Exploring CBD for Symptom Relief in Kidney Failure: What Early Research Suggests

Living with kidney failure is not defined by a single symptom.
For many people, it is a daily balancing act - managing tiredness that never fully lifts, nights disturbed by poor sleep or restless legs, ongoing discomfort, changes in appetite, and the mental strain that comes with chronic illness.

While medical treatment focuses on keeping the body functioning, relief from these day-to-day symptoms is often harder to achieve. Many people feel that their quality of life is shaped less by test results and more by how they sleep, move, and feel from one day to the next.

This is why researchers are increasingly interested in supportive approaches that may help ease symptom burden - not by treating disease, but by supporting comfort and wellbeing. One area of growing interest is cannabidiol, better known as CBD.

A recent clinical study explored whether CBD could be tolerated and whether it might influence symptom burden in people living with kidney failure. While the research is still early and limited, it offers useful insight into how CBD may fit into broader conversations about symptom support.

What Is CBD - and Why Is It Being Studied?

CBD is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in the hemp plant. Unlike THC, it is non-psychoactive, meaning it does not produce a “high” or intoxicating effects.

CBD interacts with a network in the body known as the endocannabinoid system. This system plays a role in maintaining balance across processes such as sleep, mood, pain perception, appetite, and stress response. Rather than forcing a change, it helps the body regulate itself - a concept often described as supporting internal balance.

Because many symptoms experienced in chronic illness relate to these same processes, researchers are exploring whether CBD might offer supportive effects for symptom management. Importantly, this interest is not about curing disease or replacing medical care, but about understanding whether CBD could help ease the everyday burden people live with.

Why Symptom Burden Matters in Kidney Failure

Chronic kidney disease is often discussed in clinical terms - filtration rates, dialysis schedules, lab values. But for the person living with it, the experience is far more personal.

Commonly reported symptoms include:

• Persistent fatigue

• Poor or disrupted sleep

• Pain or physical discomfort

• Itching

• Anxiety or low mood

• Restless leg sensations

• Reduced appetite

These symptoms rarely occur in isolation. Instead, they overlap and compound one another, creating what clinicians call symptom burden - the combined weight of multiple symptoms affecting daily life.

Managing this burden is challenging. Many symptoms have limited treatment options, and medications may not always be effective or suitable for long-term use. As a result, supportive strategies that focus on comfort, tolerability, and individual response are an area of active research.

The Study at a Glance: What Researchers Looked At

The study in question was a Phase 1b clinical trial, which means its primary goal was to assess safety and tolerability of using CBD, not to prove effectiveness.

Researchers enrolled a small group of adults living with advanced kidney failure. Most participants were receiving dialysis, while a smaller number were managed without dialysis. The study lasted six weeks, with a follow-up after treatment.

Participants were given CBD in gradually adjusted doses, allowing researchers to observe how well it was tolerated and how individuals responded. Importantly, there was no placebo group, meaning all participants knew they were receiving CBD.

This type of study design helps answer early questions - such as whether CBD appears safe to explore further in this population - but it cannot provide definitive conclusions about outcomes.

What the Researchers Observed

During the treatment period, researchers tracked changes in participants’ reported symptoms using a structured symptom assessment tool designed for people with kidney disease.

On average, overall symptom burden scores were lower during CBD use compared to baseline measurements. Improvements were most noticeable in areas such as:

• Sleep quality

• Restless leg symptoms

• Anxiety

• Appetite

• Chronic pain

However, responses varied significantly between individuals. Some participants reported meaningful improvements in how they felt day to day, while others noticed little or no change.

This variability is important. It reflects a reality seen across many forms of supportive care: people respond differently depending on their body, circumstances, and symptom profile. CBD does not appear to act as a universal solution, but rather as something that may affect individuals in different ways.

How Well Was CBD Tolerated?

Tolerability was a central focus of the study.

Most participants were able to take CBD for the full six-week period. A smaller number stopped early, either because they did not notice benefits or because of side effects.

The most commonly reported side effects were:

• Nausea

• Drowsiness

• Dizziness

• Mild digestive discomfort

These effects were generally described as mild to moderate. Importantly, no serious adverse events were attributed directly to CBD in this small group.

Researchers also monitored liver enzymes - substances in the blood that can indicate how the liver is functioning. Some participants showed temporary increases, which later returned to normal levels. While these changes were not considered severe, they highlight the importance of monitoring, particularly in people with complex medical conditions.

Overall, the study suggested that CBD was reasonably well tolerated in this group, while also reinforcing the need for careful supervision in vulnerable populations.

What This Study Does Not Show

It is just as important to understand the limitations of this research as it is to understand the findings.

This study does not show that:

• CBD treats kidney failure

• CBD replaces medical treatment

• CBD works for everyone

• CBD provides long-term benefits

Because the study was small, open-label, and short in duration, results may be influenced by placebo effects or natural symptom fluctuations. Larger, controlled studies are needed to determine whether CBD truly affects symptom outcomes and how it compares to other supportive approaches.

The findings should therefore be viewed as early signals, not conclusions.

What This Could Mean for People Curious About CBD

For people living with chronic illness, interest in CBD often comes from a desire for gentler, plant-based options that focus on comfort rather than cure.

This study suggests that CBD products like CBD oils or capsules may be worth further investigation as a supportive option for symptom relief, particularly for issues such as sleep, discomfort, or restlessness. At the same time, it reinforces the importance of realistic expectations and individualised decision-making.

Anyone considering CBD - especially those with complex health conditions or taking multiple medications - should do so thoughtfully and with appropriate medical guidance. CBD is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and its role, if any, will vary from person to person.

The Bigger Picture: CBD Research Is Still Evolving

Research into CBD has shifted significantly in recent years. Early hype has given way to more careful, nuanced investigation focused on safety, tolerability, and quality of life rather than bold claims.

This study contributes to that broader picture. It does not promise dramatic results, but it helps clarify where CBD may fit - and where it does not - in conversations about symptom support.

As research continues, the goal is not to position CBD as a miracle product, but to understand whether it can play a supportive role alongside existing care, grounded in evidence rather than marketing.

CBD and Chronic Kidney Disease: The Takeaway

Living with kidney failure means navigating symptoms that affect every part of daily life. Finding supportive options that focus on comfort, dignity, and individual experience matters.

This early research suggests that CBD may be tolerated by some people with kidney failure and may influence symptom burden for certain individuals. At the same time, it highlights the need for caution, monitoring, and further study.

Rather than offering grand promises, the value of CBD lies - if anywhere - in thoughtful, informed exploration as part of a broader approach to wellbeing.

Curious to learn more? Reach out with any questions - our team is here to help!

Sources

[1] Smyth B, Yi T, Robledo KP, Gordon R, McLachlan AJ, Morton RL, McGregor IS, Jardine M. A Phase 1B Trial of Cannabidiol for Symptom Management in Kidney Failure. Kidney Int Rep. 2026;11:103697.