Aurora, CO: Patients diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a rare genetic disorder that is associated with learning disabilities and delayed development, show functional improvements following the daily use of cannabidiol, according to a case series published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
A team of investigators from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the University of California at Davis reported on three separate cases of subjects demonstrating clinical symptom improvement following the use of oral formulations of CBD. Patients experienced reduced anxiety and less frequent panic attacks as well as improvements in sleep, motor coordination, and sensory processing. FXS symptoms returned in two of the three patients after CBD treatment was discontinued, but then improved following the reintroduction of CBD therapy.
"The present findings, coupled with the available preclinical data, highlight the potential for CBD as an intervention for individuals with FXS," authors concluded. They cautioned, however, "Until rigorous clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of CBD treatment for FXS, current treatments for the many behavioral problems associated with FXS should be utilized before off-label use of CBD products."
For more information, contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director. Full text of the study, "Treatment of Fragile X syndrome with cannabidiol: A case series study and brief review of the literature," appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.