What CBD capsules are
Cannabidiol (CBD) capsules hold a set dose of CBD in a softgel or hard shell. Common strengths are 5 mg, 10 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg per capsule. You swallow the capsule with water. The dose is fixed, so you do not measure oil or count drops.
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Benefits with evidence behind them
One CBD product holds FDA approval: Epidiolex, an oral solution. The FDA cleared it for seizures tied to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome in patients age 1 and older. No CBD capsule has that approval.
For other uses, the evidence is thinner.
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- Anxiety: small trials used 300 mg to 600 mg before a public speaking task. Results were mixed.
- Sleep: trials are few and small. Some report shorter time to fall asleep.
- Pain: reviews find low-quality data and small effect sizes.
- Inflammation: not established in controlled human trials.
The FDA has not approved CBD for anxiety, pain, sleep, or inflammation. Claims that capsules treat these conditions have no federal review behind them.
How capsules differ from tinctures
Oral CBD has low bioavailability. One review put it near 6 percent in a fasting state. Food raises absorption. Onset for a capsule runs 30 to 90 minutes. A tincture held under the tongue starts in 15 to 30 minutes. Effects from a capsule last longer.
Full-spectrum capsules may hold up to 0.3 percent THC by dry weight. That THC can build up and appear on a urine test. Isolate capsules have no THC.
Dose and side effects
Clinical trials used 5 mg per kg of body weight and higher. Most consumer capsules sit well under that. Start at 5 mg to 10 mg. Wait two hours before adding a dose.
Known side effects include drowsiness, diarrhea, appetite loss, and raised liver enzymes. CBD blocks some CYP450 enzymes. It can raise blood levels of warfarin, clobazam, and valproate. Talk to a pharmacist if you take prescription drugs.
Legal status in the US
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. Hemp means cannabis with delta-9 THC at or below 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. State rules differ. Some states limit CBD sales to licensed dispensaries.
What to check on a label
- CBD per capsule and total capsule count.
- Third-party lab results with a batch number.
- THC content.
- Carrier oil and allergens.
Store capsules away from heat and light. Check the expiration date. Keep the batch lab report with the bottle.