At HalalCBD, one of the most common questions that we get asked is "does CBD make you sleepy?". Of course, for some customers, that’s actually the desired effect. For others, however, it’s not.
So, can taking CBD, especially in large doses, cause tiredness, or is this potential side effect overblown? Let’s find out.
Does CBD Cause Sleepiness?
First things first: yes, CBD can cause sleepiness. That’s actually a big part of its popularity. Studies have shown us that cannabidiol is a natural compound that can regulate our body’s sleep cycle, and minimize stress in a way that helps us feel more at ease when we go to bed each night.
In other words, a lot of people take CBD specifically for bedtime, and find that it does give them the results that they’re looking for.
But, does that mean that a single serving should knock you out cold? In most cases, no. Most hemp users will tell you that they only really get these results when they take CBD at bedtime, since the cannabidiol in the product is simply supporting the natural sleep cycle.
CBD is working with the body’s circadian rhythm to promote the increase in melatonin that’s already rising after sundown.
Why Does CBD Sometimes Give Me Energy?
Some people actually feel uplifted and motivated when they take CBD, particularly during the earlier hours of the day. And, there’s actually some scientific research to back that up.
Studies have found that cannabidiol can also be useful as a wake-promoting agent, meaning that it supports the stage of our sleep cycle that makes us feel more awake and alert in the morning.
Again, this supports the idea that CBD has a “strengthening” effect on our innate circadian rhythm, promoting the regulation of neurochemicals that determine when we feel most awake during the day, and the most tired at night.
How to Avoid Feeling Sleepy After Taking CBD
Still, some people do notice that in general, CBD has a tendency to make them feel groggy – sort of like how you feel after waking up from a midday nap. There are some reasons why this can be more likely to occur in certain users. If you feel a bit sleepy after using CBD, and that isn’t the desired effect, then keep these three simple tips in mind.
Tip #1: Find Your Dosage
First, think about the amount of product that you take each day or night. The effects of hemp are unsurprisingly dose-dependent, and the people who most often report feelings of grogginess are simply taking a larger amount of CBD than is necessary every 24 hours.
It seems that high doses of cannabinoids can have a grogginess effect, so the simple solution here is to just cut back on the dosage level.
CBD can be highly effective in relatively moderate dosages, so you don’t need to take a ton of product to get the results that you’re looking for.
Tip #2: Consider the Milligram Strength
Besides the actual amount of product that you take, there’s also the milligram strength. Some CBD products come in incredibly high milligram strengths that come out to 50 to even 100 milligrams per serving.
Someone who is a relative new to CBD may not realize that these milligram strengths are way more than the standard amounts recommended to most people.
If you’re taking a very high milligram strength each day, you are more likely to experience grogginess.
Tip #3: Be Aware of the Product Type/Delivery Method
If you notice that CBD makes you feel groggy even in moderate amounts, you may want to consider switching product types/delivery methods.
One product that won’t have this effect is a CBD topical, since the effects of hemp absorb only into the localized area where the product was applied. CBD topicals are used to address local areas of physical discomfort, such as trouble within certain muscles or joints.
If this is why you’re taking CBD, then using a topical as your daily product will let you get the targeted results you’re looking for, without any effects that make you feel sleepy.
Yes, Some People Feel Tired After Taking a Large Amount of CBD
At the end of the day, some people are just more prone to feeling sleepy after taking CBD than others. Each of us is unique, and the distinctive nature of our bodies can play a role in how sensitive we are to certain effects of taking cannabinoids.
Overall, most people who report feeling tired after taking CBD are taking more than necessary. That being said, if you’re trying to feel tired from CBD, to support your bedtime routine, then by all means, keep taking CBD in the amount that you’ve been taking to take advantage of this effect.