CBD Side Effects

CBD can cause diarrhea, changes in appetite and weight, and fatigue. It can also interfere with other medicines, such as blood thinners or anti-epileptics. In a clinical study of children with epilepsy, CBD reduced seizures but caused a serious side effect called pneumonia.

It is recommended to avoid cbd with sedative medications, including opioids, benzodiazepines (such as Xanax), and antidepressants. It can also interact with some herbal supplements.

1. Drowsiness

Some people may feel sleepy when using CBD, especially when taken in the morning or before bed. This side effect usually resolves once the dose is reduced or stopped. It is also common for CBD to cause drowsiness when taken with certain other medications, including benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan), antidepressants, and antipsychotics. Other medications that can interact with CBD to cause drowsiness or tiredness include opioids, diuretics, and some herbal products like kava, melatonin, St. John’s wort, and passionflower.

CBD may affect your blood levels of the liver enzymes ALT and AST, which are involved in metabolizing many prescription drugs. This interaction may increase your risk of toxicity and may require dose adjustments or discontinuation. This is more likely when taking high doses of CBD and with some specific formulations, such as tinctures. This is similar to interactions that occur with grapefruit and some other foods.

CBD products sold as dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA and may contain impurities or insufficient concentrations. When used for seizures, only a specific prescription drug called Epidiolex has been shown to be effective in clinical trials and is approved by the FDA. Choose products that use ingredients from the United States and follow good manufacturing practices, and ask for a certificate of analysis. Then, keep a record of your CBD dose and the dates you took it to help identify potential problems.

2. Nausea

Nausea is a common side effect of many diseases, treatments, and medications. CBD has been shown to reduce nausea, especially in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. This is because it interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which regulates various physiological functions including nausea.

Research suggests that CBD can also be used to stimulate appetite. It does this by activating the 5HT1A receptor in the dorsal raphe nucleus, which reduces the release of 5-HT in terminal forebrain regions. This mechanism is similar to how anti-emetics work.

Studies suggest that CBD can be used to treat a variety of symptoms, including pain and insomnia. However, it’s important to choose a high-quality CBD product that is safe for you. This means that you should check the sourcing of hemp, extraction methods, and lab testing for purity and potency. It’s also essential to avoid products containing THC, which can cause psychotic reactions.

Another potential side effect of CBD is its interaction with certain medications, such as blood thinners and anti-epileptic drugs. This happens because CBD competes with the liver enzymes that break down these medications. If you’re taking CBD, you should let your doctor know so that they can check your liver enzyme levels periodically.

3. Diarrhea

If you’re taking CBD for a health issue, it’s important to talk to your doctor first. He or she can help you understand the risks and benefits of this product, and how it might interact with other medications you’re taking. It’s particularly important to mention any herbal products or over-the-counter medication you’re taking. CBD may impact their effectiveness, and you could experience serious side effects.

Diarrhea is one of the most common cbd side effects, and it can be caused by a variety of things. It can be a result of a temporary illness, such as giardia or the flu, or it can be chronic and ongoing. It can also be a side effect of some other illnesses, including ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. It can also be a side effect from certain medications, such as blood thinners or anti-epileptic drugs.

In a clinical study of children and adults with treatment-resistant epilepsy, diarrhea was a common occurrence. It was also reported in a small study of schizophrenia patients who took 25-50 mg/kg/day of CBD. Other gastrointestinal disturbances were also observed in this study, including loss of appetite and weight loss. These are similar to the gastrointestinal side effects seen in other studies of CBD. [67] These symptoms are usually mild and go away on their own or after a short period of time. Often, they will improve after CBD is stopped or the dose reduced.

4. Abdominal pain

CBD (cannabidiol) is a chemical in cannabis plants that may help treat pain and other symptoms. It can change how your body senses pain and relaxes your muscles. It is different from THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana that causes you to feel high. Our bodies naturally make some cannabinoids. These are called endocannabinoids. You can also get cannabinoids from plants, such as hemp and marijuana.

If you are taking CBD, your doctor should know about it. This is important because CBD might interfere with how your body breaks down or uses other medicines, including blood thinners, anti-epileptic drugs, and immunosuppressants. It might also affect a type of drug that treats gastrointestinal issues.

Stomach pain after eating is a common side effect of CBD. This might be because of how much you are consuming, other medications you are on, or other factors. You should talk to your doctor about it if it is severe or persistent.

CBD may reduce stomach pain, but it isn’t for everyone. If you have a condition that causes stomach pain, such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease, it is best to try other treatments first before trying CBD. It is also not safe to take CBD if you are pregnant or breastfeeding because it could cause a harmful reaction in your baby. You should also avoid using CBD if you are allergic to cannabis or any other component of the plant.

5. Dry mouth

A dry mouth, also called xerostomia, can be an unpleasant side effect of CBD. This is because CBD inhibits the breakdown of anandamide, a naturally occurring endocannabinoid. Anandamide has a similar structure to THC, but does not cause psychoactive effects. A 2020 study reported that CBD may increase the availability of anandamide by blocking a specific enzyme in the liver. The type of CBD product a person takes and the method used to consume it can affect how often this side effect occurs. For example, a spray that contains both THC and CBD (Sativex, GW Pharmaceuticals) is prescribed for adults to treat severe pain and muscle spasticity, but it can be habit-forming and cause a dry mouth.

In addition, CBD can interact with several medications. This is because it competes with enzymes that break down and absorb certain drugs. This can lead to changes in the concentration of these drugs in the body and can result in either too much or not enough of the medication being absorbed.

People should consult a doctor before taking any CBD products, including those sold as supplements. They should not use them if they are pregnant or breastfeeding because they can be contaminated with other ingredients that could be harmful to the fetus or infant. They should also talk to their pharmacist about any CBD products they are currently using and about new ones they are considering trying because they can provide information on possible drug interactions.

6. Insomnia

Insomnia is defined as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up at night and not getting back to sleep. This is a common problem that may affect any age or race, but it can be more difficult for women and the elderly to deal with.

Many people try different remedies for insomnia such as sleeping pills, herbal supplements and acupuncture. But if these don’t help, see your GP. Your GP will try to find out what’s causing your insomnia and then offer you a treatment such as cognitive behavioural therapy. This is face-to-face with a therapist or an online self-help programme and helps you change the thoughts and behaviours that keep you from sleeping.

CBD (cannabidiol) products are all the rage, with many claims of relieving a range of conditions including insomnia, anxiety, pain and PTSD. It has also been used in children with severe epilepsy syndromes such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut, whose seizures don’t respond to antiseizure medications.

But scientific research on CBD is limited. Studies on the effects of CBD for anxiety are mixed, with a few small studies suggesting that it might reduce anxiety and a larger study finding that it didn’t. But some studies have found that CBD can reduce the frequency of recurring nightmares in people with PTSD. And one trial reported that high doses of CBD reduced persecutory thoughts and anxiety in a group of people with paranoid personality disorder 90 minutes before a virtual-reality test.