Can CBD Be Used on Children?

CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is one of the many supplements that are supposed to be helpful in treating illnesses among adults. It is processed from either hemp or marijuana, but is allegedly safer since it doesn’t contain the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which induces the high that smoking marijuana gives.

Some quarters claim, though, that CBD is safe enough for children who have certain illnesses. But the only CBD product cleared by the FDA for administration to children is Epidiolex, which is only used for a rare form of epilepsy in children. Patients who have this severe disorder are usually aged two years and up.

So let’s take a closer look at how CBD use is safe for children.

Known Uses of CBD In Adults

It is easy to understand CBD when you see how adults use it. CBD is used to treat some health issues such as:

• Insomnia
• Signs of menopause
• Chronic pain
• Arthritis
• Anxiety
• Cancer

CBD is administered to adults in the following ways:

• Localized, meaning you will apply the product on the patient’s skin as close to the target site as possible
• Through vaporizers
• As an oral supplement

Keep in mind, though, that CBD is not a one-size-fits-all type of product. Adults can use it in different ways because each person has a unique reaction to it.

It is easiest for newcomers to administer CBD to children through their gummy form, as they would think gummies are like candy.

Possible Risks of Using CBD

While CBD is generally considered safe, there are still some risks when using this product, such as the following:

• It can lower blood pressure. This can be dangerous if the patient is already taking medication to lower their blood pressure, or that the current medication has that side effect.
• Inhibits effects of some pharmaceutical products.
• Overdosage may result when ingested with a meal, especially when ingested with fatty food. This is because the human body absorbs more than twofold the usual dose of CBD on a full stomach.
• Overdosage may result because of erratic product formulation. Some products may contain more CBD than others, even when taken from the same production batch.

That said, let us now learn more about CBD and its possible health effects on children.

Perceived Safety of CBD Use In Children

Since the FDA has sanctioned use of the CBD-derived product Epidiolex for children, who have either Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (two rare kinds of epilepsy), there has been growing interest in the use of CBD for other illnesses in children.

The question of safety arises because mothers and fathers want to make sure their children will reap the benefits of CBD use without adverse side effects. One danger with advocating for CBD use in children is that the product is very new, and no one can guarantee its efficacy and safety, yet. There are also children who might be sensitive to the product so that side effects crop up.

Much of the effects of CBD on children remains unknown up to the present due to the lack of clinical trials performed. Thus, it is rather premature to recommend CBD use for children when it comes to other illnesses and disorders, aside from the case of Epidiolex. It is also possible that the true cause of the child’s illness is not yet fully determined so dosing with CBD may actually worsen their condition.

It is illegal at the federal level in the US to buy or sell CBD derived from marijuana. But some states in the US allow CBD from hemp to be bought and sold freely. The problem is that the US government still doesn’t sanction the use of marijuana to treat medical problems.

Another problem is that parents may try to administer CBD on their children without medical supervision. This is the biggest danger to date. A responsible doctor, at the moment, can only dispense Epidiolex to patients who have the forms of epilepsy mentioned above.

Sourcing CBD for Use in Children

• Going Online – There are many sources of CBD online. However, your main problem will be figuring out which are legitimate sources and which ones are just out to scam you. You might also want to find ways to determine product safety or where the ingredients were sourced. The way the products were made also comes into question. You can choose CBD that comes from hemp, rather than marijuana, to play it safe.
• Ask Around By Word of Mouth – You may know some people who have tried CBD on their own children before so you can probably ask them. Always inquire as to the health effects and whether they would recommend using their source again.

Final Thoughts

It is not yet known how safe CBD can be when used on children due to the lack of clinical trials. If you opt to buy CBD for your child’s health condition, you should consult your pediatrician first. You can choose to go online or simply ask people you know where they get theirs. Bear in mind, though, that CBD might even worsen your child’s condition instead of giving relief from symptoms, so it pays to be cautious at this stage in the process.