When considering taking CBD for anxiety, it’s essential to know how much should be taken. While there are no official dosage guidelines, a good approach would be to start low and increase gradually over time.
Doing this will ensure you aren’t taking too much CBD and experiencing side effects. Furthermore, it will allow you to find your ideal CBD dose.
Dosage
Anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent mental health conditions in America, affecting 40 million adults annually. There are various treatments for anxiety disorders available such as medication, therapy, or a combination of both.
Research is growing that suggests CBD may help alleviate anxiety symptoms. However, more study is necessary to confirm its efficacy.
Unfortunately, there are no established dosage guidelines for using CBD to treat anxiety. Instead, individuals should speak with their healthcare provider in order to find the most appropriate product and dosage.
A single-dose study3 demonstrated that 600 mg of pure CBD helped socially anxious participants perform a simulated public speaking test more comfortably, and subjects reported feeling better after treatment.
Form
CBD is an accessible and secure alternative to pharmaceutical anxiety medications. However, it’s best to take it only with the guidance of your healthcare professional.
Many people report feeling calmer and less anxious after using CBD oil, but it’s essential to find the correct formula if you’re new to taking CBD.
When searching for CBD oils, look for ones with high concentrations of terpenes and other cannabinoids to promote calmness and relaxation.
Most CBD oils come in plastic bottles with dropper tops, though some also feature glass bottle caps. If you plan to take your CBD oil on the go, a plastic bottle is likely your best bet.
Time of Day
When using CBD to relieve anxiety symptoms, it’s best to take it at a time that works for your schedule. Some people find taking CBD in the morning beneficial as it helps them relax before heading off to work or an important event.
Others take it in the evening, preferably two hours before bed, for improved quality sleep. Higher doses before sleeping may have a sedative effect on your body which helps you relax and drift off quickly.
However, you should remember that everyone’s body chemistry differs and may require a different amount of CBD for optimal results. Therefore, it’s wise to experiment with dosages until you find one which meets your requirements.
Precautions
Though CBD is generally safe, there are a few precautions you should take when taking it for anxiety. These include speaking to your doctor and not taking any other medications with sedating effects such as antihistamines (like Benadryl), benzodiazepines (Xanax or Ativan), antipsychotics, opioids, or alcohol.
Furthermore, research on CBD must be conducted with a carefully-constructed research team. This includes consulting a medical expert who can develop a safety plan for researchers and consulting other experts in the field of CBD to guarantee that studies are well-designed and participants are protected from any unexpected medical events.
Furthermore, a double-blind design should be employed to eliminate the potential confounding effects of expectancies. This type of study is ideal for researching anxiety since it allows participants to be compared against an unchanging placebo that has no impact on their symptoms. This information is essential when researching whether CBD is effective at treating anxiety disorders.