CBD For Depression

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) identifies five different types of depression:

Each of these types of depression has different triggers and treatment types. The NIH further identifies disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and bipolar disorder as other types of depressive disorders ^{2 Depression Basics. (n.d.) Retrieved December 01, 2020 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml} .

While there is no one common cause of depression, heritability is often a factor, with 40 percent of those struggling with depression having a first-degree relative who also has depression. Other contributing factors include chemical imbalances and environmental trauma ^{1 What is Depression? (n.d.) Retrieved December 01, 2020 from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression} .

While not everyone will experience these side effects, and while many of the reported side effects have been found to ease with continued use, for some patients, the side effects can become harder to deal with than the depression itself. It’s no wonder these patients turn to CBD for depression, hoping to find relief without the side effects.

With decades of research pointing to the CBD’s therapeutic benefits, including the antipsychotic and neuroprotective properties of this cannabinoid, it’s a hope that may very well pay off ^{6 Crippa, J. A., Guimarães, F. S., Campos, A. C., & Zuardi, A. W. (2018). Translational Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a New Age. Frontiers in immunology, 9, 2009. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.02009} . Especially considering the fact that CBD has a relatively high safety profile, with limited side effects to contend with ^{7 Iffland, K., & Grotenhermen, F. (2017). An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2(1), 139–154. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2016.0034} .

There’s no denying there is a great deal more research and clinical data promoting the effectiveness of traditional antidepressant medications compared to CBD. These drugs have been in use for over fifty years, and have been used to treat countless patients in that time ^{12 InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Depression: How effective are antidepressants? [Updated 2020 Jun 18]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361016/} . Research has shown us traditional antidepressants have a 40 to 60 percent success rate in treatment settings, while no such research exists (as of yet) for CBD and depression ^{13 InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Depression: How effective are antidepressants? [Updated 2020 Jun 18]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361016/} .

Still, additional research has shown as many as 38 percent of people experience side effects from taking traditional antidepressants ^{14 Cascade, E., Kalali, A. H., & Kennedy, S. H. (2009). Real-World Data on SSRI Antidepressant Side Effects. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)), 6(2), 16–18.} . And approximately 10 to 30 percent of patients experience something called treatment-resistant depression, where traditional antidepressants simply don’t seem to work ^{15 Al-Harbi K. S. (2012). Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions. Patient preference and adherence, 6, 369–388. https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S29716} .

Meanwhile, CBD has relatively limited and mild side effects ^{7 Iffland, K., & Grotenhermen, F. (2017). An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2(1), 139–154. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2016.0034} . In fact, when used alongside traditional antidepressants (under a prescribing physician’s guidance), “CBD ^{16 Gyires, K., & Zádori, Z. S. (2016). Role of Cannabinoids in Gastrointestinal Mucosal Defense and Inflammation. Current neuropharmacology, 14(8), 935–951. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159×14666160303110150} .

It’s also important to understand how and why traditional antidepressants work. While some are known to raise serotonin levels quickly, most patients still report having to wait anywhere from weeks to months before feeling any improvement ^{17 Machado-Vieira, R., Baumann, J., Wheeler-Castillo, C., Latov, D., Henter, I. D., Salvadore, G., & Zarate, C. A. (2010). The Timing of Antidepressant Effects: A Comparison of Diverse Pharmacological and Somatic Treatments. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 3(1), 19–41. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph3010019} . Researchers believe this lag may be due to the fact that depression can actually cause parts of the brain to atrophy and shrink, while traditional antidepressants seem to stimulate healing and regeneration to those segments ^{18 Liu, W., Ge, T., Leng, Y., Pan, Z., Fan, J., Yang, W., & Cui, R. (2017). The Role of Neural Plasticity in Depression: From Hippocampus to Prefrontal Cortex. Neural plasticity, 2017, 6871089. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6871089} . This process obviously takes time and explains why patients must wait to experience the therapeutic effects of antidepressants, even though a spike in serotonin levels often occurs right away.

Suppose this theory of how antidepressants work is correct. In that case, there is even more reason to believe CBD could be beneficial in treating depression, as the cannabinoid has proven potentially capable of protecting neurons and promoting neural regeneration in a variety of research settings ^{20 Capasso A. (2017). Do Cannabinoids Confer Neuroprotection Against Epilepsy? An Overview. The open neurology journal, 11, 61–73. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874205X01711010061} .

There is still a lot more research to be done before CBD can be declared a safe and effective treatment option for depression. But for patients resistant to the use of antidepressants, or those who have found antidepressants to be either non-effective or to have too many side effects, CBD for depression may be a viable alternative worth trying.

If you’ve decided to give CBD for depression a try, you have a variety of options at your disposal. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find CBD edibles that allow you to easily control your dosing throughout the day via the consumption of yummy treats. Or you might decide you would prefer vaping your CBD in order to allow for the quickest effects as you feel stressed or depressed throughout the day.

The easiest and most common method of delivery, however, is CBD oil for depression.

CBD oil tends to be one of the more accessible and affordable options available. And for new users, it is often also the easiest to incorporate into a daily routine as it doesn’t require picking up a new habit (vaping), and the dosage can be controlled with relative simplicity.

Choosing a CBD brand to use often comes down to where you live and what is available to you. We have numerous reviews available for CBD products from reputable brands like Medterra, which offer products like Sleep Tight CBD gummies for a restful sleep, or CBDistillery, that carries Relief & Relax CBD oil in a low or high dose. Because not all CBD products are created equal, we recommend paying special attention to quality assurances, brand character, and customer service when selecting a CBD oil to try.

Deciding how much CBD oil for depression to use can vary quite a bit from person to person. The amount you may need will likely depend on factors such as your height, weight, lifestyle choices, and severity of symptoms. Our advice is always to start low and slowly build up your dose until you begin to feel a therapeutic difference. We have a great dosage chart to help guide you in these decisions as you are start out with CBD products.

It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor before adding anything new to your daily routine. This is especially true if you take CBD oil for depression alongside other, more traditional antidepressants. Your doctor needs to know what you are taking so that they can monitor for potential interactions and effects.

While some cannabis users may shy away from having this conversation for fear of being judged, remember: your doctor isn’t there to judge you. And with the rise in research and anecdotal evidence surrounding CBD, they are likely more open than you think to seeing if CBD could help you.

Please also remember that there are times when depression warrants immediate medical attention. If you are considering harming yourself or anyone else, text the Crisis Text Line (CONNECT to 741741), call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255), or visit your local emergency room immediately.

No matter how long you’ve been trying to find relief for your symptoms of depression or how many treatment options you’ve tried—there is always something new that might work when nothing else has. And help is typically just a phone call away.

You matter. And your life, free of depression, is worth fighting for.