CBD For ADHD Management: Does It Work?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common problem for parents to deal with; ADHD is now diagnosed in nearly 10% of children. There are different forms of the disorder, and their types are most often characterized by limited attention spans, hyperactivity, or impulsiveness.

The potential medical benefits of CBD (cannabidiol), coupled with a shortage of commonly-prescribed ADHD medications in the early 2020s, has led many to consider trying CBD for ADHD management.

There’s very limited research on the subject. Even more importantly, the few scientific studies cited to show the possible benefits of cannabidiol use in ADHD patients don’t focus solely on CBD’s effects. Instead, they involved the use of either cannabis or medications like Sativex, which is derived from cannabis and contains equal amounts of THC and CBD.

There are anecdotal reports of people who’ve reported being “more relaxed” or “less manic” after using CBD products, and anxiety relief is among the possible benefits of cannabidiol that have been reported in the past. However, the majority of patients mentioned by experts in published reports said they essentially saw no improvement.

In short, there’s no scientific evidence that CBD works to ease ADHD symptoms, and even anecdotal evidence is inconclusive at best.

That hasn’t curbed many people’s interest in the possible use of cannabidiol to manage ADHD, though. Here’s a deeper dive into what they should know.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol is one of the plant compounds found in hemp and cannabis plants, and it belongs to a class of compounds called cannabinoids. There are more than 100 cannabinoids commonly found in hemp and cannabis (which are close relatives), and CBD is one of the two most important. Psychoactive THC is the other.

There’s a crucial difference between cannabis and hemp. The former generally contains high levels of THC and low levels of CBD; the latter usually contains large amounts of CBD and small amounts of THC.

That’s why the cannabidiol used to create CBD products is sourced from hemp: its very low levels of THC can’t intoxicate users. (UK law sets the maximum amount of THC allowable in CBD products at about 0.2%, in most other countries the maximum is a bit higher.) CBD that’s commercially available is used for its apparent health and wellness benefits, not to get high.

And although the only benefit fully accepted by the medical community (and the government) is the treatment of several rare forms of childhood epilepsy, research has shown many possible medical uses for cannabidiol:

• Reducing anxiety, stress, depression, and more serious mental health issues
• Boosting sleep quality
• Supporting immunity and reducing inflammation
• Reducing chronic pain
• Fighting the development of neurodegenerative diseases and protecting the nervous system
• Supporting cardiovascular health
• Reducing or preventing seizures

Some of the apparent benefits of CBD such as anxiety reduction and seizure prevention involve positive effects on brain function. That’s led many to believe that cannabidiol might be useful in helping to manage ADHD.

What Is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a mental health disorder that usually appears during childhood and persists into adulthood, and it’s one of the most common disorders affecting children.

The neurodevelopmental condition affects nearly 10% of preteens worldwide and is being diagnosed more and more often. ADHD manifests in different ways and there are several different forms of the disorder, but it is commonly characterized by some combination of inattention and poor focus, forgetfulness, fidgeting, and impulsiveness.

Scientists don’t know what causes ADHD, but there are detectable differences in the makeup of the brain and brain activity in those who suffer from the disorder. Genetics are believed to play a role in the development of ADHD, as are factors like premature birth, stress in the mother during pregnancy, and exposure to alcohol, nicotine, and other toxins while in the womb.

ADHD is a chronic disorder that can affect achievement in school and adult life, daily functioning, and interpersonal relationships, and it has historically been underdiagnosed. Treatment for ADHD usually combines behavioral therapy and medications, usually amphetamines.

Pharmaceutical treatment of the disorder is controversial among many parents, which leads some to seek alternatives. With the growing awareness and popularity of CBD products, there’s increased interest in the possibility that cannabidiol might be beneficial for ADHD patients.

Can CBD Help Manage ADHD Symptoms?

There’s no scientific proof that cannabidiol has been or can be used to help those with ADHD deal with their symptoms. That’s not because there’s evidence it doesn’t help; it’s because no research specifically investigating the effects of CBD on ADHD patients has yet been done.

Several studies are often cited, but none were limited to cannabidiol’s effects. They all involved either the possible use of cannabis to ease ADHD symptoms, or the use of medications with much higher levels of THC than are found in CBD products available online or at retail. And the results could be called inconclusive at best.

1. A systematic review of research published in the Journal of Cannabis Research examined studies conducted with the prescription medication Sativex, which contains a 50-50 mix of psychoactive THC and CBD and is commonly used to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The review graded the apparent effectiveness of Sativex in treating other conditions and gave the medication a “B” for its effectiveness in helping ADHD patients. Again, though, that was for a combination of THC and CBD and doesn’t necessarily mean the CBD was instrumental in the results.
2. A study reported in the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology also dealt with the use of Sativex, this time among adult ADHD patients. Only 30 people participated, and the researchers concluded that while there appeared to be minor improvements in inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior, they weren’t significant enough to say that using Sativex was more effective than taking a placebo.
3. Research published in the Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal surveyed approximately 60 medical cannabis patients with ADHD, who said that greater use of marijuana allowed them to cut back on their ADHD medications. Notably, the study did not say that there were better results among those consuming strains with more CBD, but it did say that those consuming higher amounts of a different cannabinoid, CBN, benefitted more.
4. The least rigorous report, published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, involved cannabis users self-reporting the drug’s effect on their ADHD symptoms. The study concluded that users generally felt marijuana reduced issues like impulsivity and hyperactivity while reducing the side effects of their ADHD medications such as anxiety and irritability. Some also said that higher doses eased their executive dysfunction. Again, there’s no way to determine if CBD played any role in their perceived symptom improvements.

Other studies have similar issues with methodology, as found in a research review published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research that investigated studies into cannabis use and ADHD.

There’s clearly no reliable scientific evidence regarding CBD’s ability to help manage ADHD. That leaves only anecdotal evidence to rely on, and it’s not particularly helpful.

An article in ADDitude magazine quoted several experts on the subject, and they say that about half of the patients they’ve spoken with report that cannabidiol didn’t help or hurt, while the rest offer only general assessments of feeling less anxious or more manic after trying CBD.

And a professor of psychology who’s also an advisory board member of the pro-marijuana group NORMAL was quoted as saying “There is no published data, let alone randomized clinical trials, that support the use of CBD for ADHD.”

Even so, some ADHD patients want to give cannabidiol a try. Since CBD is legal in Britain and usually well-tolerated with few side effects, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), they’re obviously free to do so. That leaves one question, however: can parents give CBD to their children with ADHD?

CBD and Children

There are no laws in the UK prohibiting parents from administering cannabidiol to children. The real question isn’t can parents give CBD to their kids, but should they?

We’ve mentioned the cannabidiol medication Epidiolex, prescribed to children suffering from rare types of childhood epilepsy. However, that drug has been extensively tested and there are specific dosage recommendations for children receiving it — and even so, serious side effects including possible liver injury, sedation, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts have been reported.

Other than that, it’s what Americans call the “Wild Wild West,” with very little research casting light on the safety of CBD use by children or possible dosing guidelines. Some studies are currently ongoing to investigate the possible use of cannabidiol to help kids with ADHD or autism spectrum disorder, but results may not be available for some time.

Many parents have anecdotally reported that CBD use has helped their children with a variety of medical issues, but that may not provide much comfort. The best advice is to check with your child’s paediatrician or another health professional for their advice before trying CBD to manage their ADHD or any other health issue.

Shop our CBD products:

• CBD oils
• CBD gummies
• CBD capsules
• CBD creams
• CBD patches
• CBD vape pens
• CBD vape juice