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Best CBD:THC Ratio For Neuropathy

Sometimes two is better than one.

Learn how to use CBD & THC together for neuropathy and which ratio is best.

Article By
Daily CBD , last updated on November 23, 2021

The main active compounds in cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) and delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), offer pain relief and comfort to those suffering from nerve pain. 

Nerve pain or neuropathy is often treated with medications made for other disorders like seizures and depression.  CBD and THC make great alternatives with less side effects, less risk for tolerance and addiction, and better efficacy.

While each cannabinoid has its own benefits as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and muscle relaxant, research suggests that they offer more potent effects towards supporting neuropathic conditions when combined. 

The best CBD:THC ratio for neuropathy is 1:1 — where there is an equal amount of these cannabinoids in each dose. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the best CBD: THC ratio for nerve pain based on recent studies.

Illustration of a human neurone.

What is Neuropathy? What Causes It? 

Neuropathy refers to nerve pinching, compression, and damage resulting in pain. 

There are many different causes of neuropathy, ranging from traumatic injuries to degenerative disorders like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. 

The condition leaves patients with significant pain, numbness, and, in severe cases, a reduction in autonomy and paralysis.

Neuropathic pain is especially difficult to treat. Conventional painkillers like acetaminophen don’t normally work that well for this type of pain because they target inflammation. Because the pain originates from the neurons themselves, reducing inflammation has little impact on pain. 

Benefits of CBD & THC For Neuropathy

CBD has been widely studied for addressing neuropathy or nerve pain. 

CBD on its own may be helpful for peripheral neuropathy, with patients reporting less pain after taking CBD. 

CBD has been observed to reduce inflammation in neuropathy patients by interacting with the α3-glycine receptors, which are responsible for our sense of pain [1].

The Benefits of THC and CBD For Neuropathy Include: 

  • Reducing inflammation
  • Managing chronic pain
  • Relieving symptoms of depression
  • Supporting healthy sleep quality
  • Promoting nerve regeneration

Will CBD & THC Interact With My Neuropathy Medications? 

Neuropathy is often treated with prescription medications — many of which may interact negatively with CBD. 

Make sure to always ask your doctor about interactions with any other medications you take to treat your neuropathy, especially antidepressants.

Common neuropathy medications and their potential interaction with CBD: 

1. Opiate Painkillers

Opiates are commonly used to treat nerve pain. They’re considered to be one of the strongest classes of prescription painkillers available. They work by targeting the opiate receptors in the central nervous system. This effect blocks the transmission of pain heading from the body to the brain. 

CBD may interact with opioid pain medications. This supplement has a similar effect as opiates on inhibiting neurological function and may compete for metabolism in the liver. Both of these effects could lead to an increased risk of side effects and overdose. 

Always speak to your doctor about using CBD if you’ve been prescribed an opioid medication. 

Common opiates used for neuropathic pain include: 

  • Buprenorphine (Cizdol & Brixadi)
  • Codeine
  • Pethidine (Meperidine & Demerol)
  • Fentanyl (Abstral & Actiq)
  • Hydrocodone (Hysingla ER, Zohydro ER & Hycodan)
  • Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
  • Methadone (Methadose & Dolophine)
  • Morphine (Kadian & Roxanol)
  • Oxycodone (Percodan, Endodan, Roxiprin, Percocet, Endocet, Roxicet & OxyContin)
  • Tramadol (Ultram, Ryzolt & ConZip)

2. Antidepressants

Long-term neuropathic pain often leads to depression. Lowered quality of life, poor sleep, and job loss all contribute further to this effect. 

If you’ve been prescribed antidepressants, it’s important to speak with your prescribing doctor about CBD and THC first. Both compounds can interfere with the metabolism of drugs like SSRIs and SNRIs and lead to negative side effects. 

THC is especially likely to interact with these substances in a negative way. 

Common prescription antidepressants include: 

  • Citalopram (Cipramil & Celexa)
  • Dapoxetine (Priligy)
  • Escitalopram (Cipralex & Lexapro)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac, Rapiflux, Sarafem, Selfemra & Oxactin)
  • Fluvoxamine (Faverin)
  • Paroxetine (Seroxat)
  • Sertraline (Lustral)
  • Vortioxetine (Brintellix)
  • Atomoxetine (Strattera)
  • Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq, Khedezla)
  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta, Irenka)
  • Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
  • Milnacipran (Savella)
  • Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

CBD & THC Ratios: What Dose Should I Take?

The best CBD:THC ratio for neuropathy is 1:1+, meaning equal parts CBD and THC or less CBD than THC.

Keep in mind that dosing and ratio are two very different things. 

The dose refers to how much of the compounds you’re taking, and it’s typically measured in milligrams. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to dosing for neuropathic pain, but higher doses (50 mg +) have been shown to provide the most relief towards pain and inflammation. 

To determine your doses, you can try our dosage calculator. This will give you a rough estimate of how much CBD you should consume depending on your weight and desired strength, but you can expect to experiment with your doses as cannabinoids affect individuals differently. 

CBD and THC gummies and oils are easy to dose using ratios because you can cut the gummies or measure oil in mL. However, you can also buy CBD:THC ratio products that are already mixed for you.

Other CBD:THC Ratios

The best ratio of CBD to THC is a hot topic lately. While we already have a lot of data available for the benefits of both these cannabinoids for certain conditions — there’s very little information about what the optimal ratio of each one is when used in conjunction.

As more research comes to light on the intricate synergy between these two compounds, scientists are uncovering insight into ways we can get even more effectiveness out of cannabis.

Here are some of the other optimal CBD to THC ratios based on the current evidence so far:

Final Thoughts: Best CBD:THC Ratio For Neuropathy

The best CBD:THC ratio for neuropathy is 1:1 with equal parts THC to CBD. 

Both THC and CBD are useful in managing pain from this condition. Taken together, the effects become even stronger. 

There are several pharmaceutical medications using CBD and THC for treating pain — the majority of which use this same 1:1 ratio. 

You can achieve this ratio by taking equal doses of CBD oil and THC oil or by mixing roughly equivalent doses of CBD or THC vape pens, capsules, gummies, or other products. You don’t have to use a premade CBD:THC product to get the benefits of this combination. 

References

  1. Argueta, D. A., Ventura, C. M., Kiven, S., Sagi, V., & Gupta, K. (2020). A balanced approach for cannabidiol use in chronic pain. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 561.
  2. Berman, J. S., Symonds, C., & Birch, R. (2004). Efficacy of two cannabis-based medicinal extracts for relief of central neuropathic pain from brachial plexus avulsion: results of a randomized controlled trial. Pain, 112(3), 299-306.
  3. Boggs, D. L., Nguyen, J. D., Morgenson, D., Taffe, M. A., & Ranganathan, M. (2018). Clinical and preclinical evidence for functional interactions of cannabidiol and Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Neuropsychopharmacology, 43(1), 142-154.
  4. Ware, M. A., Wang, T., Shapiro, S., Robinson, A., Ducruet, T., Huynh, T., … & Collet, J. P. (2010). Smoked cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain: a randomized controlled trial. Cmaj, 182(14), E694-E701.

Further Reading

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Further Reading
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