Last updated: 11 November 2026
CBD can make some people feel more anxious, but it isn’t common, and anxiety isn’t a listed side effect of the UK’s licensed CBD medicine. The usual causes are THC in the product, taking a lot at once, caffeine on top, or simply noticing new sensations. If CBD leaves you feeling worse, stop taking it and speak to your GP.
Below: why CBD might make you feel paranoid or weird, how the amount matters, how to lower the chance of it happening, and when to get help. This is general information, not medical advice.
Can CBD make anxiety worse?
It can for a few people, though CBD itself is not known to cause panic attacks. The product information for Epidyolex, the UK’s licensed CBD medicine, lists sleepiness, tiredness and irritability as side effects, not anxiety. When people feel more anxious after CBD, THC in the product, a large amount, caffeine or worry about new body sensations are the usual reasons.
iCBD isn’t a treatment for anxiety, and food supplement CBD can’t claim to help it. If your anxiety is getting worse, speak to your GP rather than changing your CBD. The research on CBD and anxiety is covered in does CBD help with anxiety?
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CBD Capsules Broad Spectrum
if you want to know exactly what you’re taking, Broad Spectrum CBD Capsules give one measured 10mg capsule a day, broad spectrum with 0% THC, so there’s no measuring and no THC. Every batch is third-party lab tested.
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The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
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View productDoes CBD make you paranoid?
CBD on its own isn’t known to cause paranoia. THC, the compound in cannabis that makes people high, is. In an Oxford study of 121 people, an injection of THC raised paranoia, anxiety and worry compared with a placebo. So if a “CBD” product makes you feel paranoid, high or spaced out, it may contain THC.
That happens more than it should. When researchers tested 29 widely available UK CBD products, 55% contained measurable THC or cannabinol, and only 38% were within 10% of the CBD amount on the label. Choose a product with a recent lab report for that batch; here’s how to read a CBD lab report. For more on highs, see does CBD get you high?
Why CBD can make you feel weird
Most people feel little or nothing from a supplement amount of CBD (see what does CBD feel like?). When it does feel odd, the cause is usually one of these:
| Cause | What you might notice | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| THC in the product | Feeling high, paranoid, racy or spaced out | Stop; switch to a 0% THC product with a batch lab report |
| Too much at once | Drowsy, heavy, light-headed, upset stomach | Take less; start at 10mg |
| Caffeine on top | Jittery, racing heart, on edge | Skip CBD coffee and energy drinks; cut caffeine |
| Alcohol or sedating medicines | Extra drowsy, foggy | Don’t mix; ask a pharmacist |
| Other ingredients | Effects from added herbs, such as ashwagandha | Check the label; try plain CBD |
| Noticing body sensations | Worrying about every new feeling | Try it at home on a quiet day |
Taking a medicine as well? CBD can change how some medicines are broken down; see can CBD interact with medication? and CBD and antidepressants.
Can too much CBD make anxiety worse?
The amount seems to matter, but the research used very large amounts. In two Brazilian public-speaking studies, 300mg of CBD changed anxiety scores while lower and higher amounts (100mg, 150mg, 600mg and 900mg) did not. Researchers call this an inverted U: more isn’t necessarily stronger. Nobody has tested whether this applies at supplement amounts.
These studies used 10 to 90 times the FSA’s advice of no more than 10mg a day for healthy adults, and a single study can’t tell you what will happen to you. The practical lesson is simple: start low, keep to a steady amount, and don’t keep taking more if you feel worse. Our CBD dosage guide shows how much oil is 10mg.
CBD side effects that can feel like anxiety
Some ordinary side effects can feel unsettling if you’re already anxious:
- Light-headedness. In one small study, a single 600mg dose lowered blood pressure slightly and raised heart rate. See can CBD cause heart palpitations?
- Drowsiness or feeling flat. Sleepiness is the most common side effect of prescription CBD, and the Epidyolex product information says it is more common early on.
- Irritability. Listed as common for Epidyolex, at prescription doses many times higher than a supplement.
- An upset stomach or dry mouth. Both can make an anxious day feel worse.
The full list is in our guide to CBD side effects.
Full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate: which contains THC?
| Type | THC | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Full spectrum | Small amounts | The type most likely to contain THC, a controlled drug in the UK; tests show some UK products do |
| Broad spectrum | 0% (removed) | Other hemp compounds kept, THC removed; check the lab report |
| Isolate | 0% | CBD only |
Evopure’s CBD oils and capsules are broad spectrum with 0% THC, and every batch is third-party lab tested, with reports on our lab testing page. More in full spectrum vs broad spectrum CBD oil.
How to lower the chance of CBD making you feel worse
- Choose 0% THC with a batch lab report you can read.
- Start at 10mg a day: one 10mg capsule, or about 0.2ml of a 500mg oil in a 10ml bottle.
- Try it at home first, on a quiet day, not before work, driving or a big event (see CBD before an interview).
- Keep caffeine down. The NHS says caffeine can make anxiety harder to control. See does caffeine cause anxiety? and skip CBD coffee if you’re sensitive.
- Don’t mix with alcohol or sleeping tablets.
- Keep it steady for a couple of weeks and note how you feel, rather than changing the amount daily. See how to take CBD capsules.
If you’d rather take CBD later in the day, see when to take CBD oil.
The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
When to stop CBD and see a GP
Stop taking CBD and speak to your GP if you feel more anxious, low or on edge than before, have a panic attack, or feel paranoid. These are worth checking whatever the cause. NHS talking therapies and medicines are the proven treatments for anxiety; see how to deal with anxiety and how to stop a panic attack.
Call 999 if you have chest pain, struggle to breathe or collapse. Call NHS 111 if you feel very unwell after taking a CBD product, especially if it might have contained THC.
If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call 999 or go to A&E if you’re in danger now, or call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night.
Next step
if you’ve decided to try CBD, keep it simple: one 10mg capsule a day from Broad Spectrum CBD Capsules, 0% THC, 30 capsules per jar. Prefer an oil? About 0.2ml of Broad Spectrum CBD Oil 500mg gives 10mg of CBD.
Add 10mg capsules to bag Add the 500mg oil to bag
Subscribe and save 25% on your first order, then 20%. New to Evopure? Join our emails for 20% off a one-off first order. Free UK delivery over £40. Adults only. If you take any regular medicines, check with your GP or pharmacist first. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Sources 7
- emc. Epidyolex 100 mg/ml oral solution: summary of product characteristics (sections 4.4, 4.7 and 4.8).
- Freeman D et al. How cannabis causes paranoia: using the intravenous administration of THC to identify key cognitive mechanisms leading to paranoia. Schizophr Bull, 2015.
- Liebling JP et al. An analysis of over-the-counter cannabidiol products in the United Kingdom. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res, 2022.
- Zuardi AW et al. Inverted U-shaped dose-response curve of the anxiolytic effect of cannabidiol during public speaking in real life. Front Pharmacol, 2017.
- Linares IM et al. Cannabidiol presents an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve in a simulated public speaking test. Braz J Psychiatry, 2019.
- NHS. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
- Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK). Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance.
