When to take CBD? Best Times, Effects, and Expert Tips
People are taking CBD in all imaginable manners, like skincare products, oils, gummies, vaping, and more. Yet, it appears that the reply to one of the most straightforward questions is missing:
- When should a person take CBD?
- What is the best time to take CBD?
- How many times should one take CBD?
- Can one take CBD by food, or not?
- What is the perfect CBD dosage?
There are many such questions.
One of the issues is that information on various online platforms varies significantly. Thus, the more you read, the more confused you get. Hence, this article tries to put an end to all this confusion by exploring what science is saying.
How to take CBD matters
One of the reasons for such confusion is that CBD’s pharmacokinetics is not fully understood yet. After all, it is a food supplement and not a pharmacological drug. However, people tend to use it to manage health conditions.
The most important thing to know first is bioavailability. It means how much CBD will enter the blood circulation after its intake. Products with low bioavailability will only work if taken at a higher dosage so that a sufficient amount enters circulation.
The bioavailability of oral CBD (ingested) is just about 6%. However, bioavailability is high if it is taken sublingually. For example, the bioavailability of oral mucosal spray and vapes could be as high as 31%. This means that the dosage of oral products must be higher than vapes.
However, things do not end here. It seems that products with higher bioavailability, like vapes and oral mucosal sprays, have a shorter half-life of 10-15 hours. In comparison, oral CBD has a longer half-life of 1-2 days.
Half-life is the time after which half of the CBD that entered the circulation has left it.
Understanding half-life is essential to know when to take it, whereas bioavailability shows how much to take and how to take it.
Just take an example of oral CBD, which has quite a low bioavailability but a long half-life. It means that on the first dose, only a small amount will enter the body. However, it also means that much of it will remain in the body even the next day. Thus, when you take the second and third doses, it results in the accumulation of CBD in the body and, therefore, its higher plasma levels.
Is There an Ideal Time of Day for CBD?
The ideal time to take CBD would depend on the intake route and why someone is using it.
CBD accumulates in the body and reaches a peak and consistent plasma level after 4-5 days. It means that after a week of use, the time of taking it does not matter much if one is using it for chronic health conditions like improving metabolism, chronic pains, stress, and so on. Is so important to just keep taking it regularly at a fixed time of the day.
However, besides bioavailability, there is another thing like peak plasma level. It means that after taking CBD, its level increases significantly in the blood for a few hours. Therefore, it means that after its intake, it may help better for the next few hours.
This means that intake time matters when using CBD for acute conditions or something that affects at a particular time. For example, taking it in the morning may help reduce stress and anxiety during the day and help normalize blood pressure.
Similarly, taking CBD in the evening may be better for improving the quality of sleep. It may also be good for those who experience evening pains and other issues.
What are Some Common Reasons for Taking CBD?
CBD has widespread health benefits, and thus people may use it for a range of health conditions. It is not a medication; thus, it is not used to treat or cure health conditions. However, when used along with treatment, it may help. It is also good for preventing certain health conditions.
People are more likely to use CBD for:
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Chronic pains of various origins
- Improving brain and nerve health
- Managing mental health disorders
- Seizures control
- Enhancing sleep quality
- Normalizing metabolism
- Managing mood swings
- Managing substance withdrawal syndrome
- Improves skin health, especially preventing acne as it has sebostatic action
- Good for heart health
- Countering inflammation
How Much Should I Take?
The optimal dosage of CBD is not established. Moreover, there are massive individual differences, with some experiencing benefits at lower dosages while others require higher dosages. Thus, the advice is to start with a minimal dosage and then increase it gradually.
Food and Standards Agency (FSA) UK recommends not exceeding a dose of 70 mg daily, which is about 28 drops of 5% CBD.
Below is the recommendation for getting started with CBD;
- Start taking 2.5 mg to 5 mg twice daily for a week
- After one week, switch to a maintenance dose of 5 to 10 mg once a day
- If it does not help sufficiently, gradually increase the quantity weekly, like by 5 mg weekly. However, do not exceed 70 mg a day.
How Often to Use CBD?
As mentioned above, starting with a twice-daily dosage is a good idea. However, after a week, CBD achieves a stable plasma level, and thus one can continue with a once-daily dosage. The timing of a once-daily dosage would depend on the health condition. For some, it would be better to take it in the morning, while for others in the evening.
When Should I Take CBD?
When you are getting started with CBD, it is better to take it twice daily. Once in the morning and once in the evening. This will provide you with 24-hour relief.
However, after a week, CBD accumulates in the body, and one can continue with a single dose a day. Therefore, if one wants relief from some health issues during the day, it is better to use it in the morning. However, better to use it in the evening for relaxation and improving sleep quality.
Also, avoid taking it with food, as it may interfere with absorption. Thus, either take 30 minutes before a substantial meal or one hour after it.
Summary
Understanding when to take CBD can help maximize its benefits, although timing is not always critical for everyone. CBD has relatively low bioavailability but a long half-life, meaning it should be taken consistently for at least a week to feel its full effects. In general, if symptoms like anxiety, pain, or stress appear during the day, it is better to take it in the morning. If the goal is to relax or improve sleep quality, evening use is more appropriate. Choosing the right time depends on your personal health needs and lifestyle.
About us
At Essentia Pura, we specialize in manufacturing high-quality white-label and private-label CBD products, helping businesses launch their own unique CBD brands. With cutting-edge hemp extraction methods and a commitment to compliance and quality, we support companies in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Whether you’re looking for ready-to-market formulations or custom solutions, we’re here to help you succeed in the growing CBD market.