CBD Oil as a Treatment for Autism

Cannabidiol, sometimes called CBD, is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry does not support the use of any cannabinoids in children or teens for the diagnosis of autism.

In fact, CBD oil has been studied as a potential treatment for autism, but the results do not support its use in treating children or adults who have this disorder. And, according to Harvard Health Publishing, "because CBD currently is typically available as an unregulated supplement, it’s hard to know exactly what you are getting."

Currently, there are some treatments that may alleviate some symptoms of autism, but there is no cure.

About CBD

CBD can be derived from hemp or cannabis (the marijuana plant) and is now legal in many states in the United States and in many countries around the world. It can be purchased without a prescription as an oil, tincture, pill, or chewable pill online and is also an ingredient in edibles ranging from coffee to pastries. It comes in many dosages and at many price points.

Claims for CBD range from the realistic to the absurd. Some websites and companies claim, for example, that CBD can cure cancer (it can't). On the other hand, CBD does seem to alleviate some symptoms of disorders such as epilepsy, nausea, and muscle spasticity—all issues that can affect some people with autism. According to Harvard Health Publishing, "the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness is in treating epilepsy disorders of Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which typically don’t respond to anti-seizure medications."

The FDA has approved a cannabis-derived medicine for the treatment of certain types of epilepsy, Epidiolex, which contains CBD.

It's important for parents to know that CBD is not helpful for everyone who uses it, and it can cause side effects, such as sleepiness or nausea.

CBD and Autism

Neither CBD nor any other drug can remove or cure core symptoms of autism, which include social communication challenges, sensory dysfunction, and restricted, repetitive behaviors.

CBD can, however, help to alleviate epilepsy in some children and adults with autism. Fewer seizures can lessen stress and make it easier to interact socially.

Research Findings

A few full-scale studies have explored the impact of CBD on children with autism—none, however, have explored its impact on adults on the spectrum. One of the largest such studies took place in Israel. The report includes the following finding:

"In 2014, The Ministry of Health began providing licenses for the treatment of children with epilepsy. After seeing the results of cannabis treatment on symptoms like anxiety, aggression, panic, tantrums and self-injurious behavior, in children with epilepsy, parents of severely autistic children turned to medical cannabis for relief."

Studies are ongoing in clinics and research centers around the world.

Before Trying CBD

Before considering CBD oil, it's important to follow these steps:

• Check with your child's (or your) doctor to be sure that no allergies or sensitivities exist that could cause a reaction to CBD.
• Check with your child's doctor to see if the medical benefits of CBD oil are relevant to your child's symptoms.
• Check to be sure that CBD is legal in your state, province, or country.
• Research sources of CBD to be sure the brand you're using is well-regarded and properly licensed.
• Take careful notes about your child's (or your own) behaviors and symptoms so that you can make a useful comparison before and after using CBD.

Using CBD

CBD comes in many forms and at many dosage levels, including candy forms. It's important to keep candy-like drugs and supplements out of the reach of children.

Lower doses are more easily tolerated than higher doses.

When you start using any new supplement, drug, or treatment, it's important to be sure your child's doctor is aware of the new treatment and has no concerns about it relative to your child's health. Let everyone working with your child know that you've started something new and ask them to look for and report any changes in behaviors or skills.

Take careful notes of any changes you see so you can easily review your records to determine how helpful the new treatment really is. Keep an eye open for any troubling side effects. Be sure to communicate any side effects to a doctor or healthcare professional immediately.

A Word From Verywell

Children with autism grow and learn every day, simply because they are maturing. As a result, there is no simple way to determine whether a change in behavior or an increase in skills is due to a particular treatment or to ordinary maturation. This reality makes it very easy to see a change in behaviors and inaccurately attribute them to the newest treatment you've tried. By far, the best way to know whether a particular treatment is truly effective is to be rigorous about evaluating your child before and after its use.