cbd oil for sleep make you drowsy

Does Full Spectrum CBD Make You Tired?

CBD is a generally safe substance with few and minor side effects (1). But full-spectrum CBD can possibly make you tired.

Although it depends on many factors, your chances of feeling tired go up with increasing CBD dosages. That’s why research studies using very high doses of pure CBD reported tiredness and sleepiness as possible side effects.

Read on for a more detailed explanation of whether full-spectrum CBD can make you feel fatigued.

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Tiredness and Other Side Effects of CBD

Although cannabidiol (CBD) is very safe, human studies have reported the following side effects: (1)

  • Tiredness
  • Sleepiness/drowsiness
  • Low blood pressure (hypotension)
  • Diarrhea
  • Dry mouth
  • Lightheadedness/dizziness
  • Changes in appetite or weight

This means that any form of CBD can make you tired. However, these studies used ridiculously high daily doses of pure CBD — anywhere from 200 mg to as high as 50 mg per kg of body weight (equivalent to 4000 mg for someone who weighs 80 kg).

These doses are far beyond what most people use. The average person takes about 20-100 mg of CBD per day, which is much lower.

Besides, the studies mentioned above used pure CBD (isolate), which is different from full-spectrum CBD.

CBD Side Effects: Full Spectrum vs. Isolate

Full-spectrum CBD is less likely to cause side effects than pure CBD because of something researchers call the “entourage effect” — the synergy between the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other active ingredients in cannabis (2).

This was demonstrated by studies conducted on people with epilepsy, where patients using full-spectrum CBD-rich extracts experienced fewer side effects and required smaller doses to achieve relief than people taking pure CBD isolate.

More specifically, 76% of epilepsy patients who used pure CBD reported mild side effects, including tiredness, compared to only 33% for those who took full-spectrum CBD (3).

Similarly, 26% of the study participants who used CBD isolate reported severe side effects, compared to only 7% for full-spectrum CBD users.

On top of that, the patients who used full-spectrum CBD required doses that were, on average, more than four times smaller than people taking pure CBD.

The bottom line is that although any form of CBD can potentially make you tired, full-spectrum CBD is less likely to do so.

How You Take the CBD Also Matters

Another factor that can influence the effects of CBD is how you take it.

For example, when you swallow CBD — as you would with capsules or gummies — it’s poorly absorbed because it has to go through the digestive system and the liver before reaching the bloodstream (4).

Because of this, the effects of oral CBD are weaker than CBD oil. So if you were to take a high dose of CBD oil (60 mg), it would be more likely to make you tired than 60 mg of CBD in a capsule.

On the other hand, vaping CBD offers the highest absorption of any method. So if you use equal doses, vaping CBD is more likely to make you feel tired than other forms of CBD.

If You’re New to CBD, Start Low

While you’re unlikely to get tired from using full-spectrum CBD, it doesn’t hurt to be cautious. Everybody responds differently to CBD for many reasons, such as body weight and genetics.

A dose that might have zero effect on one person could make someone else feel tired. That’s why we always recommend that new CBD users start with a small dose and gradually raise it (5).

For example, you could start with 10 mg, wait two hours to see the effects, and raise the dose again if you didn’t notice any changes.

This method works well because you’ll be able to find the minimal dose that provides the desired effects, so your CBD product will last longer. You’ll also have a lower chance of feeling tired since the likelihood of side effects goes up with the dosage.


Gleb is a freelance writer from Vancouver, Canada specializing in CBD and cannabis. He’s read thousands of studies on CBD and other supplements, helping him translate complex science into plain language. Gleb has tried and reviewed dozens of CBD brands and products, written third-party testing reports, and knows the CBD industry inside and out. When not writing, he likes to kickbox, travel, and tell everyone how awesome intermittent fasting is.

Does CBD Make You Sleepy?

CBD is known to have innumerable benefits, but does this psychoactive chemical have side effects like making you sleepy. Read on and discover whether CBD makes you sleepy.


Some people say CBD can boost energy levels, while others claim it can put you to sleep like a baby.

Others are worried if CBD oil’s sleep-inducing properties will make them feel ‘high’ or ‘drowsy.’

Isn’t it confusing?

Recommended doses of any drug should have controlled side effects, if not none at all. Read on to understand the exact nature of this chemical and the effects it has on your daily mindset and bodily functions.

First Of All, What Is CBD?

CBD is a plant compound found in both industrial hemp and cannabis plants. It is present in the flowers, leaves, and stems of these plants.

This cannabinoid is different from THC in the fact that it works its effect on the human body by attaching to the CB2 cell receptors. CBD does not cause psychoactive effects when consumed as it does not affect the central nervous system.

How Does CBD Induce Sleep?

Abruptive sleep cycles create unwanted stress and other health complications. Over the years, patients have started seeking natural alternatives for their conditions due to the lack of long-term efficacy of conventional treatments. With cannabis being in the spotlight, more people are discovering the health benefits of CBD (cannabidiol) and other cannabinoids.

Sleeplessness can cause pain, migraine, and disruption of normal, routine life. CBD works its way to calm your senses and nerves down, leaving you more relaxed and refreshed for its entire duration and beyond. That’s because CBD modulates the functioning of your master regulatory network — the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Cannabinoids can create a sedative effect on the user. However, they do not induce sleepiness directly but instead, work to help you battle insomnia.

How CBD Helps You Sleep?

Cannabinoids interact with the ECS, affecting the sleep cycle through a series of receptor-based mechanisms. t. Plant-based cannabinoids can ease pain and stress that cause discomfort and leaves you wide awake at night.

The ECS synthesizes cannabinoids through the endocannabinoid receptors that can be found across several parts of your body, including the brain, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and skin.

The system is responsible for maintaining a balance between essential bodily functions, such as stress response, pain perception, the functioning of sleep cycles, and immune modulation.CBD activates the endocannabinoid system in the human body, alleviating pain and reducing stress, depression, and anxiety.

This is possible due to the following:

Supports Neurochemical Production

CBD signals the ECS and affects the production of the two main neurochemicals — serotonin and melatonin. These compounds are responsible for maintaining mood stability, emotional well being, and healthy sleep patterns.

Relaxes Muscle Tension

CBD works its way to loosen up tight and tensed muscles. This may provide relief from aches, pains, inflammation, and other serious ailments like hypermotility. It coordinates with the muscle receptors that soothes and relaxes your muscles. Without muscle pains, tensions, and stiffness, you get to sleep better.

Helps Reduce Cortisol Secretion

The cortisol hormone is released during stressful events. It activates our fight-or-flight response, which is a necessary mechanism for our survival. However, in today’s world, people are put under constant stress, resulting in excess cortisol release for prolonged periods. Feeling anxious for the most part of the day can have a devastating effect on your sleep.

When cortisol levels remain high in the evening (due to stress), it directly interferes with our ability to sleep.

CBD and the ECS help regulate the release of cortisol, translating to a more restorative sleep.

May Prevent Nightmares

Nightmares can affect your sleep patterns, depriving you of quality slumber. It leaves you shaken up and wide awake. CBD provides its benefits by regulating the REM sleep stage, which may prevent nightmares and help you feel refreshed once you wake up.

Regulates The Sleep Cycle

Some of us feel excessive fatigue during the day. As a result, you may feel drowsy and feel the urge to take a nap during the day. Doing so can keep you awake at night because your brain will be fooled to think you haven’t been active enough during the day. If you are one of those people who find themselves nodding at odd hours, CBD may come in handy. It can regulate your sleep cycle and get you back into a healthy routine.

Helps Alleviate Chronic Pain

Pain can cause a lot of discomfort, preventing you from getting enough quality rest. CBD shows the potential to alleviate different sources of pain. This is possible through CBD’s interaction with specific receptors that control pain signaling.

How Does CBD Work?

The molecules of the brain which act as cannabinoid receptors, bind with THC to produce psychoactive effects. CBD, unlike THC, has a low affinity to these receptors and therefore does not give the feeling of a ‘high.’ Instead, CBD engages directly with other receptors like opioids and glycine, which regulate the feeling of pain, as well as serotonin — also known as the ‘feel-good’ hormone.

CBD basically acts on the brain by working like an agonist. It works to influence an opposite response when connecting to a receptor. High doses can therefore shock the brain and cause a compensatory effect. Low doses of CBD, on the other hand, can evoke a positive response from the brain.

CBD oil is used in combination with an inert carrier oil, such as coconut oil or hemp seed oil. People use this type of CBD to alleviate a plethora of ailments like acne, anxiety, drug addiction and withdrawal, epilepsy, insomnia, Parkinson’s disease, depression, anorexia, muscle spasms, chronic pain, high blood pressure, and glaucoma, to name a few.

Final Thoughts: CBD Helps With Sleep But Doesn’t Make You Sleepy

Research has shown CBD used in doses of 25 mg helped alleviate anxiety and also helped the patient to fall asleep. The research also showed that 40, 80, 160 mg of CBD improved a person’s sleep only when administered with a sleep-inducing drug such as 5mg of nitrazepam.

Another relevant study of the relationship between CBD and sleep recruited 103 subjects who suffered from anxiety and sleep. The study aimed at investigating the effects of CBD along with other prescribed medications on the sleeping pattern of humans. The dose of CBD administered varied from 25 to 175 mg.

This study found that 25 mg of CBD was a good dosage for anxiety. However, troubled sleep needed a higher dosage. This proved that CBD induces sleep only when administered in very high doses or along with other neuro-therapeutic and psychotic medications.

There is definitely an increase of phytocannabinoids and other combinations as sleeping aids. Some of the cannabinoids directly affect the length and quality of our sleep, while others play more of a regulatory role. As more resources are fueled into the research in this subject, we can get a better understanding on how cannabis interacts with our sleep patterns.
