PBG GLOBAL

Dosage recommendations

A specific dosing regimen for CBD and hemp extracts high in CBD has not yet been determined by the regulatory organizations in healthcare such as FDA (USA) and EMA (EU)*. However, a systematic literature review suggests[1] CBD offers a wide-range of therapeutic activity between 1 and 50 mg/ kg/d (milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day), with some studies demonstrating positive effects even in higher doses.

The dose of CBD (as any other pharmacological drug) is directly linked to its route of administration. The following guidelines are based on the best currently-available scientific literature.

Oral administration

Oral intake of CBD (drops, tablets/capsules) is recommended during meals, as CBD is more easily absorbed at this time. This is because CBD is a lipophilic substance and as such, fats in the meals help absorb it better.

CBD intake without food has the worst absorption, where as CBD intake with food is a definite improvement. Some CBD products are prepared in nano-formulations or in formulations combining CBD with fats (i.e. sesame oil, MCT, omega-3 fatty acids, etc.) further increasing absorption.

Oromucosal (buccal) or sublingual delivery is thought to be the fastest and most efficient oral route of administration. It achieves the same effect with one-ninth the dose (compared with the standard oral intake)[2], and has a more rapid onset of action, for various pharmacokinetic reasons[3].

A general recommendation for best results with oral intake can be summed up as follows: Take half your recommended dose after breakfast and the other half after dinner.

Inhalation and intranasal administration

Intranasal administration (i.e. nose sprays) or inhalation (i.e. vaporizers) of CBD is up to

4 times more potent, and with faster onset than the standard oral intake[4],[5],[6]. An interesting option for people that want to treat acute onset of a symptom (i.e. pain). However, precise dosing could be a challenge and these methods are generally not advisable to systemic users following a strict dose recommendation.

Titration to effect & systemic administration

The safest general dosing strategy for users taking CBD orally is called “titration to effect”. What that means is you start with a low dose, gradually increasing it until the desired effect is observed.

The recommended starting dose is 1 mg/ kg, twice a day, taken under the tongue after a meal. Ideally keeping it there for about 90 seconds before swallowing. If tolerated, the dose is increased by 0.5 mg/kg per day until the desired effect is observed or until the optimal dose is reached - whichever comes first. For specific optimal doses of conditions read the corresponding chapter.

Once reached, the effective dose might need to be increased a bit if the efficacy drops over time. This is normal as the body adjusts its tolerance to CBD.

For doses higher than 10 mg/kg, share the 'Little Red Book of CBD' with a doctor and consult with them.

Topical application

CBD in the form of oil, creams, wax and lotions acts specifically on the area applied. Its application should be followed by a soft massage for a couple minutes. The whole process could be repeated many times per day, although three times should be enough.

There's no data on prolonged use of topical CBD. Such topical products could be considered safe for prolonged use, considering that the other ingredients in them are also safe for the purpose.

Common misconceptions

'CBD gets you high’

No it does not. CBD is non-psychoactive. A full-spectrum extract could contain THC - the substance responsible for the psychoactive effect. However, products such as PBG Global®'s full-spectrum and isolate-based products contain no detectable quantities of THC, whatsoever. Important note for drivers and people undergoing drug testing. Moreover, THC is not safe for some diagnoses.

'The higher the percentage CBD, the more potent the product’

This statement is also not true. It's worth noting that oral formulations containing 10% CBD are proven to be the optimal regarding absorption and overall activity. Higher concentrations show lower overall potency when ingested, with unformulated CBD isolate ranking lowest for absorption.

Bibliography

1. Millar SA, Stone NL, Bellman ZD, Yates AS, England TJ and O'Sullivan SE: A systematic review of cannabidiol dosing in clinical populations. British journal of clinical pharmacology 85: 1888-1900, 2019.

2. Sativex® - GW Pharmaceuticals, plc, spray - THC:CBD mixture at 1:0.93 ratio respectively.

3. Zhang H, Zhang J and Streisand JB: Oral mucosal drug delivery: clinical pharmacokinetics and therapeutic applications. Clinical pharmacokinetics 41: 661-680, 2002.

4. Solowij N, Broyd SJ, van Hell HH and Hazekamp A: A protocol for the delivery of cannabidiol (CBD) and combined CBD and ∆9-tetrahydrocan- nabinol (THC) by vaporisation. BMC pharmacology & toxicology 15: 58, 2014.

5. Paudel KS, Hammell DC, Agu RU, Valiveti S and Stinchcomb AL: Cannabidiol bioavailability after nasal and transdermal application: effect of permeation enhancers. Drug development and industrial pharmacy 36: 1088-1097, 2010.

6. Mechoulam R, Parker LA and Gallily R: Cannabidiol: an overview of some pharmacological aspects. Journal of clinical pharmacology 42: 11s-19s, 2002.