With all of the research studies uncovering the incredible health benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) oil, you may begin to question whether or not hemp derived CBD oil has any potentially harmful side effects.
As with any drug, pharmaceutical or holistic, cannabidiol has effects on your body. So today we are going to discuss what causes these side-effects and the steps you can take to combat them.
But before you automatically jump to the conclusion that CBD has harmful side-effects, I’d like to say that the effects discussed below are rare and occur in only the most extreme cases.
Potential side effects that may be experienced with the use of CBD include:
- Dry Mouth
- Lightheadedness
- Drowsiness
- Low Blood Pressure
- Inhibition of Hepatic Drug Metabolism
- Increased Tremors in Parkinson’s Disease Patients
- Diarrhea
As you can see, when the side-effects of cannabidiol are compared to those of pharmaceuticals they are extremely minor!
Let’s now look into the potential side effects of CBD in greater depth.
CBD Oil Side Effect #1: Dry Mouth (Cotton Mouth)
Ahh the age old struggle with cotton mouth! Dry mouth is a common side-effect of smoking cannabis and the experienced smoker is well aware of this. But when it comes to organic CBD oil, dry mouth can also be a side-effect.
But why?
The unpleasant dry sensation in your mouth is a result of the involvement of your body’s endocannabinoid system in the inhibition of salvia secretion.
This was discovered during a 2006 study, which discovered that both cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 are located in the submandibular glands, which are responsible for the production of salvia.
Once the CB1 and CB2 receptors are activated through the use of cannabidiol, the production of saliva becomes altered. As a result, your mouth begins to feel as dry as the Sahara desert. When experiencing mouth dryness, or better known as cotton mouth, there is no need to worry it simply means you’re thirsty!
How to Combat CBD Induced Dry Mouth
When experiencing dry mouth following the consumption of hemp derived CBD oil, nothing can satisfy your thirst quite like a nice tall glass of cool H20!
So the next time you start to feel cotton mouth kicking in, all as you need to do is hydrate yourself with your favorite beverage, but water is the most effective.
CBD Oil Side Effect #2: Lightheadedness
Another reported side effect of cannabidiol, although not common, is lightheadedness.
This is typically experienced in users administering higher doses of CBD and is caused by a drop in blood pressure. Although this CBD side effect is temporary, it can be a scary experience for an inexperienced user of cannabidiol.
If you experience lightheadedness after administering a dose of CBD, there is no need to freak out, here is what you should do.
How to Combat Lightheadedness Induced by CBD
When or if lightheadedness begins to kick in, you should first stop what you’re doing and sit down to regain your composure. To further reduce this side effect, drinking a cup of hot tea or coffee may provide some alleviating assistance.
CBD Oil Side Effect #3: Drowsiness
It’s extremely well-known that cannabidiol is an effective treatment option for sleep related problems such as insomnia. But if you do not have difficulty sleeping, then drowsiness may be an unwanted side effect that can impact your plans for the day.
Typically, this side effect is only experienced when consuming larger doses of CBD at once or throughout your day.
How to Combat CBD Induced Drowsiness
If you begin to feel drowsy after using cannabidiol, you should be sure to not operate any heavy duty machinery or drive a vehicle. Although we do not recommend doing either after using CBD for at least a few hours. Remember safety first folks!
However, in most cases CBD acts as a wake-inducing agent. If you have never used CBD before, you should allow the effects of this incredible cannabinoid to kick in before driving. Allowing you to gauge whether or not you’ll experience drowsiness.
CBD Oil Side Effect #4: Low Blood Pressure
Although minute, consumption of higher doses of CBD can cause a drop in your blood pressure. This often begins to go into effect within a few short minutes of cannabidiol entering your body. When your blood pressure begins to drop, that’s when you begin to experience feelings of lightheadedness as discussed above.
So if you are looking to use CBD for treatment, but you are currently using medication for blood pressure, you should first speak with your doctor before using cannabidiol oil.
Tips to Combat Low Blood Pressure
Following the consumption of hemp derived CBD oil, if you begin to experience low blood pressure that causes you to feel lightheaded you should sit down and take a deep breath. And as mentioned above, drinking a cup of coffee or hot tea may also provide subside this side effect.
CBD Oil Side Effect #5: Inhibition of Hepatic Drug Metabolism
When discussing CBD side effects, the inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism can be looked at as nothing more than a minor side effect at best.
Let me explain:
CBD can cause the inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism, while also decreasing the activity of p-glycoprotein. Through the inhibition of activity in certain liver enzymes known as cytochrome P450, CBD can actually interact with some types of pharmaceutical medications.
Which as a whole, these liver enzymes are responsible for metabolizing the vast majority of pharmaceutical medications that are used to treat humans. Assuming you’re a human, if you take a high dose of cannabidiol oil it can temporally counteract the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Altering the way these drugs are metabolized inside your body.
At most, this is a very minor CBD side effect and you shouldn’t worry. In fact, the deactivation of cytochrome P450 enzymes is how CBD neutralizes the sometimes overwhelming psychoactive effects of THC.
CBD Oil Side Effect #6: Increased Parkinson’s Disease Tremors
During the early days of cannabidiol research, one study found that the use of CBD in larger doses increases tremors that are associated with Parkinson’s Disease.
However, recent studies have suggested the opposite. Showing that cannabidiol is a safe and beneficial treatment option for patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Tips to Combat Increased Parkinson’s Tremors
First off, if you or a loved one is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease you should first consult with a doctor before starting CBD treatment. We also recommend starting out with smaller doses when beginning treatment with CBD.
Although unlikely, if you or a loved one notice the level of tremors increasing after consuming cannabidiol, reducing the dosage amount should help to minimize this potential side effect.
CBD Oil Side Effect #7: Diarrhea
Although CBD is known for its regulating actions of your endocannabinoid system, it can also cause diarrhea. This side effect can be quickly corrected, as it’s typically associated with either the dosage amount or your overall cannabidiol tolerance.
How to Combat Cannabidiol Caused Diarrhea
So if you begin to experience diarrhea following CBD intake, you should either reduce your total dosage or consult with your doctor before resuming use. But just to be safe, we recommend that you bring this side effect up with your doctor during your next appointment.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the potential side effects that may potentially be experienced in a small set of CBD users are far less harmful than those of prescription drugs.
The CBD oil benefits greatly outweigh the potential side effects of cannabidiol. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t important for to to not pay attention in the event that any of these CBD side effects arise. And you should discuss them with your doctor.
Have you experienced any of the side effects discussed above? If so, I’d love to hear about your experiences as well as what you did to reduce the side effects in the comments section below!
Running low on CBD products? Stock up on all of your favorite CBD infused topicals/tinctures, CBD vape juice, Isolate crystals, vape cartridges, and gummies!
 for treatment? Learn about the potential side effects of CBD, as well as the steps you can take to reduce them!){kind=link}