, average CBD users take 10-50mg of CBD daily. It’s rare to need more than that.
Despite a lack of official guidance, some research indicates the following dosages for specific conditions:
- Anxiety: 300mg – 600mg per day
- Arthritis: 30mg per day or 250mg topically
- Epilepsy: 2.5mg per kg of body weight twice daily
- Neuropathic Pain: 30mg per day
- Opioid Addiction: 400 – 800mg per day
As you can see, some of these strengths are pretty high, and that can quickly get expensive.
Using a higher dose than necessary can also lead your body to build a tolerance, which means you will need to use even more in the future.
It’s best to find the right dose using the journal method noted above, starting slowly and increasing as needed.
What Strength CBD Oil Should I Buy?
CBD oils are handy in that users can measure out their own dosage and change it as they see fit. However, it means the onus is on the user to know how much they are taking at any one time.
Most reputable brands will print on the label (or at least list somewhere on the website) how much CBD is contained per ml of liquid.
This indication can help you figure out how much CBD there is per dropper.
Less potent oils are cheaper, but they can quickly add up in the long run. For example, a 300mg (30ml) tincture contains 1mg per drop (1ml) of oil. To take 10mg per day, you need 10ml of oil.
Meanwhile, a 1000mg (30ml) tincture contains 33mg per ml. That’s a lot more bang for your buck!
Most CBD users, even new ones, prefer to buy a 1000mg CBD oil 30ml and take one dropper per day. This ensures an average dose for a reasonable price, and it’s what most people get along with using.
Can You Take Too Much CBD?
Continuous use of CBD is generally well-tolerated by humans, even up to 1500mg per day.
This has been confirmed with more recent research, too, and the World Health Organization states that it is generally safe.
There have been no reported overdoses from CBD, not even with severe sickness. However, some users may experience side effects that include:
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Diarrhea
- Changes in appetite
- Nausea
Fortunately, these are all mild and often disappear quickly after discontinuation of use.
It’s worth noting that some research raises concerns regarding CBD’s safety profile if the user is taking other medications.
If you are currently using prescribed medications, please consult a doctor before using CBD.
Final Thoughts on CBD Dosage
It’s understandable that people have so many questions about CBD oil dosage due to the lack of clear guidelines.
Luckily, there is nothing much to worry about, and it’s quite straightforward to find a dose that suits you.
Most users take 10-50mg per day, but some take less or more than that.
If you’re new to CBD, it’s recommended to start out with a low dosage and increase as you see fit.
If you are still nervous about taking CBD or are unsure what dose to take, speak to your doctor. Most are willing to discuss the matter with you and can give you more specific advice regarding CBD oil doses.