CBD Dosage Guide for Beginners
It’s no secret that the benefits of CBD are the new talk of the town, yet there seems to be a great deal of silence when it comes to dosing.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to this important yet intimidating task, and what works for one person may not work for the next. However, the effects of CBD can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone (even our furry friends). It’s all about finding what works for you.
If you’re one of the many people interested in taking CBD for the first time or you’re a longtime user who thinks your dosage doesn’t align with your goals, then keep reading to pinpoint the various factors that contribute to the right dosage.
How Much CBD Should a Beginner Start With?
There’s no universal dosage standard, which is why many doctors are not allowed to prescribe cannabinoids. This, along with the fact that many doctors never officially studied CBD therapy in school, means there’s quite a lot of confusion surrounding dosages.
We find it important to note that only a government entity can legally call a recommendation a "recommended daily allowance". That’s why we can’t give a personal recommendation, but rather provide valuable information for the reader to consider on their journey.
With that said, let’s jump right to it. The respected rule of thumb is to always start small and slowly increase if necessary. In general, a person should begin with the lowest dosage and increase by 5 milligrams if the effects are not sufficient.
Below we’ll discuss what factors could affect your dosage, but to get an idea of the general CBD dosage guidelines that our experts recommend, check out the CBD dosage chart below.
What You’re Using It For
CBD is used for a variety of reasons and conditions, meaning that many users around the world have different goals. For instance, if a person has perfect health but wants to include CBD into their wellness routine, they may not need as high of a dosage as someone who is using it for pain relief after a surgery.
Certain conditions may also have specific recommendations. Let’s use arthritis patients as an example. The Arthritis Foundation recommends starting with just a few milligrams of CBD in sublingual form twice a day and increasing the dose by the same amount after a week if there’s not sufficient pain relief. However, this recommendation is specific to arthritis patients and could vary depending on how severe the condition is.
As you’re considering your dosage, ask yourself why you’re taking CBD and what your goals are. In general, if your answer involves painful or uncomfortable symptoms, then you may need a higher dosage to find relief.
What Other Medications You’re Using
CBD is typically well tolerated, but it is possible that CBD could affect the medications you’re taking. Harvard reports that some of the medications that could cause possible unintended effects are:
- A common blood thinner, warfarin
- A heart rhythm medication, amiodarone
- A thyroid medication, levothyroxine
- Several medications for seizures, including clobazam, lamotrigine, and valproate
Since research is still limited, it’s recommended that you speak with your doctor about your specific situation. They may be able to recommend a dosage depending on the medication you’re taking.
The Strength of Your Product
The concentration of your product will make a big difference in how much you need to take. Don’t be fooled—all products are not made the same, and the potency can vary greatly. Your dosage should be calculated based on the specific product you purchase.
For instance, all of our organic CBD oils at Vitality are 30 ML, but what makes them different is the amount of CBD that the product contains. Our low-strength oil has 250 mg of CBD oil in the entire product, while our highest-strength has 1,400 mg.
Take a look at how our various CBD oils compare in regard to potency.
Oil Strength | Serving Size | Amount of CBD oil per serving |
---|---|---|
250 MG | 30 drops | 8.34 mg |
500 MG | 30 drops | 16.67 mg |
1000 MG | 30 drops | 33.34 mg |
1400 MG | 30 drops | 46.67 mg |
As you can see, the amount of CBD oil per serving depends on the strength of each product. Taking 30 drops of our 250 mg product is quite different from consuming 30 drops of our 1,4000 mg oil.
Calculating Your Dosage Based on Your Product
CBD comes in many forms, including:
- CBD oil
- CBD gummies
- CBD salves
The availability of CBD in different presentations often contributes to the confusion regarding CBD dosage. Consumers must pay special attention to how much is in their specific product, which will vary depending on the brand.
CBD Gummies
CBD Oil
When it comes to CBD oil, you may have to do a little math depending on what your product says on the package. Let’s take a look at an example.
As shown on the package of Vitality’s organic CBD oil with 1,000 mg of CBD oil per container, 1 serving size is 1 dropper or 30 drops, which amounts to 33.34 mg of full-spectrum CBD oil per serving.
Now, if you only want to take 15 mg of CBD oil, then you need to figure out how many drops you should take. If each serving has 33.34 mg of CBD oil that is distributed in 30 drops, you have to divide the mg by the number of drops (33.34 mg divided by 30 drops per serving).
This means that every drop has around 1.11 mg of CBD. Now just divide your desired amount by the amount per serving.
15 mg of CBD divided by 1.11 mg per drop means that you must consume 13.51 drops of Vitality’s CBD oil to consume a total of 15 mg of CBD oil.
CBD Salve
Since CBD salves are absorbed through the skin, the dosage is not as delicate as oral consumption. CBD salves are also available in various strengths, so you can purchase one with a higher concentration of CBD if your pain or condition is severe, such as our CBD salve for chronic pain.
Many CBD salves do not tell you a specific serving size, as it depends on the size of the area that needs attention. For instance, you would use less product on just your knee than you would if you were applying it to your whole leg.
Apply enough to cover the area, just as if you were applying regular lotion. You can also use massage techniques to improve its effectiveness.
The Do’s & Don’ts of CBD Dosage
Do: Have Patience
It might take you a couple of tries to find the right dosage. You should be gradually increasing your dosage rather than doing it all at once. The general recommendation is to increase the dosage by 5 mg at a time.
Do: Purchase Quality CBD Products
Purchasing a product that only uses high-quality ingredients will guarantee the best experience. At Vitality, all of our products have been tested by a third party and have been carefully crafted to be a safe and natural daily supplement.
Don’t: Use Products that Haven’t Been Tested by a Third-Party
There is no better way to ensure the quality of a product than an objective and thorough analysis by a third-party lab, that is, a lab that works independently and does not have any association with the brand that manufactures the product it is testing.
Unfortunately, there have been some reported cases of CBD products that exceed the THC limit (the legal limit is 0.3%), have lower amounts of CBD than advertised, contain potentially harmful ingredients, and the list goes on. For this reason, it is paramount that you only purchase CBD products that have been tested by independent or third-party labs.
Don’t: Use It at Random Times
CBD can be used at any time of the day, so this isn’t meant to be a bad thing. The point is that you should make a routine that works with your schedule and goals. If your goal is to reduce chronic pain to help you get a better night’s sleep, then you should take it during your nighttime routine.
If you’re using it to help reduce work-provoked anxiety, you may want to take it before heading to work and after work when you’re winding down.
Finding the right routine based on your goals will help you achieve the desired effect. And with a little practice and adjustments at the beginning of your journey, you can find the perfect CBD oil dosage for your goals and lifestyle.
Related
References
- CBD for arthritis pain: Arthritis foundation. CBD for Arthritis Pain | Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.).
- CR;, B. E. M. J. (n.d.). Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics.
- E;, C. A. R. (n.d.). Evaluation of the effects of CBD hemp extract on opioid use and quality of life indicators in chronic pain patients: A prospective cohort study. Postgraduate medicine.
- Katsiaryna Bykov, P. (2021, January 11). CBD and other medications: Proceed with caution. Harvard Health.