Note: This CBD Vape Side Effects Post has been co-authored by Dr Andres Maldonado M.D., in line with the ‘Vape and Juice Medical Review Policy’. Evidence based reporting.
CBD vape side effects are something you will probably find yourself researching either before you try your CBD vape juice for the first time.
CBD comes from the cannabis plant, which might have you thinking about negative ways it may make you feel. As, after all, cannabis containing THC is illegal because of its side effects.
Here’s a short video on what CBD is, just as a refresher:
However, CBD doesn’t contain enough THC in the slightest, if at all, to have any intoxicating effects. In this article, we will take you through the following topics.
If you’re in a rush, skip ahead with the links below
- CBD vape side effects
- Negative CBD vape side effects
- Is vaping CBD safe?
- Can I give my child CBD?
- Can I take CBD when pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Interactions with medications
- Conditions CBD vape may help with
We don’t want to teach you to suck eggs, so we will keep it brief on what CBD is and if you want more info then head over to History of CBD to find out more.
CBD vape side effects
Vaping CBD does have some side effects, which is, of course, the reason why you might take it! That said, there has not been a huge number of studies run on humans, and most have been done on animals or in vitro conditions.
To get a fuller picture of adverse effects on vaping CBD, more research will need to be done, similar to the work listed below.
Source: Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol
Some of the most well known and researched CBD side effects include
- Drowsy
When taken in larger doses, CBD may make you feel sleepy. This is ideal if you are struggling with sleep issues and want to fall asleep and stay asleep for the night. Research suggests you need around 160mg if you are suffering from insomnia.
In the CBD Study listed at PubMed, when evaluating the effect of CBD vs. placebo in patients with neurodegenerative disease, they found a higher incidence of sedation in patients receiving CBD. Evidence that one should be careful if operating heavy machinery or other equipment when using CBD.
- Alert
Stay with us, this isn’t a typo or a contradiction. CBD has been found to actually make you feel more alert when taken in small doses. A study on CBD and memory was conducted by Colorado State University, but it is early days and a lot more needs to show in research to suggest at a clinical level, CBD will transform your memory. The brain is still one of the most unknown organs in the human body
- Sense of calm
CBD has been found to indirectly lower activity in the amygdala which plays a big part in our emotions. This may reduce anxiety and give you a sense of calm. If you are interested in reading further about CBD and anxiety read Does CBD vape help anxiety.
This guidance on CBD and anxiety was more recently hypothesised by running a test on 24 sufferers of societal anxiety disorder, alongside a placebo. You can read the source below – but the findings were that cannabidiol consumption lowered society anxiety feelings on a 100 point scale compared to the test alternative
Source: Cannabinoids for Medical Use – University of Bristol
- Pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties
CBD is thought to block and bind to receptors. This interaction then changes the way in which we perceive pain. Whether it is headaches, period pains, joint pain or anything in between.
Source: Update on Cannabis and CBD pharmaceuticals in pain medicine
- Reduction in seizures
There is quite a bit of evidence to suggest that CBD may help those who suffer from epilepsy. There is even a pharmaceutical product which contains the cannabinoid from GW Pharma in the UK. This product is known as Epidiolex and was amongst one of the first of it’s kind in the world.
Negative side effects of vaping CBD
At the time of writing this article, there haven’t been any reports of vaping CBD being toxic. THC on the other hand is. You can read all about the dangers of vaping THC on our post about Dank Vapes.
The most frequently reported side effects of vaping CBD include the following adverse effects.
This data is taken from Medscape which is owned by WebMD and offers access to ongoing medical information and education for professionals. It gives our data the authority it requires, to ensure you are reading credible information.
- Infections, all (40-41%)
- Somnolence (23-25%)
- Infection, other (21-25%)
- Decreased appetite (16-22%)
- Diarrhea (9-20%)
- Transaminases elevated (8-16%)
- Rash (7-13%)
- Fatigue, malaise, asthenia (11-12%)
- Infection, viral (7-11%)
- Insomnia (5-11%)
CBD and side effects on the liver
If you have a liver disease then you may need a lower dose of the cannabinoid to those with healthy and fully functioning livers. There is a rare side effect of liver injury from taking too much CBD.
It is general guidance that you would seek professional medical advice before taking anything that can disrupt liver function, or alter it potentially in any way. Particularly if you suffer from any liver related issues.
Is vaping CBD safe?
CBD is a non-toxic substance that will not make you feel ‘high’ or intoxicated or any of the feelings you may associate with smoking cannabis.
To make sure you are getting a safe product that actually is CBD, make sure you ask to see a certificate of analysis if it is not obviously available. This will show you everything you need to know about the vape product, so you can rest assured you are getting something that is safe.
You also need to make sure you are taking CBD correctly.
When vaping the cannabinoid you should be using CBD vape juice, not CBD oil. It is sometimes called vape oil, which is confusing. Just remember never to put oil in your vape kit. It isn’t designed to move through your device or your lungs for that matter.
- Read more on CBD Vape Benefits Next.
Can I give CBD to my child?
Vaping CBD isn’t suitable for children. Nor is vaping itself.
There has been some research into CBD for ADHD and autism as well as anxiety. Many parents have given it to their children – we make no apologies for not wishing to report with an answer to the question: “Can I give CBD to my child.”.
We as a business stress that our guidance from our Medical Review Team is as follows:
There is very little evidence at this stage to support the use of CBD in children and it is inadvisable to recommend giving CBD to children who’s brains are still developing.
Dr Andres Maldonado M.D.
Can you vape CBD if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
It is advised that you do not vape CBD if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. While it is likely safe, some products may contain other ingredients which could harm the baby. Best to be of the safe side and avoid it until you have had the baby and they are weaned.
CBD and medication interactions
Vaping CBD is generally seen as a safe remedy. However, there is one thing to consider when it comes to taking CBD and that is interactions with medications.
The interactions may change the way the body processes and metabolize certain meds.
Let’s get into a little biology. In the human body – the liver specifically, there are a group of enzymes called cytochrome P450, also known as CYP450. These convert foreign substances to allow them to be eliminated.
Some meds and remedies affect this family of enzymes by either slowing or speeding up the metabolism of drugs. This can then alter how your body processes these drugs or supplements.
These enzymes are also the ones that metabolise cannabinoids, such as CBD. However, during the metabolisation process, the CBD can infer with CYP3A4.
So how can CBD vape affect medications?
So, the CYP3A4 is the enzyme which metabolises lots of the prescription meds out there. If CBD is interfering and inhibiting this enzyme then it can’t do its job of metabolising the drugs as it may have without CBD in your system.
For one example, if your body starts to metabolise your meds slower than its usual rate, then you could end up with more in your system at one time. Giving you some unwanted side effects.
One suggestion is to look for the grapefruit warning. If your medication has a warning against eating or drinking grapefruits while taking it, then CBD may also not be safe. This is because grapefruits inhibit the CYP3A4 like CBD is thought to.
It is important to check with your healthcare provider if you are taking medications and also want to try CBD.
ONLY AN EXAMPLE:
Another such example, is to imagine that a person is taking contraceptive medication and that they start taking CBD. This CBD interaction through reasons at the time unknown, causes a decrease in the effects of the contraceptive and the woman becomes pregnant. This would be a significant problem if you weren’t planning it.
It must be said, this is not a factual scenario and is only to illustrate a point.
What conditions may CBD vape help with?
There are a number of conditions that have shown promise in CBD studies. Some of the studies are in their early research phases. These conditions include:
- Epilepsy
- Bipolar, depression and anxiety
- Quitting smoking
- Diabetes
- Insomnia
- MS
- Withdrawal from opioids
- Pain and Inflammation
- More Can Be Added*
* From Tourettes, to Multiple Sclerosis, to Neurogenerative diseases, many more things could be added over time – BUT and this is the critical factor, there just isn’t YET the conclusive research to state CBD vaping is the be all and end all.
Despite this, the application of CBD in many diseases is being studied and at length. Maybe in 10 years it could be used for diseases we never even imagined
CBD vape side effects, final thoughts
There are side effects to basically everything, even eating Marmite (heartburn for me). The side effects of vaping CBD are very minimal and don’t happen for everyone. The main concern is to check whether they interfere with any medication you are on by chatting with your doctor or alternative health practitioner.
"