Oral cannabis extracts as a promising treatment for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder

[Michael Komorn]

http://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(17)33120-9/fulltext

 

Oral cannabis extracts as a promising treatment for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder: Preliminary experience in Chilean patients

G. Kuester

, 

K. Vergara

, 

A. Ahumada

, 

A.M. Gazmuri

 

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2017.08.2623

 

Background: Preclinical studies and several anecdotal case reports suggest a dysfunctional endocannabinoid system implicated in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Objective: To report our preliminary findings in patients with ASD treated with oral cannabis extracts.

Patients and Methods/Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive patients seen between June 2016-March 2017, with ASD diagnosis according to DSM-V, treated with sublingual whole plant cannabis extracts for at least three months. We reviewed demographic/clinical data, neuroimaging/EEG studies, vision/audition/genetic/metabolic tests, and parental/school/neuropsychological reports. Type of cannabis strain, CBD:THC ratio, daily dose of CBD/THC/CBN, and adverse events were documented. Clinical changes were estimated using Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) and Autism Parenting Stress Index (APSI). Informed consent was obtained.

Results: 20 children and one adult patients were selected. Mean age: 9 years, 10 months (range: 26 mo-22 yo), 15 males. Mean follow-up: 7,6 mo (range: 3-12). 66,7% of patients had significant improvement according to CGI-I and APSI. Most cases improved at least one of the core symptoms of ASD, including social communication, language, or repetitive behaviors. Additionally, sensory difficulties, food acceptance, feeding and sleep disorders, and/or seizures were improved in most cases. 71,5% of patients received balanced CBD:THC extracts; 19,0% high-CBD; and 9,5% high-THC extracts. Oral cannabis extracts were well tolerated. Two patients had more agitation and one had more irritability, effects that were solved by changing the strain.

Conclusion: In this small series of ASD patients, oral cannabis extracts were dramatically more effective than conventional medicines. Large randomized controlled trials are needed to establish efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis in ASD.

[Michiganmeds1982]

No if we can get our system here in michigan to recognize this treatment.

I believe my son age 8 could recieve some well needed peace from this type of treatment. The cocktail of drugs he has tried has only made things worse.

We recently had an extended eeg for him and found he was having 30+ absense seizures a day that we never saw. 

We are just scared to even talk about it with his doctors for the fear of him not being treated the same.