Can CBD be Used as an Alternative for Antidepressants?
Depression is a common mental health issue that can have a devastating effect on the social life, health and productivity of individuals. Pharmaceutical drugs can help to treat or manage depression but they often have unwelcome side effects, such as sleeplessness or loss of libido. CBD has shown promise in treating depression and anxiety with fewer side effects than prescription drugs. So can it be used as an alternative to antidepressants? Let's find out more.
Challenges of current treatment for depression
Many types of drugs used in the treatment of depression work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are first-line medications in the treatment of depression and this is what they do. One of the challenges is that several weeks of treatment are usually necessary to induce therapeutic response and about 33% of patients are treatment-resistant.
Adherence of patients to treatment is also low due to the unwanted side effects. Some antidepressant drugs also carry risks of addiction. Undesirable side effects have caused a number of people suffering from depression to purchase CBD online as an alternative treatment.
CBD – a potential solution
The discovery of new drugs that could act as antidepressants and have few side effects is very important. In this scenario, CBD could present a powerful solution. It appears to alleviate depression by binding to the CB1 receptor which relieves central nervous system inflammation and helps modulate the effects of serotonin. Despite a lack of research on humans, anecdotal evidence about its effectiveness is one of the reasons so many people buy CBD online.
What the research shows
A 2010 study on mice found that CBD induced antidepressant-like effects in the mice.
A 2014 review of studies of animal models using CBD suggested that it showed anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects in animal models.
A 2016 study found that administering CBD to rats induced antidepressant-like effects, possibly through indirect activation of CB1 and 5-HTIA receptors.
A 2018 study concluded that CBD doesn't only have a robust, but also a sustained, antidepressant-like effect in different species and distinct animal models.
More research in humans is obviously required, but initial studies in animal models are the first step in finding out just how CBD works in the body.
Many people already buy high quality CBD online for depression because they believe it works but more studies about its effectiveness in humans need to be done. Only then is it likely to be recommended as a substitute for prescription antidepressants by health practitioners. One CBD oil product is currently approved by the FDA, and that is for the treatment of epilepsy.
How to take CBD
CBD is available in several different forms, but it needs to be ingested to have any antidepressant-like effects. It can be taken orally in capsule form, as CBD oil or as a spray. Chewable gummies and candies are some edible products containing CBD. E-liquids inhaled by vaping are also available. For those who want to buy CBD online, it is easy to buy all of these products.
CBD is available as an isolate (only CBD), broad-spectrum where it contains other cannabinoids but no THC, or full-spectrum, which contains other cannabinoids, including THC. It is possible to purchase high quality CBD online in isolate, broad-spectrum and full-spectrum form.
The entourage effect
Some research indicates that the therapeutic benefits of CBD are stronger when combined with other cannabis compounds, such as terpenes, flavonoids, and lesser-known cannabinoids such as CBG. This theory is that each element works better in combination with the others, known as the entourage effect.
Those who want to purchase high quality CBD online will often go for a full-spectrum product. They should check how much THC is in the product if they don't want to experience a high. Broad-spectrum CBD products give some of the entourage effects but as they contain no THC, there is no psychoactive effect.
Is CBG the new CBD?
Cannabigerol (CBG) is found in small amounts in the cannabis plant and is a precursor to the other cannabinoids. It is gaining increasing recognition for its therapeutic properties and it is possible to buy CBG online. CBG is more expensive due to the fact that more plant material is required due to the small amount in each plant and processing it is costly. It can be harder to find and purchase CBG online as it is not as readily available as CBD.
Those who buy CBG online need to take the same precautions as when they purchase CBD online. They need to buy high-quality products and make sure third-party tests have been conducted. Those who purchase CBG online have reported many positive effects, such as enhanced mood.
Possible side effects and safety
Most research suggests that CBD is well tolerated and has few side effects. Some side effects that may occur are nausea, dizziness, mood changes, appetite changes, drowsiness or diarrhea. When taking CBD, patients should always start with a small dose and gradually increase it.
As CBD products aren't regulated, people can't be sure that they're getting what's described on the label. They don't know what they are getting in terms of purity, dosage and safety. Some products may contain THC when they say they don't. Those who want to buy high-quality CBD online should buy from reputable companies and check whether third-party tests have been performed.
People who want to purchase CBD online to treat depression should consult with a health practitioner first, especially if they use other medications for depression. They may experience increased side effects if they use CBD when taking antidepressants like fluoxetine or Prozac.
A final word
The available evidence about CBD's antidepressant effects comes mostly from animal studies or small human trials at this point. This research is a promising but more large-scale, well-designed human trials are necessary. While anecdotal evidence on how effective CBD is in treating depression is plentiful, doing these human trials could offer firm scientific proof to back it up.
Mitchell Cohen, M.D. is Board Certified doctor specializing in Orthopedic Medicine and Spinal Surgery. Graduated from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA with a degree in Human Physiology (1983) and subsequently achieved his medical degree in 1987 from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr Cohen did his Surgical Residency at the University of New Mexico in 1992 as well as a Spine Fellowship in 1993. Dr. Cohen has published the following medical journals: "Biomechanical Efficiency of Spinal Systems in Thorocolumbar Fractures" (1993), "Kaneda Anterior Spinal Instrumentation" and "Spinal Fusion Stabilization amongst many others. View Dr Cohen's Twitter Page.
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