Does CBD Make You Sleepy? Benefits and Side Effects

Although you might know that CBD the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis, those who are new to CBD or are simply curious might be wondering: does CBD make you sleepy?

In this article, I cover all things CBD to give you a better idea of whether this natural remedy is going to help you get a good night’s sleep.

Keep reading to find out more.

Health benefits of CBD

There are multiple health benefits associated with CBD, contributing to its exponential growth in popularity over the years that has resulted in a plethora of CBD products including CBD oil, CBD gummies, and CBD capsules to name a few. So, what health benefits could you receive from taking CBD?

CBD has been associated with reducing anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression are generally treated with pharmaceutical drugs, which can cause a number of adverse side effects including drowsiness, agitation, insomnia, and addiction to name a few. The popularity of using CBD oil as a treatment for both depression and anxiety is increasing, encouraging people who struggle with these disorders to take this natural remedy.

Certain components of marijuana, including CBD, are responsible for its pain-relieving effects. CBD, then, is associated with providing pain relief from various conditions, including chronic pain. Taking CBD oil can help users manage pain symptoms, and has been known to reduce inflammation, pain, and overall discomfort caused by an array of different health conditions.

CBD has also been known to help reduce seizures in people with epilepsy as it has anti-seizure properties. That being said, research on using CBD for treating people that suffer from seizures is still ongoing.

How is cannabidiol different from marijuana?

While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is generally derived directly from the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the marijuana plant.

Sleepiness or a sense of euphoria is the side effect of marijuana which is rich in THC. THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the high sensation.

Despite the fact that they have similar chemical structures, CBD and THC have different psychoactive effects. CBD is psychoactive, yet it isn’t in the same way that THC is. Despite the fact CBD is a component of marijuana, by itself, it does not produce the high associated with THC.

Does CBD make you sleepy?

Although you might associate cannabis with feeling relaxed and drowsy, using CBD oil to help treat sleep disorders is somewhat more complex than simply making you feel sleepy. As a result, whether it will work to help you sleep is largely circumstantial.

To determine whether CBD can help you sleep, you first need to address what can cause insomnia. For instance, bad sleep can be a result of a variety of reasons, including:

• Mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
• Physical conditions, such as chronic pain and restless leg syndrome.
• Medication that can disturb your sleep cycle.
• Environmental factors, such as a loud sleeping environment.
• Caffeine, especially if you consume it in the evening before you attempt to sleep.

Once you have attributed your insomnia to a cause, you can work out whether taking CBD is an effective option that you can try.

CBD has been associated with reducing symptoms of anxiety. So, if anxious thoughts are keeping you awake at night, then CBD could help you to relax and thus, sleep. Therefore, in this circumstance, CBD could make you sleepy as it tackles the root cause of insomnia.

However, in the same breath, if your insomnia is caused by a loud sleeping environment, then it is unlikely that CBD is the answer to your lack of sleep. In this context, it doesn’t tackle the root cause of insomnia.

The answer to whether CBD helps you to sleep, then, is that it could help you sleep, but it depends on what is stopping you from getting a good night’s sleep. Although it is known to be associated with easing symptoms of anxiety, pain, and stress, if your insomnia isn’t caused by these factors – then you may want to try something other than CBD to help you sleep.

What are the side effects of taking CBD?

Although CBD is a natural remedy and is perceived to be relatively safe, there can be side effects to taking it that you should be aware of. Although these side effects are relatively rare, they include:

• Fatigue.
• Fluctuations in appetite.
• Diarrhea.
• Changes in weight.

Before you buy CBD from a company, make sure that they are reputable by researching their history. You should always try to avoid companies that have a history of mislabelling CBD and choose CBD that has been tested by a third party, as it’s better to be safe than sorry.

It is also worth mentioning that you don’t want to be reliant on any kind of sleep medication for more than a few weeks. If you’re having trouble sleeping, seek medical advice from your doctor, as it is important to get to the root of the issue and come up with a long-term solution, rather than masking it temporarily with sleeping medication.

In summary

Although CBD is associated with many health benefits, such as reducing anxiety, whether it will help you sleep is circumstantial.

If you’re looking for another natural remedy to help you sleep, CBD might be able to help you. However, if you’re interested in taking CBD, seek advice from your doctor or a qualified cannabis or CBD clinician before you start using it.

Although CBD is relatively safe to take, it’s best to seek advice from a professional. Your doctor will be able to provide you with the information that you need of steps you can take to help your sleeplessness, as well as give you further information on CBD if you’re new to taking it, too.