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Experts have demonstrated CBD may be useful for some patients suffering from sleep disorders, anxiety, chronic pain, cancer and epilepsy. However, experts also recognize that CBD is not risk-free. Some patients do experience side effects and drug interactions, and experts have not yet had the time to conduct longitudinal studies that determine the long-term effects of CBD use. Here we examine some potential downsides of CBD.

Interest in cannabis-derived products to help individuals living with epilepsy manage their symptoms has skyrocketed in recent years. Several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have demonstrated CBD’s therapeutic potential to manage symptoms of certain types of epilepsy — so much so that in June 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex, the first plant-derived cannabinoid prescription medicine that is a purified 99% oil-based CBD extract from the cannabis sativa plant.

In addition to an overall reduction in seizures, CBD has been found to reduce adverse effects associated with other anti-seizure medication and demonstrated clinically significant improvements in depression, anxiety, sleep and overall quality of life.

Numerous peer-reviewed studies have indicated CBD possesses a wide array of therapeutic benefits for individuals living with cancer. These studies demonstrated that CBD has been shown to successfully induce cell death; inhibit cell migration and invasion; decrease tumor size, vascularization, growth and weight; increase survival; and induce tumor regression.

CBD presents a therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of intractable chronic pain for which primary treatments are insufficient. However, because the use of CBD has only been studied in context-specific scenarios, it should not be used indiscriminately. While most studies that examine the effects of CBD have employed animal models, experts suggest that the results of those studies may have therapeutic implications for humans, but more research is necessary.

Existing preclinical evidence strongly supports the potential of CBD as a treatment for numerous types of anxiety-related disorders. CBD works with the endocannabinoid system to produce an anxiolytic (or anti-anxiety) effect that decreases autonomic arousal and prevents long-term effects of anxiety-induced stress. This evidence supports CBD as an acute treatment for a wide variety of anxiety-related disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), panic disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and anxiety-induced insomnia.

With so many experiencing chronic sleeplessness, CBD has become a popular natural remedy. While more longitudinal research is necessary to fully understand the effects of CBD on the sleep/wake cycle, preliminary research has indicated that CBD may be beneficial for those struggling to fall asleep, stay asleep or experiencing anxiety- or pain-induced insomnia.

Our previous blog post merely scratched the surface of CBD basics, and now it’s time to delve into the details. We briefly discussed how phytocannabinoids like CBD and THC work together with our body’s natural systems to elicit a therapeutic response, which brings us to our next topic: the endocannabinoid system. 

Have you ever wondered what CBD is and how it can help you? Then look no further than Lakewood Botanicals' new blog series! Our blog will feature positive education related to CBD, the endocannabinoid system, research studies and much more.

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