The recent legalization of CBD in the USA opens doors for those wishing to potentially thelp treat ADHD in children with CBD alongside existing medication.
An important disclaimer – This blog is written to inform not diagnose or treat. Any considerations you are making towards the use of CBD for yourself or child should always be made in conjunction with your physician We aren’t licensed medical doctors and work to be compliant with FDA and FTC regulations.
Article at a Glance
- Initial early research is very promising for CBD but there is a need for much more investigation and research into the use of CBD for ADHD in particular.
- CBD is legal to buy and be in possession of in most states in the USA including air travel
- It is essential that any CBD you buy online is from a reputable source from a quality USA company.
- Always consult and involve your physician with any decision you make on trying new remedies in addition to your or your child’s existing medicine regime.
- Be aware that everyone is different and the benefits of CBD may not work for you and in fact may even have some side effects.
- Our Ultimate Beginners Guide and CBD Health Benefits Guide gives you even more information. on its uses for anxiety and stress and chronic pain and inflammation.
CBD and ADHD in Children – an Intro
In this blog we set out to explain what CBD is and how its effects are being increasingly discussed online as a method to assist in treating the symptoms of ADHD in children.
”11% of children have ADHD in the USA”
Centre for Disease Control
If you have been diagnosed with ADHD or have children that have then this blog sets out to explain the science and law behind CBD and allow you to be in a better position to make an informed decision on whether trying CBD could be for you.
So What is ADHD?
Lets start with understanding ADHD first. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is diagnosed when a child has a consistent inability with focusing and behaving.
The CDC website also suggests the following symptoms for children are present in varying amounts
- daydream a lot
- forget or lose things a lot
- squirm or fidget
- talk too much
- make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks
- have a hard time resisting temptation
- have trouble taking turns
- have difficulty getting along with others
ADHD is often diagnosed with one of three types.
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation and Predominantly Hyperactive Impulse Presentation or a combination of both of these behaviors.
Current ADHD treatments for Children
There is no known cure for ADHD but there are a number of effective measures you can take to manage the symptoms.
Every child and diagnosis is different. Once diagnosed parents will work closely with physician, healthcare providers, therapists, teachers, coaches, and other family members and this usually starts with behavioral therapy first.
There are also ADHD medications available to treat the effects of ADHD.
Central Nervous System Stimulants for ADHD
- amphetamine-based stimulants (Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat)
- dextromethamphetamine (Desoxyn)
- dextromethylphenidate (Focalin)
- methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Metadate, Ritalin)
Non Stimulant Medications for ADHD
Side Effects of ADHD Medications
- headache
- trouble sleeping
- stomach upset
- nervousness
- irritability
- weight loss
- dry mouth
There can also be more serious side effects in more rare cases including
- hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
- increased blood pressure
- allergic reaction
- suicidal thoughts or actions
So What is CBD?
CBD is cannabidiol . It is naturally occuring and was discovered in 1940. It makes up about 40% of the extract from the cannabis plant. The other major chemical in cannabis is called THC and is responsible for the psychoactive effects ( the ‘high’)
The plant Cannabis sativa has two primary species, hemp and marijuana. Both contain CBD, but there’s a much higher percentage in hemp, which also has very low (less than 0.3%) levels of THC compared to marijuana. Trubrain sources its CBD from Hemp.
CBD is used by many to manage the symptoms of anxiety. The CBD tells your body to calm down and reminds you that you’re safe so people with anxiety may find it helps them feel more relaxed.
The Scientific Research Behind Treating ADHD with CBD
- A recent paper last year described the positive benefits for people with ADHD who used cannabis as a treatment to alleviate hyperactivity and impulsivity.
- A 2019 study published in “Frontiers in Pharmacology” looked at the effects of CBD on mice. The paper found that CBD infused into the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for spatial learning and adaptation, reduced displays of hyperactivity in a new environment. It was also suggested that CBD may dampen hyperactive circuitry in the hippocampus and other parts of the brain.
- A Swiss study in 2018 looked specifically at treating 53 children with ADHD with CBD oil. The results found that self-injury and rage improved in 67.6% of the participants but worsened in 8.8%. Symptoms of hyperactivity reduced in 68.4% of participants. Anxiety reduced in 47.1% of children but increased among 23.5%.
- A 2017 review published in the peer-reviewed “Global Drugs and Therapeutics” looked at CBD as a treatment for patients with autism spectrum disorder, such as anxiety and behavioral problems. The paper suggested that CBD could help to normalize social deficits and cognitive impairments, protect against hippocampal cell death, and improve cognition. The paper also pointed out that CBD reduced anxiety in both animal and human models when administered at moderate doses of about 300 milligrams.
What Are People Saying Online About Treating ADHD with CBD?
There are a large number of anecdotal posts online with people sharing their positive experiences using CBD to treat or reduce the symptoms of ADHD.
For example one mother on Reddit said ” The more research I have done, the more about CBD oil and its potential I have found. Until recently, I really didn’t know anything about it. I’ve spent hours reading about the few studies that have been done and the safety and potential side effects, and the more hopeful I’ve become that it might be an alternative we could try. So last week, I bought a bottle of hemp based CBD oil to try myself. I can’t say enough positive things about how it has began to help with my anxiety and insomnia with no noticeable side effects. We have an appointment with the kids’ psychiatrist next week where I plan to discuss the possibility of trying it with the kids and hopefully beginning the process of weaning DD off Adderall“.
Another reddit person talked about quitting ADHD meds entirely and using CBD instead.
Nicole Emanuel on Scarymommy.com spoke of her use of CBD oil for her children with ADHD and how much success she had.
She wrote “ We have seen such a positive change in both of our boys since we established a healthy routine of CBD oil in their daily regimen. Our oldest son, Brennden, has not been able to stop taking his Adderall just yet, because the medication helps him focus in ways I am not sure CBD oil will ever offer him. Nonetheless, we have been able to reduce his Adderall milligram use per day. CBD oil has been incredible for our family. Not only has it helped our children in many ways, but both my husband and I have been able to use CBD to reduce anxiety, stress, and pain relief. “
What are the risks of treating ADHD with CBD oil?
A study in 2011 study, published in Current Drug Safety, the “toxic” dose of CBD falls somewhere around 20,000 mg of CBD if you took it in one go. To give you some idea of what this means a typical dose of CBD is around 5 to 20 mg per day so you would need to take a thousand times the usual amount for CBD to be a danger.
Is CBD safe ?
There are some side effects of CBD include nausea, fatigue and irritability. CBD can increase the level in your blood of the blood thinner coumadin, and it can raise levels of certain other medications in your blood by the exact same mechanism that grapefruit juice does.
Will CBD make my child ‘High’?
The ‘high’ associated with cannabis is caused by the chemical THC which is known as something that is psychoactive. CBD is an extract from cannabis that is known to cause reduction in anxiety and stress without any of the effects of getting high that marijuana smokers get.
Will CBD Show Up on a Drug Test ?
The simple answer is no. CBD will not show up or be a problem in any standard drug test. There is something to be aware of here though and that’s the need to purchase CBD from a reputable source with a quality product. There are some less reputable suppliers online that supply less pure CBD that could have contaminants in it including the THC found in marijuana that could give you a false positive result if you use a less pure product. We always recommend buying from a reputable source online.
Who Regulates CBD in the USA?
The FDA does not approve foods, supplements, beverages, nutraceuticals, and many other retail product categories. FDA approval is reserved for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other categories. CBD is considered to be a supplement not a pharmaceutical.
TruBrain is still manufactured in FDA-certified facilities that adhere to the requirements of the FDA and uses Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs), ensuring its safety. We maintain a relationship with a leading law firm in food and beverage, to manage our compliance relationship with various federal agencies, including the FDA, the FTC, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the USDA, and EPA.
Is CBD Legal in the USA ?
The 2018 Farm Bill brought about the legalization of hemp — a form of the cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% of the psychoactive cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In addition to changing how hemp farming is managed, the passing of the Farm Bill also removed hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) from the Controlled Substances Act. This was a significant compliance milestone for hemp-derived CBD products. The bill states that any cannabinoid that is derived from legally cultivated hemp material, in accordance with guidance given in Section 12619 of the Bill, would also be considered legal by extension for use and sale.
In short CBD in the form that we sell it is legal in the USA. We wrote a more in depth blog about this here.
Can You Travel or Fly with CBD within the USA?
That same 2018 Farm Bill means you can now travel between states with legit CBD products. Flying inside the USA with CBD should pose no issues now.
Always Buy CBD from a Reputable Source
Trubrain only works with the highest quality ingredients that have been tested extensively and proven to be effective. This is why we focus on only a few products. We want to make sure that every decision and every ingredient is one we believe in so our customers know they are investing their money into something that will better their lives. Our products have changed the way our customers approach both work and life. By giving them the power to work more efficiently, they have more time for life.
How Could You Start CBD as an ADHD Treatment?
Firstly we should be really clear here. We are not giving medical advice, simply a blog with resources to help you make an informed decision. To start with you should always consult your physician with any new medications or supplements you are considering for you or your child.
The next thing we should make clear is that we do not ever think anyone should stop taking existing medications when trying something new such as CBD. If you look online there are anecdotes on how people have approached this and started trying something new alongside existing medication.
Summary
Recent legislation in the Farm Bill of 2018 has opened up the legality for quality assured CBD to be supplied in the USA to people interested in the potentially treating various issues with anxiety and ADHD symptoms. By using only pure CBD users avoid the psychoactive element of Cannabis known as THC.
Research is still in its early stages because the product has only recently become clear, but there is a growing tide of personal anecdotal stories online of people using CBD so assist with treating the symptoms of ADHD.
The results for everyone vary, but the online testimonies of people working with a physician to assist or in some cases even replace some ADHD medication should not be ignored. Its an exciting time for CBD research and treatment.
We’ve summarized the key points here for you.
- Initial early research is very promising for CBD but there is a need for much more investigation and research into the use of CBD for ADHD in particular.
- CBD is legal to buy and be in possession of in most states in the USA including air travel
- It is essential that any CBD you buy online is from a reputable source from a quality USA company.
- Always consult and involve your physician with any decision you make on trying new remedies in addition to your or your childs existing medicine regime.
- Be aware that everyone is different and the benefits of CBD may not work for you and in fact may even have some side effects.
