It’s natural for CBD to make you sleepy. The cannabinoid doesn’t get you high, but relaxing to the point of feeling sleepy is par for the course with CBD.
If you don’t want CBD to get you tired, though, there are some techniques you can try. Simply understanding more about CBD and how it affects your mind and body is a great place to start.
Over the course of this guide, you’ll learn what CBD is, why it makes you sleepy, and how to take CBD without getting tired. By the end, you’ll be well-prepared to fully enjoy the benefits of this naturally non-intoxicating hemp cannabinoid.
What is CBD?
CBD is short for “cannabidiol,” a natural substance found only in cannabis. Compounds like this are called cannabinoids to denote their unique origin, and CBD is one of many non-intoxicating cannabinoids.
A single cannabinoid has become known above all others — THC, the cannabis compound currently still classified as “marijuana” at the federal level. Unlike THC, CBD does not have any intoxicating effects. Instead, it’s lightly relaxing.
CBD is relaxing enough to trigger sleepiness in some users. Especially when experienced during the daytime, it’s normal to seek a way to use CBD that doesn’t make you sleepy.
How Does CBD Work in the Body?
Instead of interacting with your conventional cannabinoid neuroreceptors like THC does, CBD mainly works on receptors that aren’t usually considered a part of the endocannabinoid system. The two main systems that CBD impacts are your TRP-controlled inflammation responses and your 5HT serotonin system.
Inflammation, CBD, and TRP
Also known as the vanilloid receptors, the TRP and TRPV receptors in your body are the main neurological systems that control the inflammatory immune response. Inflammation and sleepiness aren’t directly related, but one reason CBD can make you feel sleepy is relief from inflammatory pain that otherwise keeps you too agitated to rest.
CBD and the Serotonergic System
The main reason CBD makes you sleepy is likely its impact on your 5HT or serotonergic system, though this hasn’t been confirmed with research yet. Scientists still aren’t sure on the details, but serotonin appears to play a significant role in allowing your brain to feel sleepy. Serotonin is deeply linked to feelings of relaxation and satisfaction in general, and those feelings can make you sleepy indirectly.
Does CBD Make You Tired or Sleepy?
Yes, CBD does make you tired under most circumstances. A couple of large clinical studies have now been conducted confirming this anecdotal position, indicating that CBD makes you sleepy, makes you sleep longer, and has an overall beneficial impact on sleep quality.
CBD and Sleep Quality
A 2023 clinical study recently confirmed results from a previous clinical inquiry indicating that CBD extends sleep duration in adults. Recent laboratory results, however, indicate that CBD may negatively impact the memory consolidation that naturally occurs during sleep. These results, while worthy of consideration, remain unconfirmed, meaning the bulk of the evidence indicates CBD improves sleep quality.
The Sedative Effects of CBD
Research into CBD and sleep has mainly surrounded sleep duration so far, not sleep latency, or the amount of time that it takes you to go to sleep. A “sedative” is usually defined as something that reduces sleep latency, so we’re still not sure exactly how sedative CBD is from a scientific level. Plenty of anecdotal evidence, though, supports the idea that CBD improves both sleep latency and duration.
Individual Reactions
It’s important to consider the widely varied scope of potential individual interactions when determining how CBD affects sleep. Some individuals are even allergic to cannabis, and for others, neurochemical peculiarities might make CBD energizing when it’s usually sedative. If you’re concerned CBD might be affecting you in an unusual way, it’s a good idea to consult with your doctor.
Can CBD Make Me Drowsy During the Day?
Yes, CBD can make you tired or drowsy if you use it during the day. Especially if you have issues with sleep quality at night, using CBD during the daylight hours can naturally prompt your body to enter a restful state. Unintended drowsiness is one of the most commonly reported side effects of CBD, but it can be overcome by identifying and addressing each of the factors involved.
Factors Influencing CBD's Effect on Tiredness
There are a few reasons a particular CBD product might make you tired:
Product Quality
In Cannabis sativa, CBD is accompanied by a variety of terpenes and minor cannabinoids. If these delicate components are damaged, CBD can make you feel more tired than it should. Low-quality CBD products are also often adulterated with contaminants and filler ingredients, which can make you feel sleepy even when CBD wouldn’t normally.
Dosage
It all depends on the product and the person, but the higher the CBD dosage you take, the sleepier you usually feel. A smaller dose of CBD will often make you feel less tired than a large one.
Consumption Method
When applied topically, CBD doesn’t have any sleep-inducing effects. Both oral and inhaled CBD, on the other hand, can be quite soporific.
Individual Differences
CBD will make some people feel more tired than others. Factors like neurochemistry, metabolism, age, and gender all can play a role.
How to Take CBD Without Feeling Tired
If you want to avoid becoming tired when you use CBD, just follow these simple steps:
Understand CBD Dosage
Make sure you know how much CBD you’re taking. Reference the strength of the CBD product you’re using, which should be listed on the labeling. Taking less CBD could be all it takes to avoid getting sleepy when using the cannabinoid.
Choose the Right CBD Product
Some CBD products are specifically boosted with extra ingredients to make you sleepy. Others contain different ingredients that are designed to help with focus or energy. Make sure you know which kind of CBD product you’re using to avoid getting sleepy.
Timing Your CBD Intake
There are natural times in the day, like after meals, when you’re sleepier than others. Avoiding CBD at these times could help with the cannabinoid’s unwanted soporific effects.
Combine with Stimulating Activities
CBD will have a hard time getting you to sleep if you go on a hike or engage in a fascinating conversation. Keep your mind and body engaged to keep CBD from making you sleepy.
Monitor Your Body's Response
Stay in tune with your body, noting when CBD makes you sleepy and when it doesn’t. Consider keeping a journal or log of your CBD products and doses to compare afterward.
What Does CBD Feel Like and Do?
Let’s dive a bit deeper into what CBD feels like to understand its effects on sleepiness:
Mood boost
CBD often makes you feel happy or relaxed. Letting your guard down just a little bit might be enough to let that sleep you’ve been running from catch up with you.
Stress reduction
Taking CBD often takes your stress levels down a notch. If it was only worrying about what you have to do next that was keeping you awake, CBD could lower your defenses.
Recovery & relief
Taking CBD feels good throughout your entire body. It naturally spurs recovery from exercise and trauma, and it spreads a sensation of healing relief.
Restful sleep
People who take CBD often report sleeping the best they have in years. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t seem to cause REM sleep behavior disorder.
Daily energy
By giving you deep, restful sleep, CBD helps you have more energy during the day.
Focus & calm
Staying rested and keeping your endocannabinoid system in balance helps you keep the cool sense of calm confidence that allows you to take your day in stride.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CBD make you sleepy or relaxed?
Yes, one of the sleep benefits most commonly reported in association with CBD is its ability to make you feel sleepy or more relaxed before bedtime. The cannabinoid can make you feel sleepy even when you want to be wide awake, though, so make sure to choose your dose and product appropriately.
Does CBD oil make you tired?
Yes, CBD oil usually makes you feel at least a little tired. This is great news if you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, but it can be an annoyance if poor quality sleep makes you more likely to nod off during the day.
Does CBD make you groggy?
As a natural sleep aid, CBD does not generally make you feel groggy the morning after you take it to get a good night’s sleep. Instead of forcing your brain to go to sleep like prescription medications, CBD generally coaxes your body’s own resources to step up to the plate, preventing any serious blowback the morning after.
How long does CBD's effect on energy levels last?
Whether it makes you sleepy or gives you extra energy, only expect CBD’s effects on energy to last around 2-4 hours when taken orally. That’s about how long it takes CBD to be processed in your digestive tract, with the cannabinoid’s effects reaching their zenith in the central nervous system at around the 90-minute mark.
Is CBD better for sleep than melatonin?
CBD and melatonin work on the brain in different ways, making each compound potentially useful against sleep disorders. In fact, many CBD oils and CBD gummies used for sleep also contain melatonin, leveraging the benefits of both sleep-promoting substances.
Conclusion: Does CBD Make You Sleepy or Tired?
CBD will make you more tired if you use it at the end of the day. It might even make you feel sleepy while the sun still shines. In the end, it all comes down to dose, the CBD products you choose, and maintaining a mindful approach to using CBD in general.
One of the best things about CBD as a sleep aid is its wide range of activity. Whether it’s anxiety, chronic pain, or practically anything else keeping you from getting to sleep at night, it’s likely that CBD will have at least some effect.
You might not want to get sleepy every time you use CBD, though. That’s where choosing the right product comes into the picture. Trust Colorado Botanicals for the best CBD for either getting to sleep or staying awake, offered in various formulations and product types for your convenience.
Sources
- Muller, C., Morales, P., & Reggio, P. H. (2019). Cannabinoid ligands targeting TRP channels. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2018.00487
- De Gregorio, D., McLaughlin, R. J., Posa, L., Ochoa-Sanchez, R., Enns, J., Lopez-Canul, M., Aboud, M., Maione, S., Comai, S., & Gobbi, G. (2018). Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain. Pain, 160(1), 136–150. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001386
- Jouvet, M. (1999). Sleep and Serotonin an unfinished story. Neuropsychopharmacology, 21(2), 24S-27S. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0893-133x(99)00009-3
- Kisiolek, J. N., Flores, V. A., Ramani, A., Butler, B., Haughian, J. M., & Stewart, L. K. (2023). Eight weeks of daily cannabidiol supplementation improves sleep quality and immune cell cytotoxicity. Nutrients, 15(19), 4173. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194173
- Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and sleep: a large case series. The Permanente Journal, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.7812/tpp/18-041
- Samanta, A., Aleman-Zapata, A., Agarwal, K., Özsezer, P., Alonso, A., Van Der Meij, J., Rayan, A., Navarro-Lobato, I., & Genzel, L. (2023). CBD lengthens sleep but shortens ripples and leads to intact simple but worse cumulative memory. iScience, 26(11), 108327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.108327
