With CBD oil being newer to the scene, many people wonder whether it is a miracle drug like it has been hyped up to be. Others wonder if there are CBD side effects that may outweigh many of the well known CBD benefits. Find the answer to common questions, such as the frequently asked “Does CBD get you high,” below.
Does CBD Oil Get You High?
CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, unlike delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). While both cannabis compounds exert great health benefits, people will not experience the side effects of THC (including intoxication) when taking CBD oil.
THC and CBD interact differently with the body’s endocannabinoid system so you cannot get high off CBD alone. So if you’re wondering – does CBD oil get you high – it does not! Getting high from taking CBD is not one of the CBD side effects.
If a person wants to get high off CBD oil, marijuana type cannabis plants can be used to make the THC containing cannabis oil. However, finding a tincture oil marketed as a CBD oil yet has enough THC to produce psychoactive effects, is highly unlikely.
CBD from Dispensaries
You would only be able to discover a CBD oil like this in states where medical or recreational marijuana is legal. The oil would most likely be marketed as a THC oil and could not be purchased online. Only pure CBD oil is legal to order online and must be derived from hemp.
What is Hemp CBD?
Hemp is a variety of cannabis that naturally contains less than 0.3% THC. A hemp-derived CBD oil (known to many as “hemp CBD”) may have a small amount of THC, but it would not be enough to get high. The CBD side effects of getting high from taking CBD oil alone, even if its a full spectrum variety, are unlikely. Hemp-based CBD oil is a great option to help restore homeostasis and support health goals. Most often, people are looking for health products that will allow them to function more normally.
Buy CBD Online
Purchasing CBD oil online presents a variety of options. You now have the freedom to choose from vapes, capsules, tinctures, and many other CBD delivery methods in both low and high CBD oil concentrations. The best part is that you can take these without having to worry about CBD side effects like getting high or being unable to function normally.
Is CBD Oil Addictive?
Hemp-based CBD oils have not been reported to have addictive or dependent properties. There is no evidence of CBD oil addiction or dependency and CBD has even been removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances. This removal also makes CBD oil a potential supplement to support athletic health.
Common CBD Side Effects
A 2016 CBD safety review reported that CBD is very safe for human use at a wide variety of doses. The most common side effects of CBD are tiredness, dizziness, lowered blood pressure, diarrhea, and changes in appetite/weight. CBD has a better safety profile than other cannabinoids like THC. The report elaborated that CBD is well tolerated up to 1500 mg/day in both animals and humans so if you’re thinking that you want to buy CBD for pets then you’re safe to do so.
An oral toxicity limit is still undetermined for CBD. A primate study concluded that CBD administered through IV could reach toxic levels at 212 mg per kg of body weight. Researchers believe orally administered CBD would have to be taken in 40 to 50 times the toxic IV dose to have a toxic effect in humans.
CBD Drug Interactions
The cytochrome P450-complex enzymes are biological molecules. These molecules are responsible for metabolizing some drugs. The CYP3A4 enzyme that metabolizes CBD is one of the P450-complex enzymes. CBD can inhibit the overall cytochrome P-450 system, specifically the CYP3A4 enzyme.
While most of the time, there will not be any CBD side effects or adverse effects when combined with prescription drugs, some interactions may be dangerous. It is always best to talk to your doctor and find out if any prescriptions you’re taking will have CBD drug interactions.
The liver is where you will find the cytochrome P-450 system. This system metabolizes more than 60% of drugs in the liver. The cytochrome P-450 system can easily process one drug at a time.
When you are taking multiple medicines that cytochrome P-450 needs to digest, it may have a hard time keeping up. In either situation, CBD drug interactions may occur. These interactions can be positive or negative and depend on the processing of other medications.
CBD Drug Interactions- Lowered Medication Potency
The general side effects of cytochrome P-450 that it is CBD inhibiting. This inhibition causes the system to metabolize drugs slower. Be careful of failing a drug test due to CBD if you are getting your CBD from a marijuana product. High-CBD strains like ACDC and Charlotte’s Web have THC levels that will last longer when cytochrome P-450 is present. Other natural foods and herbs like grapefruit, watercress, St. John’s Wort, and goldenseal also have this effect.
CBD’s inhibitory effect can reduce drug metabolism to the point that you can no longer feel the drug’s therapeutic effects. This lack of feeling is the case for Codeine, Vyvanse, and Concerta.
Four drugs inhibit the CBD digesting enzyme and lead to slower CBD degradation. These include:
- Ketoconazole
- itraconazole
- ritonavir
- clarithromycin
CBD Drug Interactions- Increased CBD Potency
The side effect, or shall I say the result, of taking one of those drugs with CBD will make a CBD dosage more potent and longer-lasting.
Four drugs that will do the opposite include:
- Phenobarbital
- Rifampicin
- Carbamazepine
- Phenytoin
CBD Drug Interactions- Reduced CBD Potency
When taken with CBD, these drugs will reduce the potency of a CBD oil dosage. However, reports have suggested that rather than supplementing these seizure prevention drugs with CBD, replacing them with CBD has resulted in positive outcomes.
CYP450 enzymes metabolize many drugs and could potentially interact with CBD. Some specific examples include:
- Steroids
- HMG CoA reductase inhibitors
- Calcium channel blockers
- Antihistamines
- Prokinetics
- HIV antivirals
- Immune modulators
- Benzodiazepines
- Antiarrhythmics
- Antibiotics
- Anesthetics
- Antipsychotics
- Antidepressants
- Anti-epileptics
- Beta-blockers
- PPIs
- NSAIDs
- Angiotensin II blockers
- Oral hypoglycemic agents
- Sulfonylureas
CBD and Alcohol
Combining alcohol and CBD oil is generally regarded as safe for moderate drinkers. In heavy alcohol users, like binge drinkers, the CBD and alcohol interaction may be noticeable, and mild CBD side effects may result from the combination.
CBD may lower blood alcohol levels and protect the body from the effects of drinking. CBD may also lower cravings for alcohol.
There is some evidence that CBD can have a positive interaction with alcohol like when supplementing alcohol and CBD oil for pain relief together. However, it is essential to note that CBD and alcohol are not well studied. Therefore, the side effects of CBD when combined with alcohol, if any, are not currently well known. CBD can affect nearly all the body’s enzymes involved with alcohol metabolism, and more research is needed to understand the interaction fully.
CBD Oil and Caffeine
You can find CBD coffee online, but is CBD and coffee a good match?
Caffeine and CBD oil are both processed through the CYP 450 enzyme and stimulate a receptor called A2a.
Caffeine and CBD together have shown the potential to increase feelings of clarity and alertness through A2a receptor inhibition. A2a receptors block the reuptake of adenosine. This blockage can protect tissue from inflammation and regulate glutamate and dopamine release in the brain. Since CBD and caffeine can act on A2a, they have the potential to help ease symptoms of insomnia, pain, and depression.
CBD Caffeine Boost
When CBD slows down the CYP 450 enzyme, it slows the metabolism of caffeine. This slow down is a positive CBD side effect, as it creates an extended-release of caffeine, promoting alertness without the jitters. This effect of CBD is similar to that of the popular coffee brewing method created by Bulletproof Coffee.
Like with CBD and alcohol, the interactions of CBD coffee appear to be positive, but only a doctor can honestly assess if CBD drug interactions will be problematic for you.
Endocannabinoid System: The Body’s Highway
The endocannabinoid system is a network of signal receptor proteins. These proteins can be stimulated or inhibited by cannabinoid signals. Cannabinoids can be natural endocannabinoids, or the plant version – phytocannabinoids, which are unique to cannabis. The cascades of signals send when cannabinoids and receptors pair. These signals can produce reactions throughout the body.
Can You Overdose on CBD?
Endocannabinoid receptors are all over the body, from the gut to the skin, to the brain, and beyond. The one place they are not present in is in the brainstem. This genuinely unique characteristic is part of what makes cannabis very safe.
A toxic dose of alcohol or opioids can lead to a coma or even death from damage to the brainstem. A dose of cannabis that is too strong could cause a person to fall asleep. However, there has not been a toxic dose level elucidated as one of the unwanted CBD effects on the brain.
Cannabinoid Diversity
While CBD and THC get a lot of attention, there are over a hundred cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Since cannabinoid receptors are like locks, these little unique shape changes are very much like the ridges on different keys.
These different locks and keys unlock different reactions, so CBD side effects such as stomach ache may affect one person, but not another. The overall response a person has to a CBD product will vary based on their uniquely tuned endocannabinoid system. The response they have is also determined by the diversity of different cannabinoids in a product.
Is CBD Oil Safe? Yes, and Word is Spreading Fast
It is well established that even if you get high CBD oil in concentrations of 1000mg plus, intoxication will not result. The latest Farm Bill has made it easier for hemp to grow and to extract CBD hemp from it. CBD oil will likely become an even more accessible way for people to get symptom relief naturally. CBD is a supplement that is changing lives, yet there has not yet been enough discussion around CBD side effects.
References
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- Drug Interactions Flockhart Table. (2018). University of Indiana School of Medicine, The Trustees of Indiana University. Retrieved from: https://drug-interactions.medicine.iu.edu/MainTable.aspx
