Compare the Best CBD Oil for Kids’ Seizures in 2022

How CBD May Help With Kids’ Seizures

A review article from Frontiers in Neurology mentioned that about one-third of patients with epilepsy do not become seizure-free with anti-seizure medications⁽¹⁾. This treatment gap seems to motivate researchers to explore new therapeutic options, including the use of CBD (cannabidiol). 

CBD is a chemical compound believed to help with various health concerns, including anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia, and addiction⁽²⁾. 

CBD, found mostly in hemp plants, does not exude psychoactive effects, unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the mind-altering constituent of cannabis⁽³⁾.

Both cannabinoids, namely CBD and THC, may interact with the ECS (endocannabinoid system), responsible for maintaining bodily homeostasis or balance⁽⁴⁾. 

THC, in particular, may bind with the ECS’ cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1), abundant in the central nervous system⁽⁵⁾. 

It is believed that THC may have a pro-convulsant effect, given that it acts as a partial agonist⁽⁶⁾. Most cognitive, behavioral, and psychotropic effects of cannabis result from the effects of THC at CB1 receptors⁽⁷⁾. 

Meanwhile, since CBD is non-psychoactive, it has a more consistent antiepileptic efficacy than THC⁽⁸⁾. 

Additionally, cannabidiol does not directly activate cannabinoid receptors, although it may interact with other signaling systems like neurotransmitters⁽⁹⁾. 

Neurotransmitters are molecules that transmit messages between neurons. 

Experts suggest that TRPV1-mediated signaling is likely the most relevant pathway in CBD’s anticonvulsant effects⁽¹⁰⁾.

TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1) is a nonselective cation channel widely expressed in nonneuronal cells and sensory nerve fibers. 

Meanwhile, a 2021 study indicated that CBD in conjunction with clobazam, a medication prescribed to control convulsions, may help reduce seizures⁽¹¹⁾. 

CBD’s interaction with the ECS and its purported health benefits may seem promising. Still, more research is warranted to elucidate how CBD may help with a child’s seizure.  

Benefits of Using CBD for Kids’ Seizures

An open-label interventional trial from The Lancet Neurology examined the efficacy of CBD in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy (refractory epilepsy)⁽¹²⁾.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by persistent seizures.  

This clinical trial involved epileptic patients from 1-30 years old who received stable doses of antiepileptic drugs before the study. 

Devinsky and colleagues administered oral CBD at 2 to 5mg per kilogram of body weight daily, up-titrated until tolerance, or up to 25mg per kilogram of the patients’ body weight daily.

The researchers’ findings suggested that CBD may reduce seizure frequency and have a good safety profile in young adults and children with treatment-resistant epilepsy⁽¹³⁾. 

Meanwhile, a 2020 study from the Journal of Korean Medical Science examined 44 patients between 1.2 and 15.8 years old with severe and rare forms of epilepsy⁽¹⁴⁾. 

The researchers gave CBD orally at a starting dose of 5mg per day to those patients and maintained the dosage at 10mg daily. 

The results of their study also showed CBD’s potential as a safe and well tolerated treatment for certain types of epilepsy⁽¹⁵⁾. 

The putative usefulness of cannabidiol for seizures is plausible considering its pharmacology. Still, these studies are inconclusive. 

Hence, more randomized controlled trials are necessary to further learn about the safety profile and true efficacy of CBD on seizures and epilepsy in children.  

How to Use CBD Oil for Kids’ Seizures

There are various ways to use CBD oil for your child’s seizures. However, it is suggested that you work with a healthcare professional experienced in recommending CBD or medical cannabis so that delivery methods and dosage can be fine-tuned.  

Suppose you do not know a doctor versed in cannabis use. In that case, the details below may help you initiate a conversation with your child’s pediatrician regarding the use of CBD to control seizure activity. 

Delivery Methods 

The routes of administration, also known as delivery methods, are the paths by which CBD is taken into the body⁽¹⁶⁾. 

The most commonly used delivery methods are inhalation, ingestion, sublingual (under the tongue) administration, and topical absorption. 

Giving CBD to children sublingually may be a good option. You may use a dropper to dispense CBD oil straight to your child’s mouth. 

The sublingual method relies on the mucous membrane under the tongue to absorb cannabidiol⁽¹⁷⁾. Capillaries in the connective tissue diffuse the compound, entering the bloodstream. 

Additionally, the sublingual route is a fast-acting solution, with a 15- to 30-minute onset⁽¹⁸⁾. 

However, if your children do not like the earthy and grass-like taste of CBD oil, then you may try to give them CBD gummies. These products are regular gummies that have been infused with CBD.  

Usually, CBD edibles like gummies have an onset time of 30 to 90 minutes⁽¹⁹⁾. 

Nevertheless, it is vital to ask for medical advice from a pediatrician experienced in cannabis use to determine the appropriate delivery method and the form of CBD that is good for seizures.  

CBD Dosage 

The U.S. FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has not approved the marketing of products with cannabis extracts as a treatment for most medical conditions⁽²⁰⁾. 

The only FDA-approved drug product that contains cannabidiol is Epidiolex⁽²¹⁾. 

Epidiolex is a CBD oral solution recommended for the treatment of seizures associated with two severe and rare forms of epilepsy in children two years and older⁽²²⁾: 

• DS (Dravet syndrome) is a rare and drug-resistant form of epilepsy that starts during infancy and accumulates morbidity that impacts people throughout their lifetime⁽²³⁾. 
• LGS (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome) refers to a severe form of epilepsy characterized by recurring seizures early in life. Individuals with LGS have a higher risk of death than their peers of the same age due to injuries from falls or poorly controlled attacks⁽²⁴⁾. 

Korean researchers who examined the efficacy and safety of cannabidiol in DS and LGS administered CBD orally to patients at a starting dose of 5mg daily. They maintained the dosage at 10mg per day⁽²⁵⁾. 

Their findings indicated that the use of CBD may be safe and tolerable and may be expected to potentially reduce seizure frequency in pediatric patients with DS or LS⁽²⁶⁾. 

Still, it is best to consult a pediatrician versed in cannabis use to know how much CBD your child needs to take for a seizure. 

How Long Does CBD Take to Help With Kids’ Seizures?

How long it takes for cannabidiol to help with kids’ seizures depends on several factors, including CBD’s potency, your child’s body weight, and the delivery method of your choice. 

For instance, the onset time of CBD via the sublingual route is usually within 15 to 30 minutes, and the effect of CBD may last from 2 to 4 hours⁽²⁷⁾. 

Meanwhile, the onset time of CBD via the ingestion route is usually within 30 to 90 minutes, and the effect of CBD may last from 6 to 8 hours⁽²⁸⁾. 

How Long Will CBD Help With Kids’ Seizures?

How long CBD will last after it takes effect usually depends on its bioavailability. 

Bioavailability is the extent to which a particular drug becomes entirely available to its intended biological destination. 

CBD’s bioavailability via the sublingual method is between 6% and 20%⁽²⁹⁾. Meanwhile, the bioavailability of CBD via the ingestion route is between 6% and 15%⁽³⁰⁾.  

Choosing the Best CBD Oil for Seizures

When purchasing CBD oil (hemp oil) and other CBD-derived items for seizures, make sure to choose high-quality CBD products from trusted brands.

Here are a few pertinent details you should consider to help you find the best CBD oil product for your child’s seizure:

Hemp Extract 

A full-spectrum CBD product contains all compounds of the cannabis plant, including cannabidiol and other cannabinoids, essential oils, flavonoids, and terpenes. 

This CBD variant also has less than 0.3% THC. More importantly, full-spectrum CBD is known to provide the entourage effect due to the presence of all cannabis compounds. 

The entourage effect is a concept where the biologically active compounds of cannabis work better when administered together.

A Frontiers in Plant Science study hypothesized that the entourage effect in full-spectrum hemp extracts may produce better therapeutic benefits than pure CBD⁽³¹⁾. 

Flavonoids are active compounds found in cannabis that are believed to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral actions⁽³²⁾. Meanwhile, terpenes are the components of essential oils responsible for the aroma of cannabis⁽³³⁾. 

Broad-spectrum CBD also contains all of the natural compounds of cannabis except for THC. Lastly, CBD isolates are made of pure CBD. 

Extraction Method 

CO2 (carbon dioxide), ethanol, and solvent extraction techniques are preferred to create a safe CBD product⁽³⁴⁾. Meanwhile, extraction methods using hexane or butane may leave harmful residues, like pesticides.

Third-Party Lab Testing

The best way to check whether a CBD product contains what the brand says it does is to look at the lab test results provided by a third-party laboratory. 

Brand Reputation

 Promising an improved quality of life, many CBD brands are dedicated to offering only quality products to their customers. 

Some brands sell CBD oil for children with specific medical conditions. Before you purchase CBD oil and use it on your kid, make sure to research the CBD company to verify if it is a trusted brand. 

Risks and Side Effects of Using CBD for Kids’ Seizures

The WHO (World Health Organization) indicated that cannabidiol is relatively safe⁽³⁵⁾. 

In addition, a review from Current Drug Safety suggested that chronic use and high doses of CBD up to 1,500mg a day are well tolerated in humans⁽³⁶⁾. 

Still, since CBD is not a biologically inert compound. It may trigger potential interaction with other medications⁽³⁷⁾ and induce minor side effects, such as⁽³⁸⁾: 

• Dry mouth
• Diarrhea
• Reduced appetite
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue

The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital stated that 75% of epileptic young children could control their seizures using one or more anticonvulsant medications⁽³⁹⁾. 

However, if you want to use CBD concomitantly with anticonvulsant treatments, make sure to consult your child’s pediatrician or seek the advice of a licensed doctor versed in cannabis use. 

Antiepileptic drugs may interact with CBD because they use the cytochrome P450 enzyme system⁽⁴⁰⁾. 

Cytochrome P450 is a family of liver enzymes that metabolizes approximately 60% of the pharmaceutical substances prescribed to individuals. 

CBD at high doses may inhibit these enzymes, increasing the prescription drugs’ effect and duration of action⁽⁴¹⁾. 

Another cause for concern is the labeling inaccuracy of hemp extracts sold online. A review from the Journal of the American Medical Association stated that of tested CBD products, 26% contained less cannabidiol than labeled, which likely negates any potential clinical response⁽⁴²⁾.  

Legality of CBD

The United States Congress ratified the 2018 Farm Bill, legalizing the commercial use of industrial hemp and products obtained from hemp plants⁽⁴³⁾. 

The Farm Bill states that Cannabis sativa L. and other derivatives of cannabis with less than 0.3% THC content on a dry weight basis are considered legal under federal law⁽⁴⁴⁾. 

Still, it would be better to familiarize yourself with various state laws regarding CBD use, especially if you want to administer the compound to your child. 

Some states have passed laws allowing the use of recreational and medical marijuana. 

For instance, the Colorado government legalized marijuana by passing Amendment 64 to the Colorado Constitution⁽⁴⁵⁾.

In New York, adults 21 years and older can buy up to three ounces of cannabis flower and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis (edibles like CBD gummies, oils, tinctures, and vapes)⁽⁴⁶⁾. Nevertheless, they can only purchase cannabis products from a state-licensed dispensary.