There is both a short-term and long-term effect of CBD for anxiety.
Let's focus down on the shorter term (right now!!)
It generally deals with the following pathways:
- GABA - our nervous system's "brake" pedal
- Oxidative stress - waste material from energy production
- Inflammation - both gut and brain inflammation drive anxiety
When we take CBD for anxiety, it generally takes 20-30 minutes to work primarily on the pathways above.
Peak CBD is around 4-6 hours after taking as the liver works to break it down.
You can speed how fast CBD works for anxiety by holding it (assumes oil) under your tongue for up to 60 seconds.
This can allow CBD to start to work in 10-15 minutes for anxiety.
It also boosts how much is able to get into the bloodstream by up to 4x's which can reduce the actual cost.
So ideally, it can take 10-15 minutes for CBD to work for anxiety with peak levels around 4 hours afterward.
A study on public speaking administered CBD about 1 hour before the event with significant results (study is here).
There are other effects that build over time with longer-term use.
The very powerful pathway of serotonin (see CBD and serotonin) takes about 14 days to really show effects as this operator deals with rewiring/repairing the brain itself (see CBD and BDNF or CBD and brain repair).
In research, serotonin can have some immediate effects but it's really a longer-term player for anxiety.
We see many people start higher for 10 days and then slow down levels beyond that on maintenance or as-needed basis.
To recap, if we hold it under our tongue, CBD generally takes 10-20 minutes to work for anxiety with peak levels around 4-6 hours. Longer-term, effects build over 14 days via the serotonin pathway.
Always work with a doctor or naturopath with any supplement!
The information provided here is not intended to treat an illness or substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider.