Side effects and safety of CBD oil
Cannabidiol, or more commonly known as CBD, is rapidly growing in popularity around the world, but is it safe to use? And are there any side effects?
Numerous studies have shown the health benefits of CBD, but it’s important to remember that we are all individuals and therefore it’s good to be familiar with the safe use of CBD and possible side effects.
Safety of CBD oil use
Despite its growing popularity, there are still prejudices and misconceptions about the use of CBD. Many doubt the safety and benefits of its use, as CBD is extracted from the cannabis Sativa variety, which is often associated with the illegal drug cannabis. Cannabis Sativa, however, is classified into two different subspecies: marijuana, from which the illegal drug cannabis is made, and hemp, from which CBD is usually derived. Cannabis Sativa contains over 100 natural chemical compounds, of which CBD is just one. It has no intoxicating properties and is not addictive.
The 2018 WHO (World Health Organization) review report states that CBD is well tolerated, has a good safety profile and no public health concerns have been identified. However, concerns about the safety of CBD oil may arise from its highly regulated sale. In Finland, for example, CBD is controlled as a medicinalproduct¹, because a product containing CBD is equivalent to a product that is a prescription medicine available in Finland. However, this does not mean that CBD is dangerous. The Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) evaluates every CBD product sold in Finland and decides whether it is classified as a medicinal product.
We recommend that you only purchase CBD products from a trusted company. Unfortunately, due to the lax regulation of the industry, there are products available online that may contain less CBD or more THC than is declared and legal to sell under current legislation. When ordering from a trusted supplier, you can be sure of the content and legality of the product, which is the responsibility of the consumer.
Safe CBD oil is derived from pure and high quality raw materials
Some growers use pesticides on hemp crops to maximise yields, even though hemp does not need to be treated with pesticides to grow. This is why Arctic Oils only uses organically grown hemp, so it does not contain pesticides or heavy metals.
The carrier oil we use in our oils is hemp seed oil, which is green in colour and rich in antioxidants. Hemp seed oil is also high in healthy omega-6 and -3 fatty acids and has not been found to cause allergic reactions.
The safety of CBD oils is also affected by the extraction method used to extract the oil, which affects its tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. The carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction we use is a safe method of extracting CBD without the use of additional solvents. The method isolates the compounds we need from the hemp plant while removing up to 100% of the harmful THC. We also have the most accurate and efficient HPLC-DAD (High Performance Liquid Chromatography – Diode Array Detector) tests in the industry, carried out in third-party laboratories, on the contents of the final products.
Side effects of CBD oil
The possible side effects of CBD are not because the oil itself is dangerous, but its use affects people in different ways and we cannot be sure of the effect on an individual before trying it. Possible body reactions depend on the user’s age, metabolism, lifestyle, current health status and regular medication. The possible side effects of CBD oil are often not very serious, but it is good to be aware of them so that it is easier to consider the right amount for you. Therefore, we recommend starting with the lowest concentrations of CBD oil and gradually increasing the dosage.
A study²conducted by the National Biotechnology Data Centre found the following potential side effects of CBD oil:
- Ripuli
- Fatigue
- Weight gain/loss
- Changes in appetite
- Vertigo
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Nausea/vomiting
CBD oil should be used regularly to achieve its optimal benefits. It also means that if side effects do occur, they will also disappear quickly when you stop using or reduce the dosage.
Interactions with medicines
The 2018 WHO review³revealed that CBD oil can interfere with the breakdown of some prescription medicines.
Studies⁴show that CBD may interact with several drugs. Their concomitant use may increase the toxicity or decrease the efficacy of the drug, as CBD affects cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which enable the metabolism of the active ingredients of drugs.
Before using CBD oil, we recommend that you talk to your doctor if you currently:
- You are taking a prescription medicine (e.g. a blood thinner or hormone replacement therapy).
- You suffer from liver complications
- Struggling with low blood pressure
- Trying to get pregnant
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
Interactions⁵with cannabidiol have been observed with drugs such as:
- Immunosuppressive medicines such as Sandimmune® (cyclosporine)
- Macrolide antibiotics such as clarithromycin and telithromycin
- Migraine medicines
- Opioids
- Rifampicin-based medicines
- Anti-epileptic drugs such as Tegretol® (carbamazepine) and Trileptal® (oxcarbazepine)
- Anti-arrhythmics
- Anti-psychotics
- Atypical antidepressants such as Remeron® (myrtazapine)
- Sedatives containing benzodiazepines.
Closing words
In summary, the study shows that the safety profile of CBD is very well known and few people experience any adverse effects from the products. However, this does not mean that it is not possible.
We therefore feel it necessary to remind you that Arctic Oils CBD products are registered as cosmetic products and are not intended for medical or therapeutic purposes. Use of the products is the responsibility of the customer and we remind you that if you experience any unwanted effects, you should stop using the products immediately and seek medical advice.
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