Self-medication with CBD or other supplements can have serious consequences, as it can delay treatment and worsen symptoms. Cannabis can cause hallucinations, mood changes, amnesia, depersonalization, paranoia, delirium and disorientation. It can also make it harder to concentrate or remember things, cause sleep problems and depression. CBD is short for cannabidiol, a natural compound found in cannabis (also known as marijuana) and hemp plants.
It has the same chemical composition as cannabis, but it doesn't cause a high. CBD products are available from companies such as NuLeaf Naturals and Bluebird Botanicals, which offer batch reports on their websites. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3 percent THC are considered illegal at the federal level, although they may be legal under some state laws. It is not yet fully understood how CBD works, but it appears to interact with anandamide, a cannabinoid produced by the body.
There are no human studies evaluating the efficacy of CBD for depression and bipolar disorder. The only FDA-approved form of CBD is Epidiolex, which has a purity of 98% CBD and less than 0.15% THC. The package insert for Epidiolex lists depression and suicidal ideation as possible adverse reactions. In vitro studies have shown that CBD can reduce the potential of the local epileptiform field, its amplitude and duration. A study conducted by Ben showed that CBD was not effective at a dose of 40 mg per day in treating chronic neuropathic pain.
Another study conducted by Das et al evaluated the anticipation of an anxiety-causing electric shock in 48 healthy volunteers who were given pure CBD without THC or placebo. The researchers also found that the CBD group had reduced arterial stiffness and improved blood flow through the arteries after administering repeated doses of CBD compared to the placebo group (2). Given the inconsistency of OTC CBD products, there are no dosage recommendations available for each stated condition and they are not prescribed as an FDA-approved drug. There is also no medical follow-up to monitor potential side effects or long-term effects of taking CBD.
The THC content in a product labeled as CBD is supposed to contain less than 0.3% of the dry weight of THC in its leaves and buds. The studies conducted so far have used a controlled form of CBD without any significant THC content, have had a small number of patients and have had short follow-up windows. The current situation, in which users do not know what they are actually consuming in the product, makes CBD unsafe and the risk outweighs any potential benefit from using it.
