What is tolerance?

What is CBD Tolerance?

Is CBD well tolerated?

When and why can CBD cause tolerance?

Possible reasons for CBD's loss of effectiveness

CBD tolerance in bodily terms

Why does CBD cause no tolerance while THC does?

Tips for preventing a tolerance from developing

To finish

Have you ever heard of tolerance to different components and products in general or CBD tolerance in particular? This article will be your guide to the term “CBD tolerance” and below we will try to explain all the key points of this topic. As CBD becomes more and more popular in people's daily lives, there is growing interest in the topic of CBD tolerance. If you are already an experienced user of CBD products, you may have noticed that over time their effects diminish, or that your body no longer reacts to cannabis as it used to. This phenomenon is usually referred to as tolerance within the CBD community. We will try to shed light on the reasons why CBD tolerance appears, the scientific explanations for its existence, as well as potential solutions to recover the effectiveness of CBD.

What is tolerance?

Tolerance is a general term that can be applied to various functions of human activity. When talking about the human body, tolerance is the body's ability to tolerate or become less susceptible to the physical or psychological effects of a substance, especially following repeated use or exposure.

It is a complex process that is studied through different perspectives. There are three main levels of tolerance, which can be categorized as follows: cellular, behavioral and metabolic.

Cell tolerance

This form of tolerance is usually assessed at the level of neuronal tissue, which consists of a network of many neuronal and supporting cells, or even a single neuron.

Behavioral tolerance

Behavioral tolerance is the reduction of drug-induced impairment of voluntary behavior that depends on learning processes, i.e., the behavior adopted while intoxicated.

Metabolic tolerance

This form of tolerance occurs when the body becomes accustomed to a substance in such a way that a higher amount of that substance or another substance is required to achieve the desired effect.

As we can see, tolerance is therefore a very broad term that covers different areas and functions. But what exactly is CBD tolerance? Let's find out below.

What is CBD Tolerance?

CBD tolerance can be thought of as one of many kinds of tolerance. More specifically, CBD tolerance is the state in which the body and mind feel no potential effects from consuming CBD. There are various possible reasons why CBD tolerance may occur and ways to prevent it from occurring. Unfortunately, the subject of CBD tolerance has not been studied in detail, but at this stage, we still have some results that can provide an overview of this phenomenon.

Is CBD well tolerated?

In fact, CBD does not appear to induce CBD tolerance in occasional users. According to the World Health Organization, CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile. However, it can cause some side effects such as the following:

drowsiness or fatigue;

dry mouth;

diarrhoea;

nausea;

mood swings such as increased restlessness and irritability;

interactions with prescription or non-prescription drugs;

increased risk of sedation, drowsiness and injury from alcohol use;

increased or decreased appetite;

liver damage due to drug interactions;

CBD tolerance occurs when the body gets used to it, which means that larger doses of a component may be needed to achieve the effects inherent in that component. In this case, we strongly recommend that you consult your doctor for a professional consultation.

When and why can CBD cause tolerance?

At this point we have to mention another component: THC. This is the cannabinoid that is most likely to build tolerance if you consume it daily. CBD could play an entirely different role. In a study from 2011, it was found that administering CBD may cause no side effects across a wide range of different doses, including acute and chronic dosing schedules. In addition, no possible CBD intolerance has been developed. The most important question is: how is CBD tolerance created? There are various reasons for this which we will discuss in the next section.

Possible reasons for CBD's loss of effectiveness

Unfortunately, when you take CBD it is possible for it to become ineffective. There are several reasons for this, some of which we have listed below.

A wrong dosage

It is important to establish the dose that is right for you and increase it gradually, observing how your body reacts and adjusting the dose if necessary. Keeping track of your CBD intakes is both useful and essential for this.

Low-quality CBD products

Since the CBD industry is still developing, some manufacturers may produce poor quality products. The solution is to carefully examine the store and its certifications. We recommend that you be a vigilant consumer and only buy products from companies you trust.

Consuming CBD in a way that is not right for you.

It is important that your method of consumption is not only enjoyable but also the one that works best for you in terms of the potential effectiveness of CBD. For example, you can take CBD in the form of oils for a long time, but perhaps eating foods containing CBD could have a greater effect on your body.

CBD tolerance in bodily terms

What are the opinions and findings of researchers regarding CBD tolerance? In fact, the number of studies looking at the interaction between tolerance levels and CBD is quite small. Either way, there are a few results we can share with you right now. First, this study showed that about a quarter of patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy could develop tolerance to cannabis oil extract with a CBD to THC ratio of 20:1. Another study found that the acute effects of a single dose of cannabinoids may be less noticeable in people who use cannabis regularly compared to those who do not use it frequently. A study published in 2019 examined the hepatotoxicity of CBD in mice. The researchers gave 8-week-old mice different doses of cannabidiol. They tolerated this component well until they were given the highest doses. At this point, the mice showed clear symptoms of liver toxicity.

Additionally, some researchers even suggest that CBD may create “reverse CBD tolerance,” meaning patients need to take less and less of it as time goes on.

Finally, this THC-related study showed that repeated daily inhalation of THC could induce tolerance in female and male rats, once again validating the vapor inhalation method for preclinical studies.

Why does CBD cause no tolerance while THC does?

THC is another cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant and is a so-called “psychoactive” component of cannabis, which means it can make you “high”. People who take THC for medical or recreational purposes often find that they have to keep increasing their dose to maintain the same effects. So why do some cannabinoids like THC induce tolerance unlike CBD? Part of the answer lies in how these molecules bind to our receptors.

Studies have shown that THC can induce tolerance because regular use potentially reduces CB1 receptor sensitivity. As time goes by, fewer and fewer CB1 receptors are triggered by THC, making the same dose less effective.

CBD can bind to the same receptors as THC, but in a slightly different way. The structure of the two molecules is almost identical, except for one major difference: CBD has a hydroxyl group, while THC has a cyclic ring. One can only assume that this structural difference explains why these two components might act differently on CB1 receptors.

Therefore, THC may have the ability to desensitize CB1 receptors while CBD does not, which may relate to how these compounds may potentially differ in inducing tolerance.

Tips for preventing a tolerance from developing

If you feel you are developing a tolerance to CBD, it is very important to follow the following instructions to the letter:

Take a break from your CBD consumption to reset the counters

As mentioned above, the most common reason for developing a tolerance to CBD is daily consumption. The best option might be to try taking a break from your consumption that can last anywhere from two days to a week or two to observe the changes.

Change the dosage

Sometimes going back to the minimum dosage of CBD and then increasing it as you go could help you rejuvenate and feel the effects of CBD again. It is crucial not to overdose.

Change brand or manufacturer

CBD tolerance can be confused with tolerance to a particular brand. Experiment with different manufacturers and switch from time to time to reduce resistance. Maybe the problem comes from the products or the company you have chosen?

Change consumption method

One option you may want to consider is changing your method of taking CBD. There are various ways to consume cannabidiol and each differs in how CBD enters the body. Hopefully, you'll find the best method that's right for you and your needs.

Try a new type of product

If you have only consumed CBD in the form of oils for a long time, try experimenting with other types of products, such as CBD edibles, drops, tinctures, etc.

To finish

Scientists are still conducting studies on CBD tolerance to this day. If you encounter this kind of resistance to any product containing cannabidiol, use this article as a guide to understanding how tolerance works, what can cause it, and finally, how to manage it to increase the effectiveness of your CBD. Although most people tolerate CBD well, you should still buy CBD products only from high-quality, reputable manufacturers and distributors. Also, remember that the dose of CBD you take or plan to take is extremely important. We hope you found this article useful. If you have any further questions regarding any aspect of the CBD industry, please do not hesitate to contact our team of professionals for assistance. At Relaxing Nature, we are always ready to help. Take care of yourself and continue to follow our blog.