How to Take CBD Oil for Anxiety: Drops, Timing and What to Watch For

How many drops of cannabis oil should you take for anxiety?

There's no one-size-fits-all number of drops of cannabis oil for anxiety: it depends on the oil's concentration and potency and on your own body, since everyone reacts to cannabinoids differently. The usual approach is to put the drops under your tongue, start low and go slow, and adjust with a doctor's guidance. With CBD oil taken that way, many people report feeling something within 15 to 60 minutes.

The common advice is to start with a low dose, usually 1 or 2 drops, and increase gradually until you find what works best for easing your anxiety. Keep a log of how you feel and adjust the dose accordingly.

That said, it's essential to talk to a healthcare professional before using cannabis oil for anxiety, especially if you take other medications or have a pre-existing medical condition. A doctor or medical cannabis specialist can give you personalized guidance and make sure cannabis is a safe and effective option for your anxiety.

How to use CBD oil for anxiety

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is increasingly used for anxiety because of its potential calming, anti-anxiety properties. Here are some general guidelines for using CBD oil for anxiety:

1. Talk to a healthcare professional: Before you start using CBD oil for anxiety, talk to a doctor or other healthcare provider for proper guidance, especially if you take other medications or have a medical condition.
2. Choose the right product: CBD comes in different forms, like tinctures, capsules, vapes and creams. Sublingual tinctures are a popular choice because they're absorbed quickly through the blood vessels under your tongue.
3. Find the right dose: CBD dosing varies from person to person and with the product's concentration. Start low and increase gradually until you find the dose that works for you.
4. Set a dosing schedule: Take your CBD oil on a regular schedule. It can help to split your daily dose into a few smaller doses spread throughout the day.
5. Track the effects: Keep a log of how you feel after taking CBD oil. Pay attention to any changes in your anxiety levels and adjust the dose as needed.
6. Pair it with other anxiety tools: CBD oil can complement other ways of managing anxiety, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), meditation, exercise and relaxation techniques.

How long does CBD take to work for anxiety?

How long CBD takes to work for anxiety varies from person to person and depends on how you take it. Some people feel relief within minutes, while others need more time to notice anything.

When you take CBD oil sublingually (placing a few drops under your tongue and holding them there for a few seconds before swallowing), the effects usually come on faster, because the CBD is absorbed quickly through the blood vessels under the tongue and reaches your bloodstream more directly.

In general, many CBD users report feeling effects within 15 to 60 minutes of taking it sublingually. Some people need longer, though, and it can take days or weeks of regular use to get more consistent results.

Keep in mind that everyone responds to CBD differently because of factors like dose, metabolism, body weight and individual sensitivity. That's why the standard advice is to start low and increase gradually until you find the amount that works best for your anxiety.

CBD vs. THC: are they the same thing?

No, CBD and THC aren't the same thing. Cannabis contains more than 500 organic compounds, at least 113 of them cannabinoids. Among those, CBD and THC stand out for their therapeutic potential. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the plant's main psychoactive compound, the one responsible for the high cannabis is famous for.

CBD doesn't get you high; THC does. But both have real therapeutic potential, and some research suggests they work better together, a synergy often called the entourage effect: CBD may enhance some of THC's properties, like pain relief (and possible anti-cancer effects seen in lab studies), while taking the edge off its psychoactivity.

What is CBD and what is it used for?

CBD was first approved as a drug in 2018 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the name Epidiolex, to treat seizures in children with severe forms of epilepsy. Beyond that, lots of people around the world use CBD for a range of issues, including pain relief, sleep and general wellbeing.

Besides epilepsy, research suggests CBD may help reduce anxiety in people with schizophrenia or psychosis, or who are dealing with various addictions.

CBD is being studied for a long list of therapeutic uses, including stress, depression and other mental health conditions. It's also researched as a neuroprotectant and muscle relaxant, which is why some professionals recommend it as palliative care for body pain and other discomfort.

CBD-rich cannabis oil is used day to day as a dietary supplement, topical remedy or medication, often to help with:

• chronic pain,
• inflammation in inflammatory bowel or skin conditions,
• anxiety,
• depression
• the severity and frequency of seizures in drug-resistant epilepsy, among others.

Cannabis oil is also used to manage symptoms of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions like:

• multiple sclerosis,
• Alzheimer's,
• Parkinson's
• schizophrenia.

CBD is just one of the more than 500 active substances, and one of the more than 100 cannabinoids, identified in cannabis so far.

How CBD works in the brain

Your brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system host natural CB1 and CB2 receptors that interact with cannabinoids. That interaction kicks in and influences the body's natural responses to stress, anxiety and pain. Homeostasis is the body's way of keeping its functions balanced, and research suggests CBD oil may support this natural process.

How to take CBD oil for pain

CBD can be taken orally or applied topically, depending on the product. There are tons of options, from oils and softgels marketed for anxiety to relaxing bath salts, creams and body oils. You can smoke it too, of course, but if you're using CBD for therapeutic or medical reasons, it's best to skip combustion and go with healthier formats.

Several studies have shown that CBD has a strong anticonvulsant effect that works well in certain types of epilepsy, and its use has taken off partly because it doesn't get you high.

Thanks to advances in growing, you can now plant strains that contain almost only CBD, without the need to consume THC, the cannabinoid that does have psychoactive effects.

CBD drug interactions and contraindications

CBD interacts with other drugs and can weaken or prolong their effects: it can block or ramp up cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP for short), the liver enzymes that break down many medications. That changes how a lot of compounds and pharmaceuticals get metabolized.

Ideally, check with your doctor if you're taking any medication. You should also proceed with caution if you have a history of mental illness or alcohol or drug abuse, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Many vape cannabis oils (e-liquids or vape juice) contain propylene glycol. When this additive overheats, it produces formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

CBD side effects

CBD doesn't get you high and is generally considered safe, but it can still cause side effects. Reported side effects of CBD include nausea, fatigue and irritability.

CBD can raise the levels of blood thinners and other medications in your blood by competing for the liver enzymes that break those drugs down. "People taking high doses of CBD may show abnormalities in liver-related blood tests," according to Harvard Health Publishing. Many over-the-counter drugs, like acetaminophen (paracetamol), have the same effect.

Other possible side effects include dry mouth, weakness, tiredness, headache and dizziness.

CBD is the cannabis compound most widely used for medical and therapeutic purposes, and research and patient reports point to potential for a wide range of conditions. But like everything in the cannabis world, there's still a lot left to learn.