Is CBD Safe For Kids?

Key takeaways

• Not much research has been done on whether or not CBD is safe or beneficial, particularly for children.

• Currently, only one CBD product has received FDA approval for use in children as a treatment for rare epilepsy. Epidiolex is the first medicine that the FDA has authorized to treat these disorders.

• Giving CBD to your child without third-party testing or doing little research might also be considered federally illegal.

• CBD is gaining popularity as a potential alternative treatment for ADHD.

• Even though CBD has the potential to help with seizures, pain syndromes, nausea, and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, it is still a medicine and should be taken with caution.

• CBD oil derived from 'medical' cannabis may be purchased practically anywhere. Some people believe it may cure various conditions, ranging from persistent pain and cancer to anxiety and ADHD. Is it safe to use on children, and have any of these purported benefits been demonstrated to work?

Research on CBD oil usage for kids'

Because CBD oil usage as medical cannabis treatment is still in its infancy, not much research has been done on whether or not it is safe or beneficial, particularly in children.

The Food and Medicine Administration has only blessed one drug derived from marijuana plants so far. Epidiolex is a drug that is prescribed to patients who are over the age of two and have been diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy.

For example, 83% indicated CBD products should be regulated (FDA), yet only 58% rated FDA approval as critical to their decision to use CBD for their child. Currently, only one CBD product has received FDA approval for use in children as a treatment for rare epilepsy.

In addition, the WHO stated that many clinical trials have established CBD's usefulness for treating epilepsy and that there is preliminary evidence that CBD may be an acceptable treatment for several other medical issues.

What is full-spectrum CBD?

CBD is a chemical contained in marijuana or hemp plants. CBD does not include tetrahydrocannabinol, often known as THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana responsible for producing the high.

CBD is available in several different formats, the most popular of which is oil. However, it may also be purchased as an extract, a vaporized liquid, and oil capsules.

Food, drinks, and personal care items are just some of the many categories of products that can be found online, including CBD.

The Many Benefits That Have Been Linked to Using full spectrum CBD

CBD works and has been praised for various health conditions. Still, the most significant scientific evidence for its efficacy is CBD products' ability to treat some of the most severe pediatric epileptic disorders.

These conditions may include Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which frequently do not respond to anticonvulsant medications.

Several clinical studies have demonstrated that CBD may reduce the frequency of seizures, and in some cases, it may even entirely eradicate them, which are promising results. Epidiolex is the first medicine derived from cannabis that the FDA has authorized to treat these disorders. It contains CBD.

Animal studies, as well as anecdotal evidence and study on humans, suggest that hemp cannabidiol (CBD) may also be helpful with the following (medical) conditions:

Anxiety

According to the results of investigations and clinical trials, CBD reduced participants' anxiety levels. 40% of parents reported significant decreases in their children's anxiety.

While these are some promising results, there is only a little research and many forms of side effects known to the use of hemp and marijuana-derived products.

In short, we need more longitudinal studies to prove that CBD derived from hemp plants contains a specific chemical compound that helps most parents with a solution for their kid with either autism or ADHD.

Insomnia

According to the findings of specific studies, cannabis oil may help people go to sleep and remain asleep.

Addiction

Studies conducted on humans have shown that cannabidiol, or CBD, may help lessen the desire to smoke cigarettes or use heroin in some circumstances. Animal models of addiction suggest that it may also help reduce cravings for substances, including alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and stimulants.

Sometimes, the child's doctor can prescribe THC-free supplements to create a placebo effect. In rare forms, THC-free products may help cure many of the above. Alternatively, less CBD may be used to see whether hemp could be an outcome for your child's problems with autism.

What is Epidiolex?

Epidiolex, an oil that requires a prescription, is the only CBD product the Food and Drug Administration has sanctioned. It has been approved for the treatment of two distinct types of epilepsy. Aside from Epidiolex, each state's regulations on the use of CBD are different.

Even though CBD is being investigated as a potential treatment for many conditions, including anxiety, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, there is currently a microscopic study on the drug's potential benefits.

The side effects of Epidiolex

However, epidiolex CBD oils are derived from marijuana and may cause adverse side effects. Remember, medical marijuana use in giving your child CBD oil (epidiolex) is federally legal, but not without consequences.

Giving CBD to your child without third-party testing or doing little research might as well be considered federally illegal. People have claimed potential risks to include:

• Elevated liver enzymes

• Decreased appetite

• Tiredness

• Sleep problems

• Increased suicidal thoughts.

The popularity of full-spectrum CBD oil

CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is gaining much popularity these days. According to research conducted by Gallup in 2019, 14% of American adults use CBD to treat various symptoms, including sleeplessness, anxiety, and pain.

Children who suffer from a particular form of epilepsy may benefit from taking Epidiolex, which contains CBD. CBD is gaining popularity as a potential alternative treatment for ADHD. You might wonder if it is a safe and effective treatment for your child with ADHD.

Is CBD a Danger to children?

Cannabidiol, often known as CBD or cannabis-derived compounds, may be extracted from hemp or marijuana plants.

It is obtainable in the marketplace, from liquid to chewable gummies, among other delivery systems. It is increasingly being used as a treatment for a wide range of ailments, including several conditions that are prevalent in youngsters.

A medication derived from CBD may be obtained with a prescription from a medical professional.

Epidiolex is prescribed to treat Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, both severe forms of epilepsy that affect only a tiny percentage of children.

CBD, produced in commercial settings, is a potential treatment option for various conditions that affect children, including anxiety and hyperactivity. Caregivers may also utilize it to reduce the severity of particular autistic symptoms seen by children who fall anywhere on the autism spectrum.

CBD has not been subjected to exhaustive testing to determine its effectiveness or safety. Even while there is promising research on CBD, particularly for treating seizure disorders, a lot is still unclear. While some parents have no problem with their children being exposed to it, others do.

Epilepsy - Scientific reports on Epidiolex as dietary supplements

The FDA has approved a drug based on hemp CBD to treat seizures that are difficult to control in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome.

These are two rare kinds of epilepsy.

However, there is an official CBD oil that is FDA regulated. Epidiolex is a CBD-only oral solution derived from Cannabis sativa and manufactured in the United States.

Epidiolex was assessed in three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled drug trials. Five hundred sixteen patients suffering from Dravet syndrome or (LGS) participated in these studies.

The effectiveness of the medication in reducing the number of seizures was evaluated against a placebo, and it was shown to be superior.

Epidiolex is a medication that undergoes meticulous manufacturing and distribution processes. No scientific evidence suggests CBD oil may have the same effect on seizures if purchased in a shop. However, the risks associated with Epidiolex might be present in any hemp/marijuana-derived CBD oil product.

The use of marijuana/hemp is not risk-free and comes with the possibility of unfavorable side effects.

You and the physician who treats your kid have to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of giving your child CBD. Their CBD hemp oil use may produce significant issues in terms of how they metabolize drugs, and their possible adverse effect may include:

• A tired feeling

• elevated levels of enzymes in the liver

• a reduction in appetite

• rash

• diarrhea

• signs of physical weakness

• Sleep disorders, including but not limited to insomnia and poor sleep quality.

• infections

Even when serious threats are considered rare forms of hemp plant CBD use symptoms, the following may still be present when using cannabis products:

• Suicidal ideas or acts

• Agitation

• Depression

• Harsh behavior

• Anxiety attacks

• Harm to the function of the liver

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Multiple studies that examined the impact of CBD products on autistic children reported that specific symptoms of the illness improved.

Throughout all, 188 autistic children between the ages of 5 and 18 participated in the study. The subjects in the trial were administered a solution containing 30% CBD oil and 1.5% THC sublingually three times daily. The administration of this solution was part of the study.

Most test volunteers reported an improvement in their symptoms after one month of treatment, including a decrease in the frequency of seizures, restlessness, and outbursts of wrath. During the six-month duration of the trial, the majority of individuals stated that their symptoms continued to improve.

Indigestion, sleepiness, and appetite loss were among the adverse side effects that were documented. The youngsters continued to take other medications, including antipsychotics and sedatives, throughout the trial.

The researchers noted that their findings should be taken with a grain of salt because there was no control group to compare them to. Because of this, they could not establish a connection between cannabis use and a reduction in symptoms.

Research involving both humans and animals.

Although this claim has not been sufficiently explored in children, research suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) products could help reduce anxiety.

On the contrary, there are also many unproven medical claims about giving CBD oil to your child, like the claim that it might solve anxiety disorders or chronic pain altogether.

The results of several preclinical studies show that cannabidiol (CBD) oil might be effective in treating anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety disorder (PTSD).

A patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who was ten years old noticed that CBD-derived oil helped her lessen her anxiety and improve her ability to sleep.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Few studies have been conducted on the positive and negative effects of using CBD oil for children diagnosed with ADHD. Anecdotal data suggests that some parents indicate that their children's symptoms improved after taking CBD oil, while other parents report no benefit to use it.

More research is necessary to evaluate whether CBD oil is an effective treatment for ADHD.

The Impact of Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil on Children's

The anticonvulsant effects of CBD-derived products on children with rare types of epilepsy helped to propel CBD to the forefront of the medical community.

Nevertheless, this cannabinoid may assist with problems that are not as severe, and it is an excellent complement for maintaining your child's health in a way that is not artificial.

Is there a difference between CBD oil for adults and CBD oil for children?

There is no question about it; it is the same thing. There is no differentiation made by companies between CBD oil intended for children and CBD oil designed for adults.

On the other hand, because children are more minor than adults, I suggest you choose lower potencies. A lower dosage is often required for children to experience the effects of CBD.

A CBD oil with low potency (such as one that contains 250 milligrams of CBD per bottle), on the other hand, has a dose that is easier to judge in the dropper because you only need to use a few drops instead of having to measure out, for example, one-tenth of the syringe to get the correct dosage.

How Much CBD Oil Should Be Given to Children

The optimal amount of CBD for each person, including children, is influenced by several factors, including their weight, metabolism, the specific chemical makeup of their bodies, and the results they are looking for.

The pediatric population of CBD users should begin their dosing with 0.5 milligrams of CBD per pound and spread out their administration of this amount throughout the day.

Beginning with a low dose and increasing it gradually allows you to adjust the amount based on how your child responds to CBD without causing any adverse side effects (e.g., dry mouth or lightheadedness).

Some common misunderstandings about the effects of cannabidiol (CBD)

Myth #1 - there aren't any adverse effects.

Everything we put in our bodies may either have unfavorable consequences or, in high enough amounts, become harmful. The CBD market is not an exception. There is a possibility that CBD oil may have significant side effects that are analogous to the illnesses that you are seeking to treat.

This is especially important to remember if your child is taking any medications or supplements labeled with a "grapefruit warning," as CBD oil and grapefruit interact with some of the enzymes necessary for your body to digest pharmaceuticals.

CBD oil may potentially affect liver function and interfere with the medications that your child is currently taking.

Myth 2: CBD is a cure-all substance.

Be careful of anything that makes the bold assumption that it may help everyone in any situation, as these claims are invariably untrue.

Most CBD research has focused on its use in treating epilepsy, with studies for other illnesses primarily consisting of anecdotal evidence. Even though CBD has the potential to help with seizures, pain syndromes, nausea, and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, it is still a medicine and should be taken with caution.

Several investigations and clinical trials have been conducted on CBD/THC for autism, but no definitive suggestion has been made. "To my knowledge, no recognized literature supports CBD oil for autism and ADHD," Dr. Zach added. "There have been adult self-reported studies, but they have not convincingly demonstrated benefit."

An oral medication containing CBD was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 to treat two rare and severe forms of epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome in children aged two and older who experience up to one hundred seizures daily.

In a nutshell

CBD oil may be an excellent option for your children, but not in all cases. However, every issue is exceptional, and taking action to make life easier for your children should always come with proper research and extensive contact with a certified medical professional.