WHAT DO DOCTORS SAY?
Dr Regina Hurley works as an anaesthesiologist at Mediclinic Newcastle in Kwa Zulu-Natal and her husband, Dr Ahmed Jamaloodeen, is a general practitioner.
They have a permit to grow cannabis for medical use and although Dr Hurley does not dispense medicinal cannabis, she recommends it to her patients as a health supplement.
Dr Hurley says she’s seen positive results in children with autism who have been using CBD. In her experience CBD helps them to focus; makes them calmer; improves the quality of sleep; lowers anger levels; and, in some cases, improves their interactions with others.
However, she says parents must introduce CBD safely to children.
“Abruptly taking a child with autism off their prescribed medication can lead to withdrawal symptoms,” she says. About a third of people with autism are prone to seizures. “If your child suffers from seizures, these may increase if you stop their medication,” she warns.
Parents should introduce CBD products to their children slowly, while continuing with their prescribed medication. “If you see the CBD has an effect on the child, then, if it is deemed necessary by a doctor, you can start reducing some of the other medications.”
Dr Hurley says CBD products should not be used in combination with certain medication. “CBD acts through an enzyme in the liver which helps metabolise certain medication. If your child’s medication is also metabolised by this enzyme in the liver, you must be very careful.
“Some CBD products can speed up the metabolism, which means the medication would not work at the level at which it is supposed to.”
Alternatively, CBD could also slow down the metabolism process, which could lead to dizziness, sleepiness or in rare cases, liver failure, she cautions.
See page 56 for more medical input on CBD use and children.
‘IT HELPED HIM DEAL WITH HIS ANXIETY’