How to choose the right CBD dosage?
Welcome to our guide on optimal CBD dosage. Whether you're new to CBD or looking to optimize your experience, this article will walk you through determining the ideal dosage for your specific needs.
Questions about CBD dosage come up frequently. What dose should I take for it to be effective? How many times a day? What happens if I take too much?
These are legitimate questions, and in this article, which reads like an instruction manual, we'll talk about how to get the most out of cannabidiol.
Spoiler alert, we're not going to give you a universal dosage that works for everyone, or a one-size-fits-all solution.
However, we will explain simply and step-by-step how to find the ideal dosage for you.
We will discuss the different factors to consider, calculation methods, and a simple organization to enjoy your product and its effects for as long as possible!
CBD is not a medication, and we do not provide medical advice. Depending on the issue to be treated and to avoid any interaction with medical treatment, we strongly recommend discussing the use of cannabidiol with your doctor.
Calculating the right dosage
First, it's important to know that there's no risk of overdose... OK, but then why talk about dosage and what's the point of calculating the right amount?
Simply to be able to feel all the benefits of your product. CBD is a natural solution to alleviate certain ailments (chronic pain, sleep issues, anxiety...).
If you take too much or too little, you risk missing out on the desired effects. That would be a shame, wouldn't it?
The different factors to consider when calculating CBD dosage
Several criteria will help you calculate the right dosage:
- Your weight
- Your sensitivity to CBD
- The expected effects (pain relief, relaxation, sleep, etc.)
- CBD concentration
All these factors are complementary and will all come into play to calculate the right dosage. Let's proceed step by step. Let's first look at the CBD concentration in the product.
Understanding product concentration
CBD concentration is the key to determining the exact amount you consume. CBD oil labels indicate the concentration in milligrams per milliliter, and are shown as a percentage. This information is essential for calculating your precise dosage.
The higher the CBD concentration, the more potent the effects will be.
Let's take a concrete example. For a 5% CBD oil, a 10ml bottle contains 500mg of CBD (0.5 mg/ml). A 10% CBD oil contains 1000 mg of CBD (1mg/ml)... This is the total amount of CBD contained in the bottle. To find out the amount contained in one drop, you need to calculate the dosage per drop. We know that a 10ml bottle of CBD oil contains approximately 200 drops.
To guide you, refer to this table:
| 5% Oil | 10% Oil | 15% Oil | 20% Oil | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity in mg per 10ml bottle | 500 | 1000 | 1500 | 2000 |
| Quantity in mg per drop | 2.5 | 5 | 7.5 | 10 |
The higher the concentration, the smaller the amount of product needed. To take 10 mg of CBD, you can either take 4 drops of 5% oil, or 2 drops of 10% oil.
Simple, right? This is crucial information for the duration of use of your product, its preservation, and for savings too.
The CBD concentration is easy to determine when opting for sublingual oil or capsules. This way, you control the dosage and the quantity taken per day.
For other forms and administrations, such as inhaled vaporized flowers, you can refer to this table from Nicolas Autier's "Le Petit Livre du CBD":
Example of 12% CBD dried flowers
| Weight of dried flowers | CBD dosage in the portion of dried flowers | CBD dosage administered by vaporization |
|---|---|---|
| 100 mg | 200 mg | 400 mg |
| 12 mg | 24 mg | 48 mg |
| 7.2 mg | 14.4 mg | 28.8 mg |
Calculation Methods
Dosage calculation based on desired effect
You have chosen CBD as a natural solution to relieve specific symptoms: anxiety, pain, sleep… So you know perfectly well the expected effect(s)!
Be attentive to your body's signals, the effects felt after taking it, and the form of the product chosen. And don't forget to be patient! The disappearance of your symptoms is not immediate.
As we discussed in a previous article, depending on the product, the effects may take more or less time to appear... Absorption differs depending on the chosen form and type of administration (oral, sublingual, vaporization, topical...).
The fastest absorptions observed are with:
- CBD oil taken sublingually, thanks to the mucous membranes under the tongue,
- Dried flowers taken by vaporization, where CBD enters the lungs and goes directly into the bloodstream.
Vaporization is faster than sublingual administration: almost immediate for the former and 15 to 20 minutes for the latter. In any case, be patient and observant.
Dosage calculation based on body weight
You can also determine the CBD dose based on your weight.
The recommendation for finding a good dosage is to calculate with a very simple formula: 0.5 mg CBD x kg. This can be the basis for a daily dosage.
Thus, for a person weighing 60 kg, the starting dosage would be 0.5 x 60: 30 mg/day. Far from being a fixed dose, this calculation can provide a starting point for consideration.
To summarize and by combining this information with the concentration table above, here are some examples of intake based on weight.
| Number of drops/day | 5% Oil | 10% Oil | 15% Oil | 20% Oil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 12 💧 | 6 💧 | 4 💧 | 3 💧 |
| 70 kg | 14 💧 | 7 💧 | 4/5 💧 | 3/4 💧 |
| 80 kg | 16 💧 | 8 💧 | 5/6 💧 | 4 💧 |
A 60 kg person can consume 4 drops of 15% CBD oil per day.
However, to optimize the dosage and find what works perfectly for you, we advise you to proceed step by step.
Recommendations for optimal dosage
Start with a low dose and gradually increase
One of the best pieces of advice you'll receive is this: start with a low dose and gradually increase it by increments of 10 mg, for example by increasing the number of oil drops.
Why? Because, apart from your weight, everyone reacts differently to CBD. Sensitivity to the effects varies. You are the only one who can judge this.
Therefore, we advise you to start with a dose between 5 and 10 mg per day and then increase it by 10 mg every 2 to 4 days.
We recommend the use of CBD oil or CBD flowers, however, be aware that CBD crystal (also called isolate) consisting only of cannabidiol also exists. For dosage, proceed gradually as indicated above.
NB: This form does not allow you to benefit from the entourage effects of the hemp plant. You will not find it on our site.
You have determined your goals: calming your anxiety, relieving chronic pain, improving your sleep... This is the most important part.
So you know exactly what effects you expect from your product.
Observe the effects and adjust if necessary
Observe yourself! Space out dose increases. E.g., 2 drops for 2 days, then 4 drops for 2 days... and pay attention to the signals from your body and mind.
Are you more relaxed, is your pain less intense? How long does it take you to fall asleep?...
Test a dosage for one or several weeks (sometimes 2 to 3 weeks are necessary), then adjust the dosage accordingly to achieve the desired results.
You can, for example, keep a journal and note the dose, time of intake, effects felt...
NB: In "Le Petit Livre du CBD", for unsupervised use, Professor Nicolas Autier recommends 50 mg/day. However, he explains that this dose can go up to "150 mg/day for responsible self-medication and with the support of a healthcare professional *."
*p.87, section "how to find the right CBD dose?".
There are no risks of overdose with CBD; however, side effects such as dry mouth, drowsiness, or nausea are possible. These are among the observations you should note in your journal to adjust the dosage.
The last piece of advice we can give you is to regularly reconsider your dosage based on changes in your health and needs.
Keep in mind that CBD can affect each individual uniquely, and finding the ideal dose may require some adjustment.
Our last piece of advice: choose a quality CBD product! Regardless of the dosage, the quality of the product significantly impacts the expected effects.
Listen to your body; if in doubt, consult a healthcare professional. You can show them your journal, and they will be able to advise you and define a new action plan with you.
By following these simple steps, you can personalize your CBD experience to meet your specific needs. Feel free to explore our products and consult our team for personalized advice.
