Does CBD Make You Tired?

Many people report that taking CBD at night helps them fall asleep. And that’s awesome – sleep is important. But if you take it in the morning as part of your daily routine, does CBD make you tired?

The Research on CBD for Sleep

Now, we’re not in the business of making health claims. You can read more on why here.

But that doesn’t mean research hasn’t looked at CBD and how it impacts sleep. It has.

Numerous studies suggest that CBD may support sleep, partly because of how it affects the release of cortisol in the body.

Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, is released by your adrenal glands. It functions with certain parts of your brain to control your mood, motivation, and fear. The levels of cortices are typically highest in the morning, but people who had trouble sleeping tend to have high cortisol levels at night.

One study in particular on the effects of CBD found that cortisol levels decreased, suggesting that CBD affects the release of cortisol.

Ok, but that’s all well and good if you’re trying to get to sleep, but what if you’re not. Does CBD make you tired?

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Does CBD Make You Tired?

Ironically, no, it shouldn’t make you sleepy if you don’t need sleep.

That’s a weird one, so let me explain.

CBD works by interacting with a system in your body called the Endocannabinoid System. This system, found throughout your entire body – the major organs, the nervous system, the digestive system, etc. – plays a crucial role in maintaining balance.

When something is out of whack, the ES send signals to the brain, and CBD plays a role in helping to bring about balance.

So, if research shows CBD can help balance cortisol levels, that’s how it would support sleep. But, if your cortisol levels are normal, CBD won’t focus on regulating them.

A normal, healthy brain will have functions in place to manage how we sleep, so CBD won’t interfere with those functions.

Make sense?

What About CBD Side Effects

Now, no discussion answering “does CBD make you tired” would be complete without covering some of the commonly reported – but rare – side effects.

While there isn’t a ton of research into side effects, there is some. The most comprehensive results come from the studies on Epidiolex, the FDA-approved CBD drug for childhood epilepsy. During clinical trials, children aged 2 to 18 were given CBD daily for 14 weeks. These doses were high – about 1,360 mg for a 150 pound adult, more than you’d find in the average bottle of CBD. Yes, the entire bottle.

In most cases, these side effects popped up in the first few weeks of the trial. Thankfully, after dosages stabilized, any adverse symptoms typically subsided. Also, it was noted that decreasing the daily dose helped to decrease the side effects. 

So, what side effects were reported? 

• Tiredness/fatigue
• Decreased appetite
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Altered liver enzymes 

**Just remember, those were super high doses. Far more than the average person takes (or needs to take).

So, yes, there is potential for CBD to make you feel tired, but it isn’t typical. That said, if you notice that, cut back on your daily dose.

Overall, if you’re worried about taking CBD in the morning and falling asleep over the keyboard mid-morning, don’t be. Well, unless those spreadsheets are what’s causing your eyelids to close. That we can’t help with – but don’t blame the oil!