Determining Your Ideal CBD Dosage Made Easy

Cannabidiol (better known as CBD) may seem like the latest health trend. But the latest stats show that as many as 20% of Americans have tried it, with 7% using it regularly. This figure appears to be growing year by year.

Since CBD has a range of health benefits, it’s important to learn your perfect CBD dosage. Sure, you could take a guess, but don’t you want to maximize the positive effects?

You might be worried that calculating your dosage will involve complex math or complicated biology. Have no fear, that’s what we’re here to explore! By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what dose will best fit your needs, and you’ll understand which CBD product is best for you. All without cracking open any textbooks!

First Time?

If you’re new to CBD, then one piece of advice stands out more than any other: start with a low dose. If the product you’ve purchased suggests taking 4 drops or 2 gummies, then try starting off with 2 drops or 1 gummy.

CBD is a safe treatment and so you shouldn’t be scared by the topic of CBD dosage. In fact, research suggests that even a high dose of 1,500mg a day is unlikely to cause you any harm. Given that the average dose is somewhere between 15-30mg, you don’t have anything to worry about.

But as with any new health product or practice, you need to give your body time to adjust. Starting with too high a dose can lead to minor side effects, such as diarrhea and fatigue. But this can be avoided by starting small.

Should You Follow the Instructions?

Most products will come with a CBD recommended dosage. However, it’s important to remember that these are based on averages. If you’re bigger than the average person or have a faster metabolism, you may need a higher dose. Just as the reverse is also true.

If health is your primary concern, then you should take a smaller dose than is recommended on the product.

There are several factors to consider when calculating your ideal CBD dosage: body weight, the reason you’re using CBD, individual body chemistry, and the concentration of the CBD.

Body Weight

Research has shown that body weight can influence the effectiveness of any medicinal treatment. BMI can be a good indicator: Those with a higher BMI will likely need a stronger dose, and those with a lower BMI will likely need a lower one.

It’s not always as straightforward as that, but it’s a good general rule to follow!

Calculating Dose Based on Body Weight

Luckily for us all, there is a simple equation you can follow when it comes to working out your ideal daily CBD dosage based solely on your body weight. As a starting dose, you’re looking at around 1.25mg of CBD per pound of bodyweight.

For example, someone weighing 100lbs would take between 10-20mg a day. While someone weighing 200lbs would take between 20-40mg. Just remember that these numbers or for a daily dose and not individual doses.

Purpose of Use

The reason why you’re taking CBD can influence the strength/frequency of your dose. For example, the CBD dosage for pain would depend on the intensity: a higher dose for severe pain and a lower dose for lesser pain.

But this difference also applies between reasons. Those with anxiety might need a different dosage when compared to those using it as an acne treatment.

Not only that, but the frequency may also differ depending on the ailment. Anxiety sufferers may only need a dose prior to a triggering situation. They would likely take a larger dose for that single instance. Studies suggest that 300mg is the optimal dosage prior to an anxiety-inducing event.

In comparison, someone in pain may need frequent top-ups throughout the day and so they might take smaller doses more often. This would also influence the choice of CBD products.

Individual Differences

As is the case with any medication or supplement, every single person processes the product differently. One common influencer is metabolism. Those with a speedy metabolism may need more frequent doses and can often manage higher strengths.

You can consider your body’s chemistry by thinking about your reaction to other substances. Do you get drunk easily? Does caffeine stay in your system longer than it does for others? Do you eat more frequently than most people?

These simple questions can help determine if you would need frequent doses of CBD or not.

Different Methods of Use

Remember, you’re not the only changing variable when it comes to CBD dosage. Depending on the method of ingesting the CBD, it may take effect more quickly or be longer-lasting. As a rule, the quicker the onset, the shorter the duration.

There are four main methods of using CBD:

• Inhalation
• Sublingually
• Orally
• Topically

Each of these methods will A) Take effect at a different speed, and B) Last a different length of time.

Inhalation

Using CBD extracts, it’s possible to inhale the product. The most common form of this would be vaping, which often makes use of a pen to administer the CBD. This approach allows you to feel the benefits within a matter of minutes.

Given that effects will last for anywhere between 1 and 5 hours, it’s no surprise that this is such a common choice.

Inhalation is particularly popular among sufferers of anxiety due to the rapid onset. Those experiencing anxiety or panic attacks can quickly reduce symptoms and top-up when necessary.

Sublingually

This method tends to refer to CBD oil. It involves placing several drops underneath the tongue, allowing them to sit there for a couple of minutes so they can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream. While not quite as rapid as inhalation, this method will still allow you to feel the benefits of CBD within 20 minutes.

The longer onset times do offer a benefit though, all be it minor. The effects tend to last between 2 and 6 hours, so slightly longer than inhalation.

Topical Application

Applying CBD oil, cream, or lotion directly to your skin isn’t short of its selling points. For starters, you get the function that the cream or lotion provides. If you’re using a moisturizer, for example, then you’ll get soft skin and the benefits that CBD offers.

What’s the catch?

The topical application requires more time than the other methods, at least in terms of application. It’s not always practical to carry around a bottle of lotion in your pocket for when you need CBD. However, depending on your needs, this may be your best option.

Onset can be as quick as 5 minutes, but this varies depending on the reason for using the product. Those suffering from pain will notice it easing quickly, while those suffering from anxiety may not notice any change at all. This is because the topical application doesn’t allow CBD to enter the bloodstream. Instead, it’s absorbed into the local area only.

The effects generally last for upwards of 4 hours.

Oral

Gummies are a popular choice amongst CBD products, along with drinks, oil, and other food types containing cannabidiol. Oral administration may be common, but it does have its downsides.

For example, the CBD gummies dosage would have to work its way through your digestive system before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. This means that onset is slower, but the effects will last longer. You may be waiting anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes to feel the effects.

It’s also worth mentioning that you lose a fairly large amount of the CBD as it travels through the digestive tract. This means you would need to take a higher dose to account for the loss when compared to methods that allow CBD to enter the bloodstream directly.

A General Rule for CBD Dosage Based on Administration Method

Taking all the above into consideration, there are some general rules you can keep in mind, depending on your choice of CBD product: whether you’re using edibles, oil, lotions, or a vape, for example.

Inhalation: Onset Time (1-5 minutes). Duration (1-5 hours). A Lower dose is needed.

Under Tongue: Onset Time (<20 minutes). Duration (2-6 hours). A Lower is dose needed.

Topical: Onset Time (About 5 minutes). Duration (3-5 hours). A Medium/High dose is needed.

Oral: Onset Time (30-90 minutes). Duration (4+ hours). A Higher dose is needed.

Putting This into Practice

To remove as much guesswork as possible, here are some common examples that can give you an idea of the daily dose of CBD you may need to take, based on your body weight and the method of application. This dose would be divided up throughout the day depending on the method of application.

For example, using a vape may require more frequent doses than an edible.

Take a look at this CBD dosage chart. Here, ‘small dose’ may refer to inhalation, ‘medium dose’ may refer to topical application, and ‘high dose’ may refer to edibles.

100lbs: Small dose (25mg); Medium dose (33mg); and High dose (55mg).

150lbs: Small dose (22mg); Medium dose (52mg); and High dose (82mg).

200lbs: Small dose (30mg); Medium dose (65mg); and High dose (110mg).

250lbs: Small dose (37mg); Medium dose (84mg); and High dose (137mg).

Start Small and Increase

Since it’s practically impossible to account for all the individual differences that will influence the effectiveness of a single dose of CBD, you’re unlikely to find your perfect dose the first time around. Once you’ve worked out the rough dose you may need, you can follow three simple steps to find your optimal CBD dosage.

• Start Low – Even though CBD is safe, you’re still best to start with the lower-level doses. You can always increase the dose if necessary.
• Increase Slowly – Just because your starter dose doesn’t seem hugely effective, doesn’t mean you should instantly double or triple it. Increase the dose strength gradually, going up as little as 2.5-5mg at a time.
• Make Adjustments – Once you find the perfect dose, you will also discover that you need to change your dosage from time to time. You might need a higher dose in the evening, for example.

When to See a GP

There are cases where consulting a GP may be necessary. This may be a rarity, but it’s worth considering whether any of these circumstances apply to you.

Are the low doses not working at all? Are the higher doses barely having any effect? Don’t be tempted to try crazy strength doses. It’s possible that the issue you’re trying to treat may be more serious than you think, and so getting a professional opinion may be important.

Are you taking other medications? CBD is unlikely to interfere with most medications, but there is no reason to take any unnecessary risk. If you’re taking any daily medications, then you should consult with your GP about the use of CBD and recommended doses.

Pure CBD Only

The purity of the CBD you use is also a vital discussion point. Determining your ideal CBD dosage only works if the product is of high quality. When health and safety are important, you need to make sure that you don’t buy a low-quality or knock-off CBD product.

Synthetic CBD is a perfect example, and you should avoid it at all costs!

Severe side effects from CBD (even at high doses) are rare. When somebody has a serious negative reaction, it’s often found to be the synthetic version that creates such problems.

CBD and THC

It’s important to understand the difference between CBD and THC. Both are present in cannabis, but the key difference is that THC is psychoactive (i.e. it’s responsible for making you feel high). In many parts of the world, CBD products are legal provided the THC content is less than 0.3%.

Many people enjoy a product that is a balance of both CBD and THC, as to experience the relaxing elements of the CBD but only minimal psychoactive experience from the THC.

Those wishing to better understand the various types of CBD and THC products may wish to check out 3chi.com for explanations and examples. You could also explore the scientific literature.  

Your CBD Journey Awaits

There you have it! A complete walkthrough of how CBD dosage can differ between person and product. We’ve explored everything you need to know to make an informed decision about the strength of the CBD dose you should take, how often you should take it, and which product would best suit your needs.

Now you’re ready to order a CBD product and take your first step towards exploring its benefits.

Just remember, start small, build up slowly, and take your weight, metabolism, and the type of CBD product into consideration.