Cannabidiol therapy could reduce symptoms in autistic children and teenagers
Table 3 reports change in HRQL from baseline to mean post-MC therapy across different health conditions, for participants having only one of the listed conditions. New research presented at the 2025 European Congress of Psychiatry reveals that the use of cannabidiol (CBD) cannabis extract can lead to meaningful benefits and improve the behavior of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD affects approximately 1 in 100 children around the world, and symptoms can include difficulty interpreting language, is cbd addictive difficulty expressing emotions, and repetitive behavior and routines. Common side effects that accompany CBD use tend to be mild and can include dry mouth, diarrhea, sleepiness, loss of appetite, and low blood pressure.
- One of the reasons for this has to do with how the body breaks down (metabolizes) drugs.
- Somnolence occurred more frequently in those receiving 20 mg/kg/day CBD than 10 mg/kg/day.
- Currently, one CBD product holds FDA approval, and the FDA has also approved three drugs that contain synthetic cannabinoids.
- The researchers assessed the participants’ anxiety levels using blood pressure and heart rate measures.
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For example, increased appetite may be helpful for those who need to gain weight, while decreased appetite may be advantageous for those seeking to control their caloric intake. The most common side effects include dry mouth, fatigue, drowsiness and changes in appetite. All authors contributed to drafting and revising the manuscript and approved its final version.
- COAs confirm the product’s contents, including the CBD type and amount.
- Studies defining CBD’s beneficial effects were included to provide balance in estimating risk/benefit.
- In 2018, the Farm Bill made hemp legal in the United States, making it virtually impossible to keep CBD illegal — that would be like making oranges legal, but keeping orange juice illegal.
- Ultimately, the key to reaping the benefits of CBD safely is education and caution.
- Signals called endocannabinoids — similar to cannabis plant molecules — activate our CB1 and CB2 receptors.
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Experiments on pithed and vagotomised rats where CBD decreased DBP have indicated that vasorelaxant action of CBD in vivo can be masked by neurogenic tone 52. These alterations in the phosphorylation of the intracellular proteins might explain the vasodilatory (ERK, Akt and endothelial NOS), anti-angiogenic (p70S6K and STAT5) and anti-inflammatory (JNK and NF-κB) properties of CBD 56. Cannabidiol also exerts positive effects on vascular smooth muscle cells (Table 3) which aberrant proliferation and migration are linked to the development and progression of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, CBD inhibited proliferation and migration of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells and increased cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1.
8. Chronic Pain
Pathological states might also modify action of administered cannabinoids, e.g., depressor response to THC is stronger in hypertensive than in normotensive patients 20. Moreover, the influence of cannabinoids on the cardiovascular system may be achieved through their modulating effect on immune processes or redox balance occurring via cannabinoid and non-cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids can cause oxidative stress and proinflammatory effects (mainly through CB1 receptors) as well as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects (mainly through CB2 receptors) 27.31. Cannabidiol is known to possess antioxidant (with some exceptions, see above) and anti-inflammatory properties 6,30,31,32,33. Alcohol Use Disorder Thus, it might have therapeutic potential in the treatment of different cardiovascular diseases, as the oxidative stress and inflammation are essential parts of their pathogenesis. Our study was large enough to assess patients across a wide range of chronic conditions and socio-demographics in a real-world setting.
They called for more research into how CBD could support standard cancer treatments. Research suggests that CBD may also help treat complications linked to epilepsy, such as neurodegeneration, neuronal injury, and psychiatric diseases. In 2014, a rodent study showed that CBD might help people retain the ability to recognize familiar faces.
Table 4.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, CBD reduced atonic seizures in Lennox-Gastaut patients, who also received clobazam, valproate, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, or rufinamide 65. Severe AEs occurred in 20 (23%) of 86 patients in the CBD group including sleep apnea. Twelve (14%) patients treated with CBD and one (1%) treated with placebo withdrew from the study.
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Hemp is defined as any part of the cannabis sativa plant with no more than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)A, the mind-altering substance in cannabis. According to preclinical evidence from studies, CBD may benefit pain and inflammation related to arthritis, but human studies are lacking. Although CBD is generally considered safe, it can cause adverse effects such as diarrhea and fatigue in some people.
Vasorelaxant action of Abn-CBD occurs, hypothetically, via an unidentified endothelial receptor called Abn-CBD receptor or endothelial cannabinoid receptor and is inhibited by CBD and O-1918, the putative antagonists of this receptor 51,71,73. However, based on current knowledge, the existence of specific endothelial receptor for Abn-CBD is rather controversial. Abn-CBD is an agonist of GPR18, and O-1918 and CBD serve as an antagonist or partial agonist/antagonist of this receptor, respectively 73,156. Therefore, some authors suggest that the proposed endothelial cannabinoid receptor may be GPR18. However, not all experimental observations confirm it explicitly 73. In addition, GPR18-independent activation of high-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels might contribute to vasodilatory action of Abn-CBD 157.