Since CBD from hemp sources was legalized in the United States in 2018, there has been much discussion about the positive benefits of using CBD. Unfortunately, there are some side effects to using CBD and while they are typically well tolerated by most people, you may want to be aware of before you start.
Dry Mouth
Whether you decide to take your CBD in the form of a spray, tincture, or an oil, dry mouth can be a consequence of that. CBD interacts with the CB receptors that are in your mouth and this can reduce the amount of saliva that your mouth produces. You can deal with this by always keeping something to drink with you before and after dosing.
Wakefulness or Drowsiness
While CBD tends to make most people drowsy, it can make some feel more awake. This is particularly true if you smoke high CBD strains of hemp or cannabis. While a hemp strain such as Remedy or Cherry Wine may make you drowsy, strains such as Lifter or Cherry Abacus may wake you up.
Low Blood Pressure
CBD has also been shown to affect blood pressure. It lowers blood pressure not only in response to stress, but it also lowers a person’s resting blood pressure. ( Source )
It provides multiple benefits for heart health, but if you already struggle with low blood pressure issues, you may want to either avoid CBD usage entirely or talk to your doctor.
CBD Inhibits Hepatic Drug Absorption
Even though CBD is safe for most people to use, it has been recently studied more in terms of the drugs that it can interact with. Today we know that CBD (among other cannabinoids) can inhibit the activity of a liver enzyme family called cytochrome P450. It’s this family of liver enzymes that metabolize most of the drugs on the market today.
As a result of significant dosages of CBD, cytochrome P450 enzymes will be temporarily disabled and the absorption of medications will be negatively affected. What makes the relationship between CBD and cytochrome P450 is that they essentially cancel each other out. CBD temporarily deactivate cytochrome P450 when taken in larger doses, but cytochrome P450 also metabolizes CBD in smaller doses.
Diarrhea
Some CBD products may cause diarrhea, although this may be caused by some of the other ingredients in the products themselves such as carrier oils. MCT oil and coconut oil in particular are often used in CBD products and can possibly cause loose stools if you’re not used to those products.
Fatigue
If you take a high dose of CBD, it can make you feel drowsy enough to go to sleep or possibly fatigued even after sleeping. Because of this, you should never take CBD before driving or operating any type of heavy machinery.
Who Should Avoid CBD Usage?
Those who are trying to treat everyday anxiety or normal aches and pains with CBD shouldn’t have too much to worry about. But the following should avoid usage before talking to their doctor:
- Children
- Pregnant Women
- Women Who Are Breastfeeding
- Those With Liver Conditions
You should also avoid CBD usage if you’re on any medication that has a “grapefruit warning” on it due to CBD inhibiting CYP3A4 just as grapefruit is known to. Your medications may not be absorbed as quickly or efficiently.
