Will CBD Make Me Tired? CBD Benefits & Side Effects

Many wonder, “Will CBD make me tired?” Lots of people are also curious about the potential side effects of taking CBD as well. If you’re curious about what CBD does to your body, keep reading! We’ll cover it all.

For anybody new to Cannabidiol (CBD), it’s a naturally occurring compound in the cannabis Sativa plant. One of the most famous plants in this family is marijuana. Of course, when many people first hear that some CBD is sometimes sourced from marijuana plants, the first thought is usually “will CBD make me high?”

Put simply, you can rest assured that it will not make you ‘high’ because it doesn’t have THC.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is the most famous component of cannabis Sativa because it’s the one responsible for making a person feel ‘high’ or intoxicated. CBD and THC are only two components of more than a hundred cannabinoids found in cannabis Sativa. Although they’re both similar in some ways, they have very different effects on the body.

Side Effects of CBD

Though most people tolerate CBD well, in some cases it can cause side effects, most of which are mild.

Some of the side effects may include:

• Fatigue

Fatigue is exhaustion that continues even with a good night’s rest. It’s characterized by a lack of energy, which manifests itself physically and mentally.

High doses of CBD have been linked to fatigue. Ironically, CBD has also been used by numerous people to treat chronic fatigue as well as sleeplessness.

This leads to the conclusion that CBD can affect everyone differently. While some people take CBD to help them sleep better because of the calming effect it has, some take CBD to reduce their fatigue.

CBD is often taken by people hoping to relax and unwind. Because of its calming effects, it has been known to cause many to experience sleepiness after it’s taken. If this is the case for you, consider taking your CBD dosage before going to bed as it can help you drift off to sleep faster and may help you get better quality sleep.

• Potential skin reactions

As with any creams and lotions, putting CBD on the skin can cause an allergic reaction or rash. To avoid this, it is best to use the topical on a small portion of the skin first and wait to see if there will be a reaction. After that, you can then apply a bigger portion.

• Reacting with other drugs

CBD has been shown to have adverse effects when taken together with other drugs such as blood thinners. CBD itself can act as a blood thinner. This means that if taken with certain medications, the combo can lower your blood pressure to dangerous levels.

It has also been found that CBD can occupy enzymes used by certain drugs used to treat HIV and other conditions. This can pose a serious threat to one’s health.

This can all be avoided by talking to your doctor before taking CBD. It is important to talk to your health care provider about the other medications you are taking before trying CBD.

In addition to interaction with other drugs, CBD can find its way from a breastfeeding mother’s bloodstream to her milk. This can in turn be ingested by the breastfeeding baby. Pregnant mothers may also pass CBD to their growing baby. Not enough research has been done on the effects of CBD usage during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so pregnant and nursing mothers are advised to avoid using CBD.

• Nausea and other digestive problems

Some people have reported feeling nauseous after ingesting CBD supplements. This is dependent on how sensitive one’s stomach usually is.

Diarrhea has also been reported in people with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues. For the most part, like nausea, it is a rare side effect. In fact, many studies have also found that CBD can help reduce nausea and digestive issues in some individuals. Again, the side effects vary from person to person.

• Dryness of the mouth

Some people experience a dry mouth which is mostly associated with CBD oil drops. This happens when CBD interreacts with glands in the mouth that affect the production of saliva.

If this happens, you are advised to drink lots of water before and after taking CBD.

• Potential worsening of Parkinson’s disease symptoms

Parkinson’s is a nervous system or brain disorder characterized by tremors in the hands, rigid muscles, impaired posture and balance, and speech problems.

For some people with Parkinson’s, the symptoms may be worsened by taking CBD. If you suffer from Parkinson’s, the best thing to do is to speak to your medical caregiver before using CBD.

• Liver problems

In some cases, CBD has been shown to cause liver problems especially when one is taking liver medication. This side effect is very rare, but if you are under any form of treatment or medication, ensure that you speak to your doctor before taking CBD.

How is CBD taken?

CBD comes in many forms and this is what determines whether it will be taken orally, topically or through inhalation. It comes as capsules, creams, vaporized liquid, and many other forms. It can be taken:

• Orally

There are two ways to take CBD orally.

The first is simply taking CBD oil, capsules, powder or any edible form of CBD through the mouth. It goes through your digestive tract as food does and is absorbed into the bloodstream.

The effects of CBD take longer to be felt when it’s taken orally through the digestive tract.

The second way is taking it sublingually, which is where you place CBD under the tongue where it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. This means that the effects of CBD are felt much faster than the first method where it has to go through the digestive tract.

• CBD Topicals

These refer to ointments, creams, or lotions infused with CBD and are applied to the skin as you would normal lotion.

CBD topicals are a good choice when the target area is the skin due to skin conditions or pain associated with arthritis. The two main reasons why people buy CBD topicals are for skincare and pain relief.

• Inhalation

This method of taking CBD involves the use of a vape pen. The CBD is converted into gas and the user inhales it into the lungs. As you can imagine, the effects are felt almost immediately as the CBD quickly moves into the bloodstream.

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to taking CBD. It’s a very individual choice with each person choosing what works best for them and their reason for using CBD.

The Benefits of CBD

Although there are a few potential CBD side effects that you should be aware of, most people report no side effects from taking CBD regularly. It's far more common to experience the potential health benefits instead. A few of the most common CBD benefits most experience include:

• Anxiety relief

Unfortunately, anxiety affects millions of people every year. Researchers are constantly searching for natural products to treat anxiety-related disorders. Because of this, CBD has been studied extensively for its potential to help ease anxiety.

Studies done so far indicate the CBD may be useful in treating anxiety disorders like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and General Anxiety Disorder.

• PTSD

PTSD sufferers have reported an easing of their symptoms after taking CBD. This psychiatric disorder affects people who’ve gone through a traumatic event. It is characterized by a constant reliving of the traumatic event long after it has ended.

This condition drastically impacts a person’s quality of life - affecting everything from their social life, romantic relationships, and ability to function as an independent adult.

In addition to the already mentioned study where PTSD sufferers reported an easing of their symptoms, another study conducted in a psychiatric clinic on eleven adults with PTSD also reached the same conclusion.

After eight weeks of being treated with CBD, the PTSD symptoms had eased considerably. Plus, no patient had serious side effects.

• Social Anxiety Disorder

It’s normal and common to feel nervous sometimes but SAD (social anxiety disorder) is more than shyness. It is extreme self-consciousness and fear of being judged by others.

Symptoms of SAD include but are not limited to:

• Sweating profusely
• Rapid heartbeat
• Inability to move caused by muscle tension
• Breathlessness

What causes SAD?

It’s thought that genetics play a role over who gets it, and it’s also been linked to past trauma. However, in some cases, there’s no distinctive cause for it.

While more studies are needed, the latest trials and studies indicate that CBD acts fast to curb social anxiety. It does this by acting as an anxiolytic, which is a drug for reducing anxiety.

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

OCD is a mental condition characterized by repetitive thoughts, actions, and sensations. In other words, obsessions, and compulsions.

These compulsions and obsessions include repeated actions like washing one’s hands over and over again, double-checking locks and repeating it again and again.

Research published in the journal of affective disorders recorded eighty-seven people with OCD whose compulsions reduced by as much as 60% after taking CBD.

• Pain management 

CBD acts as an antioxidant, by potentially decreasing inflammation in chronic pain associated with back pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, cancer pain, arthritis and other conditions.

It may offer an all-natural alternative to people who rely heavily on pain medication that is habit-forming or that has adverse side effects.

• Skincare

Skin conditions are annoying, and many people deal with them.

In a study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigations, the results showed that CBD does inhibit excess oil production and also has anti-inflammatory effects on the glands.

For skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, CBD aids due to its anti-inflammatory properties and reducing excess cell growth.

• Epilepsy

Epidiolex is an FDA-approved drug that contains CBD in an active form and is used for epilepsies to reduce seizures.

The conditions listed above are just a few of the many that are being studied alongside CBD to see whether CBD can help reduce symptoms or potentially prevent certain conditions. A lot more research needs to be done before we have a better understanding, but the studies we have seen look very promising. 

In Conclusion

Despite the potential side effects associated with CBD, and its ability to make some people feel tired, CBD has many benefits. It has grown in popularity as people take charge of their health and search for all-natural solutions for many of their health concerns.

We foresee CBD being used to treat more and more conditions in the future as scientists and researchers learn more.