How long does CBD oil take to work for anxiety?

Anxiety has become one of the most common mental health issues reported worldwide, and with the COVID-19 occurrence followed by the cost-of-living crisis, things are only bound to get more stressful. It is said that 6 out of 100 people in England are diagnosed with anxiety disorder, while roughly 8 million individuals in the UK are experiencing anxiety at any one time.
 
It is, therefore, not a surprise that there has been an inclination toward the use of perceived anxiety remedies like CBD oils. There are widespread claims that CBD oil is a safe and natural remedy that works effectively, but the question is, how long does CBD oil take to work for anxiety?
 
We get asked a lot of questions regarding CBD, from queries about the legality and safety of the cannabis derivative to its health benefits. But most of the queries that we receive are related to anxiety and CBD. And given the fact that anxiety is ranked consistently as one of the primary reasons for the purchase and use of CBD products in the UK, it makes sense.
What is CBD? Does it really live up to its claims, and if it does, how long does it take for it to actually work its magic?

Effect of CBD on Anxiety

The increase in the use of CBD over the years has encouraged several clinical and observational studies. These are all aimed at assessing the potential that CBD has for relieving anxiety. Some of these have yielded some pretty impressive results. A majority of these studies strongly support that CBD works effectively for the treatment of panic disorder, general anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. All these indicate that CBD may potentially have a significant amount of anxiolytic properties, which have anxiety-relieving properties.
 
Besides research data, there is also a plethora of anecdotal evidence reported by thousands of CBD users who claim that using it regularly has considerably relieved their anxiety. As a matter of fact, you can’t scroll through reviews, forums, and social media platforms and not find CBD “fanatics” who claim it changed their lives for the better and that they have incorporated it into their health and wellness routine.

How Long Does CBD Oil Take to Work for Anxiety?

So here is the million-dollar question: how long does it really take for CBD oil to kick in when using it to treat anxiety? Before we answer this, you need to keep in mind that the only legally permissible use of CBD oil is in the form of anti-seizure drugs. More research is required in order to understand the benefits it has for other conditions.
 
This, however, has not prevented many from using it to treat several conditions. So the short answer to this is that we don’t really have enough studies to give a definite answer. That said, here are some of the latest research findings regarding CBD oil.
If you are considering using CBD oil to treat your anxiety, remember to consult with your physician first.
 
Since this is a relatively new product, people often need help figuring out the most effective way to take it. Most importantly, users want to know how long it takes for the CBD to kick in. Does it take seconds, minutes, days, or weeks?
 
If you don’t notice any effects after you have consumed it, do not jump to the conclusion that it doesn’t really work. You are probably missing out on essential aspects that affect its onset, such as the dosing regime, product composition, your health condition, delivery form, etc.
Consider below our comprehensive list of aspects that will affect How long does CBD oil take to work for anxiety?.

• It takes hours to relieve acute conditions like panic attacks.
• Mouth sprays and vapes are more effective in acute conditions.
• It takes some months to see results for chronic problems.
• Capsules are more suitable for chronic conditions as they release a steady supply of the active ingredients.
• Your genes and microbiome also dictate how fast your body responds.
• If you don’t see results after 4-5 months of consuming CBD oil. You may not be taking the correct doses, or it simply doesn’t work for you.

Onset of CBD Oil by Composition and Product Type

Method of Delivery

The delivery method is probably the most significant factor that influences the onset of CBD oil. Some methods will enable the CBD oil to pass into the bloodstream and reach the target faster. On the other hand, other methods take much longer to reach the target. But the effects of CBD will last longer.

Oral

CBD oils come in two forms:

1. Fast-release: Mouth Sprays and Tinctures

2. Slow-release: Teas, Tablets, Capsules, and Edibles (cakes, lollipops, and gummies)

Fast-release CBD oils are applied sublingually, i.e., directly to the mouth, under your tongue. This is the most favoured way of taking them. And it usually takes only 15–30 minutes to feel the effects and may last approximately 6 hours.

Applying CBD oils sublingually enables the active ingredients to pass through the thin layer of the skin under your tongue and into your bloodstream. Thereby taking a shorter route. Another advantage of sublingual application is that it allows you to bypass the liver, unlike CBD drinks and edibles.

Slow-release CBD oils, on the other hand, need to be digested, and their onset typically takes 30–180 minutes. This form of CBD passes from the gut and into the liver before it reaches the bloodstream. The liver enzymes will break down the CBD, which means not all of the active ingredients will reach your bloodstream.

However, there is an advantage to taking slow-release CBD oils because their effects last for an extended period of time. Typically, the onset will last for as long as 8 hours.

Vapes

Along with smoking cannabis, vaping CBD oil is another quick method that helps absorb CBD. Inhaling CBD comes in the form of e-liquid, which is consumed using a vaporizer. And just like CBD oils, it enables you to bypass the liver and go directly to the lungs. From the lungs, it gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream, making it the fastest-working method but also the most short-lived.
 
For more details on vaping and CBD, check out our blog post: How Long Does It Take for CBD Vape to Start Working?