Is CBD safe for most adults?

For many healthy adults, CBD is generally well tolerated when used in moderate amounts and sourced from a reputable brand with third-party lab testing. However, CBD can cause side effects in some people and may interact with certain medications, so it’s best to start with a low dose and consult a healthcare professional if you take prescriptions or have health conditions.

What are the most common CBD side effects?

Commonly reported side effects of CBD include drowsiness or fatigue, dry mouth, digestive upset (such as diarrhea or nausea), dizziness, and changes in appetite. Side effects are more likely at higher doses or when CBD is combined with other substances that affect alertness.

Can CBD interact with medications?

Yes. CBD can interact with certain medications by affecting how the body metabolizes them. This may change the levels of some prescriptions in the bloodstream. If you take medications such as blood thinners, seizure medications, sedatives, or other prescriptions, talk with a pharmacist or healthcare professional before using CBD.

Is CBD hard on the liver?

Higher doses of oral CBD have been associated with elevated liver enzymes in some studies, especially in people taking certain medications. Most wellness users take much lower doses, but if you have liver disease, take prescription medications, or plan to use higher daily doses, consult a healthcare professional and consider liver enzyme monitoring.

Is it safe to take CBD every day?

Many adults use CBD daily, but the safest approach is to use the lowest effective dose, increase slowly, and choose products with current third-party lab reports (COAs). Daily use makes it even more important to watch for side effects, review medication interactions, and avoid products with unclear labeling.

Is CBD safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Most health authorities advise avoiding CBD during pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety data is limited and potential risks have not been fully established. If you are pregnant or nursing, speak with a qualified healthcare professional before using CBD.

Is CBD safe to take with alcohol?

CBD and alcohol can both cause drowsiness in some people. Combining them may increase impairment or sleepiness, especially at higher CBD doses. If you choose to use CBD, it’s safest to avoid alcohol until you understand how CBD affects you.

How can you tell if a CBD product is safe and high quality?

Look for a recent third-party lab report (COA) that matches the product batch and confirms cannabinoid potency and contaminant testing (pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbes). Choose brands with transparent labeling, clear dosing, and U.S.-grown hemp, and avoid products that make unrealistic medical claims.

What is the safest way to start using CBD?

Start with a low dose (often 5–15 mg per day), take it consistently for several days, and increase slowly as needed. Track how you feel, avoid combining CBD with other sedating substances at first, and consult a healthcare professional if you take medications or have a medical condition.

Is CBD Safe? The Most Complete, Research-Backed Guide to CBD Safety (2025)

Q: Can CBD make you fail a drug test?

CBD itself typically isn’t what triggers a drug test, but some CBD products—especially full-spectrum—may contain trace THC, and mislabeled products may contain more THC than expected. If drug testing is a concern, choose THC-free broad-spectrum or isolate products and verify with a third-party COA that shows non-detectable THC.

Travis C
1 day ago
4 min read

Green square with words "Is CBD Safe? The most complete research-backed guide

CBD (cannabidiol) is widely used for wellness, but “safe” depends on dose, product quality, your health conditions, and what else you take (medications, alcohol, supplements). The best available evidence suggests CBD is generally well tolerated for many adults, but there are real, well-documented risks—especially drug interactions and liver enzyme elevations at higher doses. World Health Organization

This guide covers what safety data actually shows, who should avoid CBD, what side effects are most common, and how to use CBD more safely. At Cannagea CBD we like fac

Quick Answer: Is CBD Safe for Most People?

For many healthy adults using reputable, accurately labeled products and moderate doses, CBD is often tolerated without serious problems.

However:

CBD can interact with medications (sometimes significantly). U.S. Food and Drug Administration
CBD can raise liver enzymes in some people, particularly at higher doses (and/or with certain meds). U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Over-the-counter CBD products vary widely in purity, potency, and contamination risk. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

If you take prescription meds, have liver disease, are pregnant/breastfeeding, or need to avoid THC due to drug testing—treat CBD as something to discuss with a clinician.

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What the Strongest Authorities Say About CBD Safety

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO’s review concluded CBD is generally well tolerated and has no evidence of abuse or dependence potential in humans.

https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/controlled-substances/whocbdreportmay2018-2.pdf

FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration)

The FDA warns that CBD has real risks, including:

Liver injury
Drug interactions
Drowsiness/changes in alertness
Potential reproductive effects (based largely on non-clinical data)

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis https://www.fda.gov/food/conversations-experts-food-topics/what-fda-doing-protect-consumers-cannabidiol-cbd-foods U.S. Food and Drug Administration+1

NIH / NCBI Clinical Summary

Clinical references note CBD’s adverse effects and emphasize caution with liver monitoring in some contexts and careful review of drug interactions.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556048/

The Most Common CBD Side Effects (What Studies Report)

Across clinical trials and systematic reviews, the most commonly reported side effects include:

GI upset (diarrhea, nausea, stomach discomfort)
Sleepiness/somnolence or fatigue
Decreased appetite
Dizziness
Dry mouth

These are often dose-dependent (more likely as dose rises) and can be influenced by other medications. PMC

The Number 1 Safety Issue: CBD Drug Interactions

CBD can affect how your body processes other drugs because it can inhibit certain liver enzymes (commonly discussed under the CYP450 system). This can increase or decrease levels of other medications. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Higher-risk combinations can include (examples):

Some anti-seizure medicines (well documented in prescription CBD studies)
Blood thinners (e.g., warfarin—interaction concerns reported clinically)
Certain antidepressants and benzodiazepines
Some heart rhythm medications

What to do: If you take prescriptions, ask a clinician/pharmacist before using CBD—especially if you’re adding more than a “microdose” or using daily.

(FDA interaction warning):https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis

CBD and the Liver: What You Need to Know

Liver enzyme elevations have been seen in research—especially at higher oral doses and in some people using CBD alongside certain medications. PMC

Recent clinical research continues to investigate liver signals at moderate-to-higher daily doses (hundreds of mg/day).

Safer approach for most wellness users: use the lowest effective dose, increase slowly, avoid stacking with other liver stressors, and choose products with verified labeling.

Who Should Avoid CBD or Get Medical Advice First?

Avoid or get medical guidance before CBD if you are:

Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data; many authorities advise avoiding)
Taking prescription medications (interaction risk)
Living with liver disease or elevated liver enzymes
Scheduled for surgery (possible interactions with anesthesia/sedatives—tell your care team)
A minor (unless directed by a clinician for a specific medical situation)

Public health guidance also emphasizes caution due to product variability and contamination risk in the marketplace.

https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep22-06-04-003.pdf SAMHSA Library

Is CBD Safe Long-Term?

We have:

Stronger safety data for pharmaceutical CBD in specific conditions
Less definitive data for years-long daily use of OTC products across the general population

The biggest long-term variables are:

Dose (higher = more side effects risk)
Product quality (mislabeling/contaminants)
Medication interactions (can emerge after changes in prescriptions)

This is why choosing tested products and using conservative dosing is such a big deal. PMC

The Hidden Risk: Product Quality, Mislabeling, and Contaminants

Over-the-counter CBD isn’t regulated like a prescription drug. Concerns include:

Inaccurate CBD potency
Unexpected THC content (drug testing risk)
Pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents
Synthetic cannabinoids in bad-actor products

FDA and peer-reviewed literature highlight the ongoing issue of misleading claims and inconsistent product quality online. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Safe CBD Use Checklist (Best Practices)

If you want the safest path for most adults:

Start low (e.g., 5–15 mg/day) and increase slowly
Avoid mixing CBD with alcohol or sedatives until you know how you respond
Prefer products with:
- Recent third-party COA (certificate of analysis)
- Batch number matching the COA
- Clear cannabinoid content
If you must avoid THC, use broad-spectrum (THC-free) or isolate, and still verify by COA
If using higher doses daily (or you have risk factors), consider discussing liver enzymes with your clinician

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FAQ: Is CBD Safe?

Can CBD make you fail a drug test?

CBD itself isn’t typically the issue—THC contamination is. Full-spectrum products may contain trace THC, and mislabeled products can contain more than expected.

Is CBD safe to take every day?

Many adults do, but daily use increases the importance of dose discipline, COAs, and medication interaction review.

Is CBD safer as a topical than an oil?

Topicals generally lead to lower systemic exposure than oral products, so they may have fewer whole-body side effects, but quality/contaminants still matter.

Research Links

WHO CBD Critical Review (2018): https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/controlled-substances/whocbdreportmay2018-2.pdf
FDA consumer update on CBD/cannabis products: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis
FDA on risks in foods (liver injury, interactions): https://www.fda.gov/food/conversations-experts-food-topics/what-fda-doing-protect-consumers-cannabidiol-cbd-foods
“An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol” (2017): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5569602/
“Cannabidiol Adverse Effects and Toxicity” (2019): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7052834/
Systematic review of CBD adverse effects (2020): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7608221/
Updated review of oral CBD adverse effects (2022): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9782576/
NCBI StatPearls: Cannabidiol in Clinical Care (2024 update): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556048/
JAMA Internal Medicine (2025): CBD and liver enzyme elevations: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2836267
SAMHSA advisory PDF: https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep22-06-04-003.pdf

Disclaimer:

The information provided on this website should not be considered medical advice. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement or health regimen, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking prescription medications. The efficacy of CBD for pain relief, anxiety, and other ailments will vary between individuals.