CBD for Children: Is It Safe? | Dayton Juniors
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CBD for Children: Is It Safe?

CBD for Children: Is It Safe?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical extracted from marijuana or hemp. It is available commercially in several types, from liquid to chewable gummies. It has become popular as a treatment for multiple conditions, such as a few that occur in children.

CBD does not get you too high. Though CBD is generally obtained with no prescription, Epidiolex, a medicine manufactured from CBD, is available with a prescription from your doctor.

Epidiolex is prescribed for two severe, rare kinds of epilepsy in kids: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

Parents occasionally use commercially manufactured CBD to treat some conditions in children, such as anxiety and hyperactivity. Caregivers can also use it to children on the autism spectrum to attempt and reduce certain symptoms of autism.

CBD hasn’t been examined extensively for safety or for efficacy. While there is promising research about CBD, especially for pest control, much is still known about it. Some parents are comfortable giving it to their own children, while some are not.

Is CBD safe to use with Children? (Best CBD Gummies For Kids)

What is CBD oil?

CBD is a compound component inherent in both marijuana (Cannabis sativa) plants and hemp plants. CBD’s molecular makeup is identical, once it has been extracted from either plant. Even so, there are differences between both.

Among the main differences between hemp and Cannabis sativa is the sum of resin they contain. Hemp is a low-resin plant, and marijuana is a high-resin plant. Most CBD is found within plant resin.

Resin also contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical compound that gives marijuana its intoxicating properties. There’s much more THC in marijuana than that which is in hemp.

The CBD derived from marijuana crops might or might not have THC inside. This is also true of hemp-derived CBD, however to a lesser degree.

In order to avoid giving THC for your children, always opt for isolate CBD instead of full-spectrum CBD, while it’s hemp-derived or marijuana-derived.

However, besides Epidiolex, which is a prescription medication, there’s no way to be certain a CBD merchandise is THC-free.

Types of CBD

CBD oil is available in a wide range of forms. 1 popular kind is commercially prepared baked goods and drinks. This will make it hard to know how much CBD is in almost any item.

Other than using prescription products such as Epidiolex, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to control the quantity of CBD administered to any child using these products.

Other Kinds of CBD comprise:

  • CBD Oil. CBD oil may be tagged in a number of potencies. It’s typically administered beneath the tongue, and may also be purchased in capsule form. CBD oil has a distinctive, earthy taste and an aftertaste that many children may dislike. It’s also available as a flavored oil. Before giving CBD oil to your child, talk about all the possible dangers with their pediatrician.
  • Gummies. CBD-infused gummies will be able to allow you to override taste objections to the oil. Since they taste like candy, be certain that you store the gummies somewhere your kids can not find them.
  • Transdermal patches. Patches allow CBD to permeate the skin and enter the bloodstream. They may provide a consistent level of CBD over a time period.

What’s CBD oil used for?

CBD oil is utilized for several states in children. However, the sole condition it has been accepted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to get is epilepsy.

Epilepsy

The FDA approved medicine made from CBD to treat difficult-to-control seizures in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, two rare types of epilepsy.

The drug, Epidiolex, is an oral solution made from purified CBD that’s derived from Cannabis sativa.

Epidiolex was studied in three randomized, double-blind, naturopathic drug trialsTrusted Source, which included 516 patients that had either Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

The medication was shown to be capable of reducing seizure frequency when compared with placebo. Additional research has yielded similar results.

Epidiolex is carefully fabricated and administered medication. There is no scientific proof to indicate that store-bought CBD oil in any form will have an identical effect on seizures. However, any CBD oil product you buy may have the same dangers as Epidiolex.

This medicine can cause unwanted side effects and is not without danger. You and your child’s physician should discuss the advantages of Epidiolex versus its possible dangers.

Side effects may include:

  • Feeling lethargic and exhausted
  • Raised liver enzymes
  • Diminished appetite
  • Rash
  • Nausea
  • Feeling fatigued within the body
  • Issues with sleep, like insomnia and poor sleep quality
  • Infections

Severe risks are somewhat less likely, but they may include:

  • Suicidal thoughts or actions
  • Agitation
  • Melancholy
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Panic attacks
  • Injury to the liver

Autism

Many studies who have examined the use of medical cannabis or CBD oil in kids with autism have suggested there might be an improvement in symptoms of autism.

One study appeared at 188 kids on the autistic spectrum, aged 5 to 18 years old. Study participants were given a method of 30 percent CBD petroleum and 1.5 percent THC, put under the tongue, three times each day.

An improvement has been observed in most of the participants, such as symptoms such as seizures, restlessness, and rage attacks, following 1 month’s use. For most study participants, symptoms lasted to reduce within a 6-month period.

Reported side effects included sleepiness, lack of desire, and reflux. During the study, the children continued to take other prescribed drugs, including antipsychotics and sedatives.

The researchers suggested that their results should be interpreted with care, as there was no control group in place. This prevented them from discovering causality between the use of cannabis and the decrease of symptoms.

Other research is now underway around the world, which may help to ascertain whether there are safe and effective dosages of CBD for children with autism.

Stress

Some human and animal studies imply that CBD oil can help lessen anxiety, but this claim hasn’t been tested sufficiently in children.

Preclinical evidence suggests that CBD oil might have a place in the treatment of anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A study of a single 10-year old individual with PTSD found that CBD oil enhanced her feelings of stress and decreased sleeplessness.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

There is little research on CBD oil’s benefits or risks for kids with ADHD. Anecdotally, some parents report a decrease in their own children’s symptoms following CBD petroleum use, while others report no effect.

Currently, there isn’t enough proof to confirm whether CBD petroleum is an effective treatment for ADHD.

What are the risks of utilizing CBD oil for kids?

Marijuana has been used for hundreds of years, but CBD oil usage is comparatively new. It hasn’t been extensively tested for use in kids, and no longitudinal studies on its effects have been done.

It also may create substantial side effects, such as restlessness and issues with sleep which might be like the conditions you’re attempting to take care of.

It might also interact with other drugs your child is taking. Much like grapefruit, CBD interferes with some of the enzymes necessary to metabolize drugs within the system. Don’t give CBD for your child if they’re carrying any medicine that has a grapefruit warning.

CBD oil is unregulated, which makes it hard, if not impossible, for visitors to have complete confidence about what is in the product they’re purchasing.

A study printed in JAMA revealed labeling inaccuracies as one of the CBD solutions. Some products had less CBD than said, while others had more.

Is it lawful?

The laws about CBD purchase and use can be confusing. CBD oil that’s derived from hemp is legal to buy in most areas — as long as it’s less than 0.3 percent THC. Even so, some countries restrict ownership of hemp-derived CBD.

CBD that’s derived from marijuana plants is currently illegal on the federal level.

Considering any product comprising CBD oil may contain some amount of THC and providing THC to children is prohibited, the legality of providing CBD oil into children remains a grey area.

The legislation about marijuana usage and CBD oil usage is constantly changing, and they still continue to vary from state to state. However, if your doctor prescribes Epidiolex to your child, it’s legal for them to use, no matter where you live.

Is CBD Legal? Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3% THC) are lawful on the federal level but are still illegal under certain state legislation. Marijuana-derived CBD goods are illegal on the national level but are legal under some state laws. Assess your country’s laws and people everywhere you travel. Bear in mind that nonprescription CBD goods are not FDA-approved, and maybe inaccurately labeled.

Picking a CBD product

CBD oil is produced by many companies across the Earth, and there is no easy way for customers to know exactly what’s in a specific product. But here are a few tips to help you locate a reputable CBD merchandise:

  • Read the tag. Look for the number of CBD per suggested dose.
  • Find out where the product is fabricated. If the CBD comes from hemp, ask if it has grown in organic soil that’s free of toxins and pesticides.
  • Search for CBD oil that is undergone third-party testing and contains lab results you are able to verify. These goods will have a certificate of analysis (COA). Search for COAs from labs with certificates from one of those organizations: the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC), the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), or the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).

The bottom line

CBD oil was shown to be effective for the treatment of seizures in children with certain rare types of epilepsy. Nonetheless, it is not FDA-approved for any other health condition in children.

CBD oil is fabricated by a vast number of organizations. Since it is not properly regulated, it’s hard to know if a product is safe and providing an accurate dose. CBD oil can sometimes include THC and other toxins.

CBD oil hasn’t been significantly researched because of its use in children. It may show promise for ailments such as autism. However, the products you buy online or off a shelf do not necessarily parallel those provided medically or utilized in research.

Anecdotally, many parents have reported that CBD oil is valuable for their children. However, when it comes to your child, have a buyer beware strategy. Always talk to your child’s pediatrician prior to beginning any new supplements or drugs.

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