CBD Tincture Side Effects and How to Avoid Them

CBD tincture is one of the most popular and effective ways of getting your daily dose of cannabidiol. But it's important to know the impact of the supplements you take — so it's only natural to ask, are there any side effects of CBD tincture?

CBD tincture is generally safe for regular daily use, but it may cause some mild side effects. CBD tincture side effects may include drowsiness and fatigue, stomach upset, diarrhea, or reduced appetite. However, these side effects are somewhat rare, generally mild, and can be avoided by reducing CBD dosage.

In this article, we dive deep into the most common concerns about CBD tincture side effects, how to avoid them, and everything you need to know to ensure your CBD experience is as pleasant and side-effect free as can be!

What Is CBD Tincture?

Of the many CBD products available, CBD tincture is the most widely used and enjoyed. CBD tinctures, also sometimes known as CBD oils, are liquid solutions of cannabidiol (CBD) and an oil (most often MCT oil) base.

These tinctures are taken sublingually, meaning that they are held under the tongue for a short period before being swallowed. This allows for much faster and more efficient absorption than with simple digestion.

CBD Tincture May Have Other Ingredients

CBD tinctures may also contain a number of other supplemental ingredients. These may add pleasant flavors to make your dose more palatable, or they may be synergistic ingredients aimed at making the therapeutic effects more potent or specialized.

But when it comes to possible side effects of CBD tincture, these other ingredients may bring potential issues of their own!

Potential CBD Tincture Side Effects

Any cannabidiol product has the potential to cause some mild side effects. But when it comes to CBD tinctures specifically, you also need to keep in mind the other ingredients' potential for side effects!

CBD's Potential Side Effects

When used at high doses or by individuals sensitive or unaccustomed to it, CBD is known to cause several potential side effects. These include:

• Dry Mouth
• Low Blood Pressure
• Lightheadedness
• Tiredness
• Stomach Upset
• Diarrhea

Notably, however, the vast majority of users report experiencing no side effects from CBD. The above adverse effects are far more likely when users take an unusually large dose — often multiple times in excess of the product's recommended regular dose!

But if you do experience any of these potential CBD side effects, don't worry: they tend to be very mild and to pass quickly.

Side Effects of Other Tincture Ingredients

Again, CBD tinctures don't contain just CBD. Every tincture will contain at least one other ingredient, and many will contain other synergistic, therapeutic ingredients.

Moreover, each of these ingredients have their own potential side effects, especially when taken in high doses.

Most CBD tinctures are made with an MCT oil base, which is usually derived from coconut. The base oils used, including MCT, are known to cause stomach upset, flatulence, and even diarrhea in some users.

For users with particularly sensitive stomachs, these effects may compound with CBD's own potential for stomach discomfort, so sensitive users need to be extra careful to moderate their dose!

Outside of the base oil, however, it's very difficult to generalize the potential side effects of CBD tincture's other ingredients. Every tincture is different, and the potential effects will vary based on the specific ingredients used.

Always consult the ingredients in your CBD tinctures and look into the potential adverse effects of each. Your health and comfort are paramount, and a little legwork can go a long way towards ensuring you have the best CBD experience possible.

CBD Tincture Can Interfere With Prescription Medications

For users taking certain medications, it's vitally important to consider one lesser-known side effect of CBD tincture: altering the effectiveness of your prescriptions!

Of course, identifying which medications may interact with CBD is a necessary first step.

As a general rule, CBD interacts with medications in a manner similar to grapefruit. If your meds can't be taken with grapefruit, then odds are that CBD will interfere in a similar way.

That said, it's possible that CBD may interact with other medications. Luckily, a growing body of research has emerged to assist with this vital step. Researchers at Penn State developed a list of 139 medications that may be affected by the use of cannabinoids like CBD.

Most such drugs were mildly affected, however, and the researchers narrowed their focus to 57 medications for which cannabinoid use could cause serious complications.

Be sure to check the above list for your medication. For convenience, however, some of the most common such drugs include:

• Warfarin, a blood thinner.
• Amiodarone, a heart rhythm medication.
• Levothyroxine, a thyroid medication.
• Clobazam, lamotrigine, and valproate, and other medications for seizures.

If you are taking these or another medication on the list of 57 medications seriously impacted by cannabinoids, it is vitally important to discuss your CBD use with a trained physician.

How To Avoid CBD Tincture Side Effects

Although the potential side effects of cbd tincture are uncommon and mild, they're still best avoided wherever possible! After all, the last thing you want is for a your therapeutic CBD to cause discomfort!

Here are a few useful tips for avoiding CBD tincture side effects:

• Review each CBD tincture's ingredients; if you aren't familiar with any, look up whether they can cause side effects of their own.
• Start out with very low doses any time you try a new CBD tincture or other product. Starting out even well below the recommended dosage can give you an opportunity to see how your body will react, then move up from there.
• Always stick to the product's recommended dosage until you are very familiar with how your body will react to it. Experienced users may try upping their dosage but should always be cautious about it.
• Avoid taking CBD tincture on an empty stomach. Having a bit of food in your stomach will help minimize the tincture's potential stomach upset and will have a minimal impact on the CBD's effectiveness.

As always, it's best to consult your physician before beginning any new treatment such as CBD. That's especially true for users on other medications, as CBD can interfere with some drugs' effectiveness in a manner similar to grapefruit.

Rest assured, however: CBD's potential side effects are quite rare and, even when they do occur, generally extraordinarily mild and short-lived. CBD is one of the most gentle, all-natural therapeutic tools out there, and the vast majority of users won't experience any side effects of CBD tincture.