CBD Dosage: The Complete Guide to Dosing Correctly

Numerous individuals have joined the trend of using CBD oil for its therapeutic benefits. When taking CBD it is important to know how much to take.

In this article, we take a look at how to calculate your dose, as well as the answers to some frequently asked questions. Always consult with your doctor.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a natural compound found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, another compound found in cannabis, CBD does not produce a psychoactive effect or a “high.”

It interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating various functions such as sleep, mood, appetite, and pain.

CBD is commonly used for its potential therapeutic benefits, such as reducing anxiety and inflammation, improving sleep quality, and easing chronic pain.

It can be extracted from hemp or marijuana plants and can be consumed in various forms, including oil tinctures, capsules, gummies, and topicals.

Despite its growing popularity, CBD is not yet regulated by the FDA, so it's important to do your research and buy from reputable sources.

CBD Dosage Chart General Guidelines

When it comes to determining the correct dosage of CBD oil, it's important to consider a variety of factors. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. These factors may include your body weight, the severity of your symptoms, and the specific product you're using.

Generally, it's recommended that beginners start with a low dose (around 5-10mg) and gradually increase as needed until desired results are achieved.

Taking 20mg of CBD oil a day is a good start. If you don’t feel any effects, you can up the amount. Most CBD oils come in a dropper bottle. Each drop usually contains 5mg of CBD oil but that depends on the type and brand.

How Much CBD Should I Take The First Time?

Start with as little as you can. If you have CBD oil in a dropper bottle, then start with one drop. If you have CBD capsules, you can start with one capsule. Record the amount of CBD you took, what time you took it, and when you started feeling the effects.

This can help you study the effects of it on your body. Keeping track of these statistics can help you determine if you need to increase your dose.

When Should I Take CBD Oil?

If you want to use CBD oil to deal with pain and anxiety during the day, you will benefit from having CBD oil with your morning coffee. Or, you can take CBD oil at night for a calm and mellow night's sleep.

Easy CBD Dosage Calculator

Understanding the strength and potency of CBD oil can be challenging when you're just starting out, but it's important to remember that there is no risk of overdosing on CBD.

Studies have shown that taking a lot of CBD won't lead to adverse effects, unlike other dietary supplements or medications.

Here are the dosage guidelines to consider when taking CBD oil:

• Low strength:            1mg of CBD per 10 pounds or 0.1mg
• Medium strength:   3mg of CBD per 10 pounds or 0.3mg
• High strength:          6mg of CBD per 10 pounds or 1.6mg

Calculating CBD Potency in CBD Oil

Many people are interested in determining the potency of CBD in their CBD oil. To calculate this, all you have to do is read the product details and get these two figures:

• Amount of CBD listed on the bottle in mg
• Bottle size in ml

To calculate CBD potency in CBD oil:

CBD in mg / bottle size in ml = CBD potency

CBD Oil Recommended Dosage

Before starting your CBD oil journey, you need to determine what condition you want to target with your CBD use.

CBD is excellent for anxiety and depression relief, along with improving sleep and reducing pain.

Other people take CBD oil for regular everyday use to boost their health. Let’s take a look at how much CBD to take for different conditions.

CBD Dosage For Everyday Use

Lower to moderate amounts of CBD is ideal for daily usage.

Some users report that they reap CBD oil benefits from as little as 1mg a day. For regular everyday use, it's a good idea to experiment to figure out what works best for you.

Start with 20mg of CBD oil, one CDB capsule, or one CBD gummy. If you don’t feel much of a difference, you can keep upping the dose until you feel a positive result.

CBD Dosage For Anxiety

Many people love to take CBD oil to combat anxiety. How much CBD for anxiety is ideal?

Moderate to high amounts of CBD is perfect for reducing anxiety and stress. This would amount to 25-75mg of CBD oil.

If you need more anxiety relief from CBD oil, you can consider upping the dose or the frequency with which you consume CBD.

*Note that high amounts of CBD oil from 1500-2000mg have been tested on humans with no adverse effects. Tailor your CBD dosage to your needs.

CBD Dosage For Depression

Research shows that CBD latches onto the brain’s serotonin receptors and influences the way they work. Low serotonin levels have been shown to lead to depression.

CBD dosage for depression may require some experimentation. It's recommended to start with smaller doses of CBD oil to allow your body to adjust.

For depression, use 10mg of CBD oil and work up to 25mg or more.

CBD Dosage For Pain

When taking CBD oil for pain, you need to consider the level of pain you are experiencing.

Mild low back pain and arthritis can be treated with a lower dose of 20 mg CBD oil.

For severe pain, for example, arthritis, nerve pain, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain doses of 25mg of or more will be helpful.

CBD Dosage For Sleep

CBD oil can be quite effective for improving sleep. It interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate various physiological processes including sleep patterns.

By promoting a sense of calm and relaxation, CBD can make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night.

Begin with a low dose, such as 10-20 mg of CBD, and observe how your body responds.

If you don't notice any improvement in your sleep after a few days or a week, gradually increase the dose by 5-10 mg.

Taking a melatonin-infused CBD oil is also suitable for promoting relaxation.

Other CBD Products Dosage

CBD oil is not the only method of consuming cannabidiol. There are some other alternatives to CBD oil. CBD gummies and edibles are a fun way to reap the benefits of CBD.

Here are the doses for other CBD products:

CBD Gummies Dosage

CBD gummies are easy to dose because they come in standard sizes. Most CBD gummies come in concentrations of 11 – 60mg of CBD.

Your dosage depends on the strength of effects that you need. For first time users, it’s better to start with the smaller dose. If you suffer from chronic pain, you might want to try 60mg CBD gummies.

CBD Vape Dosage

CBD vapers tend to micro-dose CBD oil throughout the day to reap the therapeutic effects. For first time users, try one puff and study its impact over the course of one hour.

If you need to increase the CBD potency, you can increase the number of inhales you take.

CBD Balm Dosage

CBD balms come in different strengths and potency. Regardless, trying a patch test before committing to using any skincare products is recommended.

If you need to increase the effects of a CBD balm, then you can increase the frequency with which you apply it.

Final Thoughts on CBD Dosage

CBD oil is excellent for reducing chronic pain and anxiety. However, the average CBD dose changes from one person to another. That is why you need to know how to calculate the correct dose based on your weight and what condition you are treating in your body.

There are different doses to consider for various conditions. For example, the dose for improving sleep would be different from treating chronic pain.

Karen Getchell

Karen gained expertise in developing training programs and technical documentation as a Senior Editor at Cisco Systems. She began her journey in cannabis as a patient, searching for a way to heal herself. When she perfected a method for making cannabis oil, other patients began to seek her out. An early adopter of CBD medicine, she started her CBD-infused-products business in 2014. Over the last two decades, Karen has taught hundreds of patients and caregivers how to select strains, infuse oils, and extract cannabinoids.

When she isn’t teaching cannabis cooking classes, Karen works as a cannabis business consultant, writes for online cannabis publications like Cannabis Training University, Leafly, and Weedmaps, and runs a CBD-infused-product business.