How to dose CBD oil ? – Individualization of treatment

Consider all the parameters that medicine uses, on the basis of many years of study and an equally long period of clinical practice.

The same system applies to the vast majority of pharmaceutical products used today:

– the doses depends on weight in the case of children, and at a standard dose in the case of adults.

However, none of this applies when using cannabis for medical purposes.

The dosage of THC or CBD as the only active agent is not identical to that of cannabis.

The vast majority of studies are done using perfectly quantified doses of cannabinoids involving isolated CBD or THC.


The pharmaceutical formulation 

The pharmaceutical formulationof the isolated CBD and THC is Marinol®.

The results of studies on this drug are somewhat disappointing in terms of effectiveness.

In addition, it have considerable side effects, especially at the psychological level.

THC is better tolerated with other cannabinoids, like CBD or terpenes, than alone in monotherapy.

Initial doses in these studies typically range from 2.5 mg to 20 mg of THC per dose. It depend on the research objective.

When giving a 2.5mg to the elderly and children, surprisingly, children tolerate the psychoactive effects of cannabis better than adults.

This is due to the lower density of CB1 receptors in immature brains compared to adult brains (Franjo Grothemner).

However, the situation in everyday clinical practice is very different.

Marinol® (THC) is used in minute proportions if we compare to its herbal form, Sativex®, or edible cannabis.

The dosage of the only pharmaceutical grade drug extracted from the plant varies considerably

After Marinol and Cesamet, we find Sativex®, a sublingual spray.

Each spray deposits a dose of 2.7 mg of THC and 2.5 mg of CBD on the oral mucosa.

The average dose in clinical trials with multiple sclerosis patients is 21.6 mg THC and 20 mg CBD per day.


Although we recommend to administer the product in two doses:

-One in the morning and one in the evening. 

Given that THC have a different bioavailability rate than CBD, Sativex is not comparable to other commonly used drugs.


Cannabis is not one molecule, but many

Medicinal cannabis is a substance with multifaceted therapeutic potential:

-Different combinations of cannabinoids and terpenoids create products that are more suitable for one condition or another.

Some varieties are ideal for treating insomnia or anxiety, while others have a powerful euphoric and antidepressant effect. 

This wide variation in effects is not only due to different combinations of cannabinoids.

It also depends on how the cannabinoids interact with the different terpenoids in each combination.

Given all the possible combinations of cannabinoids and terpenoids, medicinal cannabis should not be considered a single type of “medicine”, like paracetamol.


Herein lies the main problem with cannabis dosage

Administering 5 mg of THC through a pure Sativa variety with a high concentration of the terpenoid limonene. It will never have the same effects as 5 mg of THC administered using a pure Indica variety with a high concentration of pinene.

As a result, cannabis cannot be dosed like other pharmaceuticals.

To make matters even more complex, it is also important to take into account the genetic variability of each patient.

The same 5 mg dose of any strain will have different effects in two different individuals, even if the product is strictly identical.

There is only one way to address all of these obstacles when determining the dose of cannabis.


How to dose CBD oil – Individualization of treatment

An individualized treatment consists of giving each patient the dose that best corresponds to his or her disorder and that will depend on the individual.

Previous experience with cannabis, any concomitant medication he or she may be taking, like:

-the type of cannabinoids

-the products  (proportion of THC and CBD, terpenoid content, ratio  of Sativa/Indica, etc.)

-the route of administration (oral, sublingual, spray, etc.).


However, the protocol for determining the appropriate dose for each individual will always be the same:

Start with a low dose and gradually increase it until you find the dose that improves the individual’s symptoms while not intensifying the side effects.

Untill the point where they interfere with adherence.

In other words, the dose that provides the most effective balance between symptom improvement and side effect intensity.


To know how to dose CBD oil, it is important to spend enough time finding this balance.

If the dose increases too quickly, it can lead to side effects that will cause the patient to reject the treatment.

On the other hand, if it increases too slowly, the treatment is interrupts because of its apparent ineffectiveness.


In summary, cannabis treatment will always require an individualized dose for each patient.

Treatment should begin with a low dose and increase gradually and at an appropriate rate until the optimal dose for each individual is found.

This involves balancing symptom improvement with the patient’s tolerance to side effects (majorly THC).

It also depend, to a large extent, on the type of product like ratio CBD : THC or the route of administration.


how to dose CBD oil, examples :


How to dose CBD oil ?


How to dose CBD ?


How to dose CBD oil ?

 


When to take CBD oil ?

Many people prefer to take their CBD first thing in the morning, along with other supplements/medications and with their coffee and breakfast.

But not everyone feels this way, and some would rather take CBD in the evening with dinner or right before bed.

For the most part, it boils down to what is easiest to remember and what time is the most beneficial for each person.


Some people feel energized and alert when they take CBD, so taking it first thing in the morning makes sense.

Others prefer to take it a few hours later when their afternoon exhaustion starts to kick in, giving an extra boost to make it through the day.


On the other hand, some people report feeling relaxed and sleepy after taking CBD, in those cases, take it in the evening or before bedtime.