Ask A Doctor – CBD Dosing & Safety In Children

Determined to find relief, many parents are beginning to help their children suffering with debilitating health issues by giving them CBD

CBD has been found to have anti-epileptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, anti-ischemic, & anti-tumor properties. Unfortunately, there is very little data on the safety of cannabinoids for both adults and children because of restrictive laws that make conducting clinical trials difficult.

Question: What did a major international medical journal conclude about the safety and efficacy of CBD in children?

A one-year study enrolled 214 children from all across the United States with treatment resistant epilepsy. They required multiple medications and were having repeated breakthrough seizures. They were given CBD in huge doses – 25-50-mg/kg/day. Assuming the child is only 45 pounds, this dose is equivalent to 500-1000-mg of CBD EVERY DAY FOR A YEAR. The result of the national study showed that CBD reduces the seizures by a third and there was an adequate safety profile.

It cannot be emphasized enough that these were huge doses, much larger than normally needed to treat other disorders such as anxiety, inflammation, or insomnia.
This gives us reassurance that if a dose of 1000-mg is safe to take (in a child) over one year, then surely, much lower doses are safe as well.

(Ref: “Cannabidiol in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy: an open-label interventional trial.” Lancet Neurol. 2016 Mar;15(3):270-278)

Question: Can you give me any proof that the “official” word out is that CBD can be used in children?

Yes. The United States Food & Drug Administration & the European Medicines Agency granted CBD preparations the “Orphan Drug” designation for the treatment of seizures in children with Dravet & Lennox-Gastaut syndromes.
They also granted approval for CBD to be used in neonatal asphyxia.
In other words, according to the medical authorities in the United States & Europe, the benefits CBD can offer the newborn and pediatric and population outweighs the risks.

Ref: “Cannabidiol in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy: an open-label intervention trial.” Lancet Neurol. 2016; 15(3): 270– 278

Question: What dosage is safe in the pediatric population?

Most of the research done suggests starting with 0.5 mg/pound/day. Divide it into three doses. Increase by 0.5 mg/pound/day every week, until you see maximum benefits. Be conservative. Dosing in small amounts will give you more control in achieving the optimum dose that benefits your child. Be patient. Taper up slowly.

Question: How can I predict if my daughter will respond? Will she respond differently because she is a child than if she were an adult?

Individual response cannot be predicted. Ask questions. Get educated. All the benefits CBD can offer the adult population can also be offered to the pediatric population. Naturally, you should also discuss your reasons and opinions with your child’s PCP if you plan to give CBD to your child.

Question: Can you please explain to me HOW to give my little one CBD?

Space the CBD two hours apart from any other medication your child is taking to help prevent any potential interactions – which are rare, but in children especially, we need to be cautious. The CBD should be given with a high fat snack to improve absorption. The CBD tincture can be given by placing the oil under the tongue or on the side of the cheek.
If that is not doable, then the tincture can be mixed into food. It should not be put into a glass of water because the oil will stick to the side of the glass. Another alternative would be to mix the CBD oil with milk because milk contains fat.
As you can see, there are numerous options as to how one can give CBD oil to the pediatric age group.

Delivery system:

When it comes to children, patience is not a virtue, it is a miracle.  The simplest and most dependable delivery will always be the most effective.

CBD Oil

Diamond’s Bubblegum CBD Oil, loved by all

If the child is too young to swallow CBD in oral form, or simply refuses to swallow anything that resembles a pill, then CBD Oil would work the best.  The CBD drops can be placed in the corner of the cheek or mixed with a fatty food (like milk).  Another way to administer it is by placing the CBD drops on a chocolate chip (or any other flavor, such as butterscotch, peanut butter, or white chocolate), and letting the child suck on the chocolate chip until it melts. The CBD will be absorbed, and the only flavor the child will taste will be that from the chocolate chip.

Read more: What’s the best flavor for your CBD Oil

CBD Softgels

CBD Genesis: 25mg / 50mg CBD Softgels

If the child can swallow, the best delivery system would be softgels.  Softgels are one-piece gelatin capsules. Because of their smooth contour and shape, they are very easy to swallow. Sofgels also offer superior shelf-life compared to capsules, liquids, & powders because they are completely sealed and air-tight.  An added benefit is that softgels have no taste.

Once swallowed, the softgel dissolves in 20 minutes, has an onset of actively in 2-3 hours, and lasts 10-14 hours.  When softgels are taken daily, after about 5-7 days, the CBD which is stored in the fatty tissue of the body, provides benefits 24 hours a day.

Read more: 6 Good Reasons Why You Should Switch To CBD Softgels Today