What’s the Recommended Dose of CBD?

There aren’t enough clinical studies to highlight a specific dosage range for Parkinson’s disease. However, there’s a lot of research on the use of CBD use for other neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

Heavy doses of CBD are usually required to produce benefits for these conditions.

We recommend starting at the low-strength dose as highlighted in the chart below and build up over time to the heavy dose based on your weight. To find your dose, use the CBD oil dosage calculator below.

For Parkinson’s disease, you should aim to use the supplement long-term.

Recommended Strength For Parkinson’s Disease: Heavy Strength

CBD Oil Dosage Calculator

What is Parkinson’s Disease (PD)?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting the part of the brain responsible for manufacturing dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with things such as mood, hormone balance, motor function, and focus or attention.

Symptoms of this condition usually appear gradually over the course of several years before and after diagnosis.

They begin with nonspecific issues like hyposmia (reduced sense of smell), sleep disorders, constipation, and obesity up to 20 years before the more characteristic muscular issues such as rigidity, tremors, and falling.

As the disease progresses, non-motor symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, dementia, and depression can appear and worsen over the next 20 years.

Parkinson’s disease by itself isn’t considered fatal — however, some of the complications brought on by the disease are — and can also certainly be life-altering and devastating for patients and families.

A common finding in PD patients is an abundance of Lewy bodies — clusters of proteins inside the neurons that don’t break down as they should through normal enzyme reactions in the brain.

As these Lewy bodies become more abundant and build up, they kill the neurons. This type of neuron injury is also characteristic of other neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The main differences are in the composition and location of the proteins.

In the case of Parkinson’s, the majority of these protein clusters are in the basal ganglia of the brainstem — specifically in the substantia nigra pars compacta neurons.

What Are The Signs & Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?

1. Muscle tremors
2. Bradykinesia
3. Limb rigidity
4. Mask-like face
5. Gait and balance problems, i.e. shuffling
6. Depression
7. Poor focus or concentration
8. Mood changes
9. Apathy
10. Constipation
11. Excess salivation
12. Urinary retention
13. Sleep behavior disorders
14. Loss of sense of smell
15. Cognitive impairment

Dopamine & Parkinson’s Disease

The majority of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease result from a loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brainstem.

As the dopamine-producing neurons in the brainstem are lost, it becomes more difficult to manufacture the dopamine the brain needs to function properly. In fact, by the time characteristic muscle symptoms are clinically apparent, over 80% of the dopamine-producing neurons are gone. Without enough dopamine, symptoms like muscle tremors, lockjaw, weakness in the arms and legs, and poor balance are more frequent.

A loss of dopamine is linked with symptoms including:

• Mood changes
• Loss of normal muscle control
• Hormonal changes
• Poor libido
• Difficulty concentrating
• Depression

Norepinephrine & Parkinson’s Disease

Norepinephrine and epinephrine is structurally similar to dopamine and is built through the same pathway as dopamine. Therefore, epinephrine levels also suffer a decrease in production from Parkinson’s disease [1].

These neurotransmitters are major players in the sympathetic nervous system. As they start to become less abundant in the brain and blood vessels, we lose the ability to regulate autonomic functions including heart rate and blood pressure.

A loss of norepinephrine and/or epinephrine are linked with symptoms including:

• Fatigue
• Changes in blood pressure
• Problems with digestion
• Poor concentration
• Depression

What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?

The cause for Parkinson’s disease is still unknown — however, there are a few factors that we now know contribute to the condition over time.

Older studies used to report Parkinson’s disease as being non-hereditary — meaning a disease that isn’t passed on through genes [4]. Newer studies, however, found at least two gene variants related to Parkinson’s disease [5] — LRRK2 and GBA genes, albeit rarely. Most cases by far are idiopathic.

Some factors believed to be linked with Parkinson’s disease include:

1. Heavy metal exposure
2. Traumatic head injuries
3. Genetic factors
4. Paraquat exposure (pesticide)
5. Leaky gut syndrome
6. Poor microbiome diversity
7. Mitochondrial disease

The 5 Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

Stage 1

Symptoms appear but are mild in nature. They usually don’t interfere with daily activities. The most common symptoms to appear are postural changes, muscle tremors, and changes in facial expression.

Stage 2

Stage two involves an increase in the severity of symptoms discovered in stage one and the development of symptoms affecting movement. It may be more difficult to walk normally, maintain correct posture, and normal tasks begin to become difficult. Usually, people in stage two don’t require outside assistance.

Stage 3

This stage is characterized by problems with maintaining balance and difficulties with day-to-day activities such as eating, using the toilet, or getting dressed. People in stage three may need assistance, while others remain independent.

Stage 4

By stage four, symptoms have become pronounced. Standing is possible, but walking requires the support of a walker or another person. Daily activities such as eating, bathing, and moving around require assistance. People at this stage are not able to live independently.

Stage 5

This is the last stage of Parkinson’s disease progression. Patients are unable to stand or walk on their own and are usually confined to a bed or wheelchair. Hallucinations and delusions may appear during this stage. Full-time assistance is required for people in this stage of disease.

How is Parkinson’s Disease Treated?

Most of the treatments for Parkinson’s disease are aimed at managing symptoms in order to optimize a patient’s quality of life. There are several medications and supplements that improve dopamine production in the brain, but these won’t cure the condition — only reduce the severity of symptoms associated with low dopamine. The medications will also need to be readjusted over time, along with regular follow ups with a neurologist.

Treatment Options for Parkinson’s Disease and Symptoms Includes:

• Amantadine
• Anticholinergic drugs
• Antidepressants (SNRIs, SSRIs, TCAs)
• Antioxidant supplementation
• Cardio-aerobic exercise
• Coffee consumption
• COMT inhibitors
• Deep brain stimulation
• Dopaminergic medications (MAO-B Inhibitors, amphetamines)
• Ensure adequate, restful sleep each night
• High fiber diets
• L-dopa supplementation
• Meditation/yoga/Tai-chi
• Occupational therapy
• Probiotic supplementation
• Speech therapy

Key Takeaways: Can CBD Help With Parkinson’s Disease?

There’s no cure for Parkinson’s disease — most of the treatment options available, including CBD are used to slow the progression of the disease and manage symptoms to improve a patient’s quality of life.

CBD is a potentially excellent option for both — it may alleviate many of the most common side-effects of the conditions (insomnia, depression, anxiety, muscle tremors) and perhaps may slow the progression of Parkinson’s, although more clinical research is needed to demonstrate this.

It’s important to consult with your doctor before using CBD to ensure it won’t have any negative interactions with the medications you’re taking. Patients with Parkinson’s disease will need multifaceted treatment and regular follow ups with their neurologist to readjust medication as needed.

Anecdotally, Most Parkinson’s patients use a high dose of CBD for long periods of time.

For maximum benefits, opt for a high-potency full-spectrum CBD oil to take advantage of other cannabinoids such as CBG that have their own set of benefits to offer Parkinson’s symptoms.

We also recommend using only high-quality CBD and hemp oils. Low-quality products may be contaminated with heavy metals or pesticides that can actually make symptoms even worse.

Always do your research before buying CBD to make sure the companies you’re buying from use high-quality hemp, free from contaminants.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of CBD Supplementation for Parkinson’s Disease

1. Choose a full-spectrum extract — other cannabinoids in the cannabis plant offer separate benefits to this condition
2. Always choose a high-quality, certified organic CBD supplement — poor quality products are often contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, or mold that can be neurotoxic
3. Be consistent with dosing — it can take several weeks of regular use notice the benefits of the supplement.
4. Always consult with your doctor before taking CBD — some medications may have a negative interaction with the supplement

References Cited In This Article

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