CBD Dosage: How Much CBD Should I Take?

There are many health benefits to taking cannabidiol or CBD every day. But how much is the right amount to achieve these benefits? Since there’s no official recommended dosage from the Food and Drug Administration, it might be confusing to figure out the best dosage of CBD for you. This article summarizes what you need to know to determine the right dosage of CBD.

Health Benefits   |   Factors that Affect Dosage   |   Calculation   |   Helpful Measurements   |   Specific Conditions   |   Can I Take Too Much?   |   Takeaways

Health Benefits of CBD

Remember that CBD isn’t psychoactive, so it won't get you "high."

Finding the right dosage for whatever health condition you’re managing—as well as for your individual body chemistry—is crucial.

Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that CBD is a safe treatment. However, these studies don’t show a universal dosage that everyone should take. While different people respond to different dosages of CBD, most of the research conducted studied daily CBD dosages somewhere between 20 and 1,500 milligrams.

Factors That Affect CBD Dosage

Calculating your individual daily dose of CBD depends a variety of factors.

• body weight
• metabolism and body chemistry
• specific health condition
• amount of CBD contained in your chosen product(s)

As always, it's important consult your physician or qualified medical professional before adding CBD to your health regimen. If your physician doesn’t have a specific recommendation for you, start with a smaller dose of 20 milligrams per day, then gradually increase your dosage by 5 mgs per day until you feel the effects you’re looking for.  

Keeping a CBD notebook or journal is often helpful to track the amounts that you’ve tried and the effects you’ve noticed at each dosage.

Dosage Calculation

Gummies, capsules, and topicals are popular forms of taking CBD, and these products tell you how much is in a single serving, often 5 mg or 10 mg.

CBD Oils or tinctures come in a bottle with a dropper. Some packaging may show you how much CBD is contained in the entire bottle, while others might show you the amount contained in each dropper. It can be more difficult to determine how much CBD is in a single drop.

Helpful CBD Measurements

• One drop is about 0.05 milliliters.
• A 1oz bottle contains about 30 milliliters.
• 30 mL (total volume) divided by .05 mL (single drop) equals about 600 drops per 1 fluid ounce.
• If that 1oz bottle of CBD oil contains 3,000 milligrams of CBD, then each drop will contain about 5 mg of CBD. (You get this by dividing total milligrams by total drops.)
• If you were 30 milligrams for pain, for example, then you’d want to take 6 drops.

CBD Dosages for Specific Conditions

The following are a few conditions that have been clinically studied for optimal dosages of CBD.

Can I Take Too Much CBD?

In general, people tolerate even high doses of 1,500 milligrams a day quite well, according to this 2017 review.

Nonetheless, if you’re currently taking prescription medication(s), it's important to discuss potential interactions between your medications and CBD with your physician, as these may have the potential for liver damage according to this 2019 study.

High-quality, pure CBD is considered safe. There are many cheap, low-quality products on the market, so be sure to research your CBD brand to make sure they have third-party, lab-tested products and publish those results.

Possible side effects of CBD

While not common, this review https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/ documented a few possible side effects of CBD. These may include:

• Diarrhea
• Appetite change
• Weight change
• Tiredness

Takeaways

• Finding the right CBD dose is an individual process for whatever health condition you’re managing. It depends on your body weight, metabolism, the specific health condition(s), and the concentration of CBD in each product.
• When in doubt, start with a smaller dose of 20 milligrams per day, then gradually increase your dosage.
• Keep a CBD journal to track dosages and effects.
• Remember to consult your physician or qualified medical professional before adding CBD to your health regimen, especially if you're taking prescribed medications.