CBD Dose Response
Curtis Swift, Ph D., Mesa Lavender
CBD and Lavender Products are available at https://mesalavender.com
The inverted U-shaped CBD dose-response curve helps explain why a dose of 15 mg of CBD (cannabidiol) for a 150 pound person can be effective while doubling the dose or taking a lesser dose of CBD is less efficient. There is a sweet spot based on body weight and milligrams (mg) of the CBD dose. One mg per 10 pounds of body weight is the recommended starting point. If after several days, that dosage does not seem to be doing the trick, the dosage can be increased by 2 to 3 drops per day. Don’t take too much as you are wasting product and reducing the effect of the CBD.
CBD conforms to a typical bell-shaped dose-response curve (also known as a reverse U-shaped dose response). This appears to be true no matter which animal is tested. Researchers tested this hypothesis with men and women in public speaking tests and found the bell-curve effect was accurate. [1]
In these studies, the oral administration of CDB at 150, 300 and 600 mg produced an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve. In other words, the lowest or highest doses of CBD had little or no effect on anxiety and a significant response was only achieved with an intermediate dose, the sweet spot. This dose-response pattern is consistent with evidence from CBD animal studies within a limited range of doses. Both studies used CBD in an oral gel caps which were swallowed.
Note: the reason the dosages used in these trials were so high has to do with the First-Pass Effect. The CBD was taken orally as compared to sublingually (under the tongue).
When swallowed, CBD passes through the digestive system and into the liver. At each step it is degraded and not available to be absorbed into the blood system. CBD availability for absorption and reduction of stress, anxiety, and pain, etc. is greatly diminished.
When considering the amount of CBD used in these two studies keep in mind the bioavailability (i.e. effectiveness) of oral CBD in humans is around 6% [2], and when taking CBD under the tongue the bioavailability is much greater. [3] Sublingual (under the tongue) delivery produces superior bioavailability compared to oral dosage forms of CBD. [4] Higher oral doses are required to produce the same results when doses are taken under the tongue.
Here is a good comparison: If you take 15 mg of Mesa Lavender Farms CBD oil under your tongue, you will need to take 4 to 6 times that amount of CBD in a capsule or drink of the same concentration.
Peak blood levels of most CBD products administered sublingually are usually achieved within 10-15 minutes. “Because of the high permeability and the rich blood supply, the sublingual route is capable of producing a rapid onset of action which makes it an appropriate route for drugs with short delivery period and in frequent dosing regimen.” https://innovareacademics.in/journal/ijpps/Vol3Suppl2/1092.pdf
CBD Dose-response Curve and diminishing returns
CBD abides by the law of diminishing returns with the inverted U-curve: More is not necessarily better. At a low dose, you don’t see the intended effect. At a moderate dose, you receive the intended effect. And at high doses, you go back to seeing little effect.
Mesa Lavender Farms CBD oils are formulated so one drop contains one milligram of CBD. We recommend 1 milligram under the tongue for 30 to 90 seconds per 10 each pounds of body weight per day. Thus, a person of 150 pounds would take 15 drops of Mesa Lavender’s CBD oil sublingual, while a 200-pound person would take 20 drops of Mesa Lavender’s CBD oil to reach the sweet spot. Since everyone’s metabolism differs, slight adjustments may be needed in increment of 2 to 5 drops until the Sweet Spot is reached. As your metabolism changes as you age, the CBD dose-response will also need to change.
You can check out the Certificate of Analysis for our full spectrum and CBD-only tinctures at https://mesalavender.com/certificates-of-analysis/.
Certificates of Analysis, provided details on the cannabinoids in the products. This is critical to indicate how many milligrams of CBD are in each drop. With 600 drops in an ounce of tincture and with 600 mg of CBD per ounce that means each drop will contain 1 mg of CBD.
If you are taking a CBD tincture/oil with a different concentration of CBD, be sure to determine the amount of CBD in each drop so you take the correct amount of CBD for your body weight.
Color is critical
The clarity of the oil formulation is a great guide to the purity of the product.
CBD dose-response references:
[1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5425583/ &
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6781714/
[2]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3763649/
[3]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17051591/
[4]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7558665/