There are several ways to consume cannabidiol (CDB), including through tinctures, oils, topicals, foods, and through vaporizing.
An interesting way of consuming it is sublingual wafers, which are placed under the tongue and dissolved so that the active CDB can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream without going through the digestive process.
You may have seen sublingual wafers in other forms, including those used to deliver vitamins. The purpose of sublingual wafers is to ensure rapid dissolution, accelerate the action of the active ingredient on the body and increase its bioavailability. In these cases, sublingual CBD wafers can be an attractive option for those who want to ensure a faster effect of CBD, among other things to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, or soothe anxiety.
A study recently conducted and published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology examined the safety and tolerability of CBD wafers and oils compared to cannabinoid-based oromucosal sprays. [1]
Twelve study participants received 4 different single doses of CBD as a sublingual wafer, oil or oromucosal spray and were evaluated on the basis of the tolerability of the doses. The pharmacokinetics of CBD uptake were also closely followed.
The volunteers received a sublingual CBD wafer twice daily for 5 days in a multiple dose study.
The researchers found that the CBD was well tolerated among participants when the cannabinoid was given in either wafer or oil format, although some side effects were noted, including sedation and altered mood. The bioavailability of the CBD was comparable for wafer and oil. CBD concentrations were maximized 4 hours after consumption.
No statistically significant difference was found between the observed CBD exposure after administration of the wafer or the oil solution compared to the oromucosal spray.
Image source: Alissa De Leva from Pixabay
References:
1. Hosseini, A, et al.A Phase I study of the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol administered as a single-dose oil solution and as a single and multiple dose of a sublingual wafer in healthy volunteers“, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, October 2020.