A naturally occurring compound that’s found in cannabis, cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is commonly used to manage pain, inflammation, and anxiety. However, despite the fact that it’s derived from cannabis, it does not cause sedation or that high feeling that’s commonly associated with marijuana use. THC is the chemical responsible for the feeling of being high, whereas CBD is non-psychoactive, so you will not experience the same high sensation that you will with THC. But how do you use CBD? When does CBD wear off? Can CBD be used to treat severe pain? Below I’ll explain how CBD works, what makes it so different from THC and how it can help.
When does CBD wear off? How long a person experiences the full effects of CBD can depend on how they take it, the potency of the product, and the size of the dose. You can feel the full effects of CBD for a period of five to seven hours with a large dose of CBD, while a large dose of edibles or CBD capsules can only provide relief for a period of one to three hours. Since CBD affects everyone differently, it’s difficult to say for certain how long you’ll experience relief and even what size dose can provide better results. Because of this, when you first begin taking CBD you must experiment with the dosing size and how frequently you take it. Keep track of this for a period of two to three weeks until you have found a dose that works well for you.
So, when does CBD wear off? CBD’s active life depends on the potency of the product, the route used, and the size of the dose. CBD oil will provide longer-lasting effects compared to capsules and will begin working much faster as well. On average, users can feel the effects of the oil for five to seven hours. With capsules and edibles, you’ll feel the effects for two to three hours. It will take thirty minutes to one hour to feel the effects of the CBD if you consume it since it must be digested in the digestive tract and processed through the liver before it hits the bloodstream.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of CBD, how it affects the body and mind, and how long you can experience the results per dose.
Lasting Effects
Typically, the effects of CBD can be felt for five to seven hours. However, the active life of CBD will often depend on the route and the strength of the dose. Obviously, a stronger dose and a more potent product will have a longer active life. Typically, people who use CBD regularly will take a morning dose and an evening dose. This is usually done with the best CBD drops. However, you can also take capsules or edibles, although both will take much longer to take effect. When you ingest CBD products, they must first go through the digestive tract to be digested. Next, they’re processed by the liver before they reach the bloodstream. Once the CBD hits the bloodstream it will begin to take effect. Because of this, edibles tend to appear as though they last longer than drops, when in reality, the lasting life is comparable. When you use drops, they are placed under the tongue where they are immediately absorbed into the bloodstream. This allows the drops to begin working in a matter of a few minutes.
Each form of CBD will affect every user differently. People who are looking for a fast-acting option will take the drops, while others who are in need of a more convenient way to take their CBD when they’re out of the house will commonly choose the capsules or edibles. Capsules make it easier to measure a dose.
How Do People Feel on CBD?
CBD tends to promote relaxation and produces a calming feeling. You will continue to experience more of the benefits of CBD when it’s used consistently. If you’re using it to treat inflammation or pain, you can usually begin to feel the effects after five to thirty minutes, depending on whether you take it sublingually or you swallow the dose.
Typically, when a person tries CBD for the first time, they usually don’t know what to expect in terms of effects. Unlike THC, which is a more well-known cannabinoid, CBD doesn’t produce a reaction that’s quite as noticeable.
The effects will vary from person to person and will depend on the user’s reason for taking it. If you’re taking CBD to treat chronic pain, especially pain that’s caused by inflammation, you may feel the effects of CBD much faster. Some users have reported noticeable effects within minutes if CBD drops are used. CBD can be used to treat more than pain and inflammation. It’s also often used for anxiety since it promotes feelings of calm and relaxation. But for some, determining the correct dose for anxiety can be trickier than choosing a higher dose for pain and inflammation. If you take a dose that’s too low to treat pain or anxiety then you may not feel any effects at all. Finding the right dose can involve plenty of trial and error. When you first begin taking CBD, you should begin with a lower dose, gradually increasing it based on the affects you experience.
When CBD Takes Effect
While there are very potent products out there, such as CBD Pure Hemp Oil Extract, which can start working in a matter of minutes, some CBD products will take an average of thirty minutes to take effect. Smoking or vaping the oil or placing the oil under the tongue, allow you to bypass the digestion process, so you will feel the effects much faster. When CBD is vaped, it passes through the lungs, after which, it’s absorbed into the bloodstream. When the oil is taken under the tongue, it’s quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. If you take CBD capsules or edibles, it can take up to an hour to feel the full effects if you eat within one hour prior.
With low potency CBD products, you can expect to feel the full effects for a period of one to two hour. If you’re taking a stronger product, you can expect to feel the full effects for a period of three to five hours.
Starting CBD Treatment
Aside from paying attention to the size of the dose you use, you’ll also need to determine how long the dose provides the effects you’re looking for. This will help you create a treatment schedule and plan ahead in regard to how much CBD you use each month. Obviously, the bigger the dose you take, the longer you can expect the effects to last. However, everyone reacts to CBD differently, which is why it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly how long a dose will work for you.
The First Month
During your first few weeks of treatment, write down the starting dose and how long you felt the effects. I recommend gradually increasing the dosage every few days, based on your data and whether or not the dose provided the results you’re looking for. Most physicians recommend beginning with just two and a half to three milligrams of CBD for the first week. After two to three days, if you’re not experiencing results, you can increase the dose by half a milligram up to one milligram. Continue to keep track of how much you use and how the dose makes you feel. Once you’ve begun to experience relief, then stick with that dose.
Tracking Progress
During this time, you’ll also need to track how long you feel the effects. Since you’re experimenting with smaller doses, you may not even notice the effects, which is why you will be able to more accurately determine the CBD’s active time once you’ve hit the right dosage. A larger dose can last several hours, while a smaller dose of CBD may only provide relief for an hour or two.
Again, experimenting with the size of the dose and assessing how each dose makes you feel will be the keys to determining how long the effects of CBD last. This can help you create a dosing schedule that can achieve the results you want.
How Long Does CBD Stays in the System?
A study determined that people who took higher doses of CBD daily, for a period of two months showed that CBD remained in their system for a period of seven days after discontinuing use. There is still more research needed to determine how long CBD stays in the system. However, it tends to vary from person to person and can also depend on the route.
The amount of time it takes for CBD to leave the body is also based on its half-life and how long it takes the user’s liver and kidneys to break down and filter the CBD. When taken orally, in a smaller dose, CBD will remain in the body for one to two days. After this period it will take an additional two days for the rest of the CBD to leave the body. After four days, a small amount of CBD will remain. After three to seven days, the chemical is completely gone from the system.
Essentially, it will take two to three days for the CBD to leave the system for light users, and up to seven days for CBD to leave the body in heavier users.
Related Questions
Can I Take CBD for Alcohol Withdrawal?
Yes, you can. However, you should never use CBD in place of other prescribed medication, especially if you have a history of severe alcohol abuse. Alcohol withdrawal can be a dangerous process for some people. It can also be very painful and debilitating. During this time, the body will go through an intense process, learning how to function without alcohol. This can cause a wide range of health complications including muscle cramps, chills, headaches, nausea, anxiety, pain, inflammation, and more. Taking CBD to soothe some of these effects can help to keep you come, can minimize pain and muscle cramps, and can even soothe anxiety and promote sleep. Of course, it’s important to speak with your physician before you stop drinking, for treatment guidance. Your doctor may prescribe other medications to use, in addition to the CBD, to help manage your systems and to ensure your safety during withdrawal. To learn more click here to read my article on can CBD help to stop drinking?
Can CBD Put Me to Sleep?
No. CBD is not often used in place of a sleep aid since it doesn’t actually cause sedation. Instead, CBD will promote sleep by helping you relax and by easing anxiety, stress, pain, and inflammation. Many doctors believe that these issues will cause insomnia or trouble sleeping in some people. Once CBD goes into action, you should feel relaxed enough to drift off to sleep. Remember, CBD is a non-psychoactive drug, so it doesn’t contain any sedative properties that will help you fall asleep. Instead, it’s a natural way to relax both your body and mind and one that can help you sleep through the night.
Final Thoughts
CBD can be used to treat sleep issues, anxiety, pain, inflammation, and more. But it can be difficult to determine how much CBD you need to use a day, the size of the dosage, or even pinpoint when does CBD wear off. The CBD’s active life depends on the potency of the product, the route used, and the size of the dose. CBD oil will provide longer-lasting effects compared to capsules and will begin working much faster as well. On average, users can feel the effects of the oil for five to seven hours. With capsules and edibles, you’ll feel the effects for two to three hours. It will take thirty minutes to one hour to feel the effects of the CBD if you consume it since it must be digested in the digestive tract and processed through the liver before it hits the bloodstream.
