CBD has the potential to cause harm, and this can occur before you even realize it. It can interfere with the way other medications you are taking work, leading to serious side effects. The FDA has approved a drug containing a highly purified form of CBD, Epidiolex, based on clinical trials that showed it could reduce seizures in children with two rare forms of epilepsy. From these trials, researchers also know that CBD can cause adverse reactions such as diarrhea and fatigue.
Participants in the trials experienced higher rates of infection, difficulty sleeping, and decreased appetite. It is difficult to attribute gastrointestinal disorders to CBD alone as they may be due to other co-administered antiepileptic drugs. The FDA recently released a Consumer Update outlining their new concerns about CBD products, particularly those containing food. These studies included CBD therapy in both healthy volunteers and patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety (SAD), PTSD-related anxiety, and insomnia disorder.
Studies have demonstrated that CBD can help reduce chronic pain by influencing endocannabinoid receptor activity, reducing inflammation, and interacting with neurotransmitters. The CBD group had lower blood pressure levels in response to stress compared to the placebo group after multiple doses over time. Exposure to CBD during neuronal differentiation can make immature cells more sensitive to the neurotoxicity of redox active drugs. If you decide to use a CBD product, make sure it has been tested by third parties for quality and purity. Laboratory animal studies have shown toxicity to male reproduction, even in male offspring of pregnant females treated with CBD.
Black-market CBD products have not been evaluated by the FDA to determine if they are safe as food or if they are effective or safe for any medical use, and if they are safe, what would be the appropriate dosage. Recently, CBD-infused alcoholic beverages have appeared on the market, raising questions about the safety of combining CBD and alcohol. CBD is currently being heavily marketed and there are anecdotal reports claiming it can treat multiple diseases from chronic pain to depression. CBD treatment increased serum anandamide concentrations, possibly due to its inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). In a recent federal lawsuit, the plaintiff purchased CBD products based on advertising that the products “did not contain heavy metals or insecticides.”.
