A lot of fuzz has been made about CBD oil and other products. CBD is often promoted as a miracle cure to a wide range of conditions, but how effective is it? And are CBD products safe? There are things you should know before you buy CBD for the first time. Here are some of the disadvantages of CBD that proponents often gloss over, or ignore completely.
Liver toxicity
Like many health supplements, CBD usage has been linked to an increase in liver toxicity. In fact, that’s the top concern of the FDA when it comes to long-term CBD usage, as they made clear in their statement about CBD products.
Only one CBD drug has been approved by the FDA. It’s a drug called Epidiolex, which is used to treat Dravet syndrome. Dravet is a rare type of infantile epilepsy, and during clinical trials It was noted that some patients displayed an increase in liver toxicity. But the FDA decided that the benefits of the drug outweighed the downsides in this particular case.
If you are looking to make CBD products part of your routine, it’s recommended that you stick to moderate doses and take regular blood exams. The latter will help spot increases in your liver toxicity, and catching it early could help prevent serious consequences.
Drowsiness
CBD is generally understood to not cause intoxication. Its calming properties affect your mood, but not your senses or your notion of reality. Which means that CBD is closer to caffeine than it is to alcohol or THC.
That said, high doses of CBD can both cause intense relaxation and lower your blood pressure. Both may make you feel weak and drowsy, especially if you are already dealing with conditions that lower your blood pressure. In extreme cases, low blood pressure can lead to loss of balance and even make you pass out.
Drug interactions
When promoting the miracle healing properties of CBD, many fail to note that the substance interacts with other medications. CBD may interact with all sorts of medication, including pressure medication, painkillers, anxiety medication, and stress medication. Given that CBD is promoted as a natural treatment for all of those conditions, informing patients of potential interactions is a must.
If CBD was sold as a medication in the US, potential drug interactions would have to be disclosed to consumers on the label or in the packaging. But since CBD is usually sold as a supplement, drug interactions often go unmentioned in the packaging. And while such interactions aren’t deadly, they can interfere with treatments for serious degenerative conditions. If you are planning on using CBD to help you manage the symptoms of a medical condition, make sure to inform your doctor of your decision.
Snake oil risk
Many critics of CBD have compared the substance to modern-day snake oil, and they aren’t always wrong. A 2019 FOX 11 report tested dozens of different CBD products and found that at least five of the samples contained no CBD at all. One of the samples was contaminated with E. Coli, and only one of the products tested contained the amount of CBD advertised on the label. If you are going to try CBD, you should first read this Cibdol guide on how to spot quality CBD oil, so that you can ensure you are getting what you paid for.
