Trying to Find CBD Pain Patches and Products That Really Work - April 2024

How to Find CBD Patches

Many CBD brands sell their products online, including CBD patches.

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a list of CBD companies that sold mislabeled products⁽²⁾.

In a study conducted by the FDA, some CBD products contained unregulated amounts of CBD and THC, which may put consumers at risk⁽³⁾.

Furthermore, the FDA tested CBD products for heavy metals. Some products contained high amounts of lead, making the products unsafe for consumption⁽⁴⁾.

To avoid buying faulty CBD products, individuals may visit the CBD brand’s website, where the product’s Certificate of Analysis (COA) can be found. The COA lists CBD products’ ingredients, including their CBD and THC content.

How to Use CBD Patches

CBD patches are directly applied onto the skin, preferably on veiny areas⁽⁵⁾. 

A study on methods of cannabinoid administration showed that CBD patches may work due to their high bioavailability⁽⁶⁾.

Bioavailability refers to a drug’s ability to enter the body systemically, which may depend on the drug’s method of administration⁽⁷⁾. 

CBD patches may start working 15 minutes after application, and their effects may last up to eight hours⁽⁸⁾. Despite its fast-acting nature, CBD patches may work differently for each individual, as no study has finalized the standard dosage for CBD products.

What Is a CBD Patch?

A CBD patch is an adhesive transdermal CBD product that allows CBD to penetrate through the skin. CBD patches vary in content and doses. 

Some individuals find CBD patches easier to use than other forms of CBD as CBD patches are only applied on the skin⁽⁹⁾. 

What Is a Transdermal CBD Patch?

Transdermal CBD patches allow the skin to absorb CBD and direct it to the bloodstream, affecting the body systemically⁽¹⁰⁾.

A 2018 study observed that transdermal CBD products, such as CBD patches, may have higher bioavailability than oral CBD products⁽¹¹⁾.

Transdermal CBD products interact with cannabinoid receptors in the skin⁽¹²⁾. Cannabinoid receptors are part of the endocannabinoid system, which supports the body’s self-regulating mechanism.

When the body’s nervous system finishes responding to pain signals, cannabinoid receptors restore balance in the body, initiating homeostasis⁽¹³⁾.

Homeostasis is the state in which the body maintains internal balance amidst external conditions, such as those that may cause pain⁽¹⁴⁾.

CBD patches also assure a quicker onset of the drug compared to other CBD products⁽¹⁵⁾. Therefore, individuals experiencing body pain may use CBD patches to rid of the pain immediately.

Furthermore, CBD patches contain much less CBD dosage than other CBD products since CBD reaches the bloodstream quickly⁽¹⁶⁾.

With lower doses, transdermal CBD patches may also reduce the risk of side effects⁽¹⁷⁾.

What Is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a major phytocannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa plant. 

Unlike delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, another major phytocannabinoid, CBD makes up most of the hemp plant⁽¹⁸⁾ and is non-psychoactive⁽¹⁹⁾.

Several studies have explored the purported therapeutic benefits of CBD, like its anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic properties⁽²⁰⁾.

CBD products come in three types: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.

Full-spectrum CBD is raw CBD extract containing CBD, terpenes, flavonoids, and less than 0.3% THC⁽²¹⁾. Meanwhile, broad-spectrum CBD includes all components of full-spectrum CBD except for THC⁽²²⁾.

Isolate CBD is purified CBD. It contains no phytochemicals and cannabinoids⁽²³⁾.

Today, individuals may use CBD in different ways. CBD products may come in oils, tinctures, edibles, patches, and vaporizers.

Benefits and Uses of CBD

Research done by the Health and Medicine Division of The National Academies Press showed that CBD may reduce symptoms of chronic pain, anxiety, and neuropathic conditions⁽²⁴⁾. 

However, no study has concluded that CBD may cure such illnesses.

Individuals may also use CBD as an antioxidant since it helps reduce the presence of free radicals in the body⁽²⁵⁾. A buildup of free radicals in the body may eventually develop cancer due to disruptions in the DNA⁽²⁶⁾.

Risks/Side Effects of CBD

As research on CBD use is ongoing, individuals taking medications besides CBD may experience adverse effects caused by drug-drug interactions⁽²⁷⁾.

Moreover, unregulated CBD use may lead to toxicity and hepatic issues⁽²⁸⁾.

A study conducted by the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology also reported allergens that may be found in cannabis-derived products, including CBD⁽²⁹⁾.

Individuals who wish to use CBD must first consult with their doctor to determine whether they are fit for CBD use.

Safeness of CBD

As CBD contains no psychoactive properties, the cannabinoid may be safe for individuals who react negatively to the psychoactive cannabinoid THC, especially those allergic to THC⁽³⁰⁾.

However, a 2017 study suggested that more human trials are needed to explore the varied effects of CBD, despite its manageable side effects on individuals with epilepsy⁽³¹⁾. 

Legality of CBD

In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released the Farm Bill, differentiating hemp from marijuana. The Farm Bill also excluded hemp-derived products from its list of restricted substances⁽³²⁾.

However, some U.S. states have not legalized CBD possession⁽³³⁾. To know the legal status of CBD in a specific state, check the local government’s laws.

What Is First Pass Metabolism?

First pass metabolism pertains to the breakdown of a drug before reaching the body systemically, reducing the drug’s bioavailability or effectiveness⁽³⁴⁾. This phenomenon frequently occurs in the liver, though it also happens in other body organs. 

To avoid first pass metabolism, an individual may take medication transdermally, as this method directs the drug to the skin⁽³⁵⁾. Transdermal administration sends medicines into the bloodstream without passing through the liver, where the drug may be metabolized.

1. Sampling Study of the Current Cannabidiol Marketplace to Determine the Extent That Products are Mislabeled or Adulterated.
   https://hempindustrydaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CBD-Marketplace-Sampling_RTC_FY20_Final.pdf
2. Warning Letters and Test Results for Cannabidiol-Related Products.
   https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/warning-letters-and-test-results-cannabidiol-related-products
3. Sampling Study of the Current Cannabidiol Marketplace to Determine the Extent That Products are Mislabeled or Adulterated.
   https://hempindustrydaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CBD-Marketplace-Sampling_RTC_FY20_Final.pdf
4. HEMP EXTRACT AND HEAVY METALS FAQ.
   https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/91911/file/hemp-extract-and-heavy-metals-faq.pdf
5. Healing with CBD, page 212.
   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AGlxnhS2SoFeOXEuysv75bd_C9pEnwsU/view
6. Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment.
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6222489/
7. Drug Bioavailability.
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557852/
8. Healing with CBD, page 194.
   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AGlxnhS2SoFeOXEuysv75bd_C9pEnwsU/view
9. Healing with CBD, page 212.
   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AGlxnhS2SoFeOXEuysv75bd_C9pEnwsU/view
10. Ibid.
11. Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6222489/
12. The Transdermal Delivery of Therapeutic Cannabinoids.
    https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/14/2/438/pdf
13. Ibid.
14. Homeostasis: The Underappreciated and Far Too Often Ignored Central Organizing Principle of Physiology.
    https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00200/full
15. Healing with CBD, page 212.
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AGlxnhS2SoFeOXEuysv75bd_C9pEnwsU/view
16. The Transdermal Delivery of Therapeutic Cannabinoids.
    https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/14/2/438/pdf
17. Ibid.
18. Cannabidiol primer for healthcare professionals.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7340472/
19. The scientific trends of cannabinoid research.
    https://www.cas.org/resources/blog/cannabinoid-research
20. Cannabidiol primer for healthcare professionals.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7340472/
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/
25. Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023045/
26. free radical.
    https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/free-radical
27. What are the benefits of CBD — and is it safe to use?
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/is-cbd-safe-and-effective/faq-20446700
28. What You Need to Know (And What We’re Working to Find Out) About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-derived Compounds, Including CBD. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis
29. Selective cannabis strain allergy in a patient presenting with a local allergic reaction.
    https://aacijournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13223-021-00552-3
30. Marijuana Cannabis Allergy.
    https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/marijuana-cannabis-allergy
31. An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/
32. Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill.
    https://www.fda.gov/news-events/congressional-testimony/hemp-production-and-2018-farm-bill-07252019
33. Is CBD Oil Legal? Legal Status of CBD in 50 States in 2022.
    https://cfah.org/cbd-legal-states/
34. First Pass Effect.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551679/
35. Transdermal bioavailability and first-pass skin metabolism: a preliminary evaluation with nitroglycerin.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3119815/