The long search for support
When Felipe was very young, he hurt himself, barely slept, and drove his mother to her wits' end. Thanks to cannabis, he has become much calmer. But the journey is far from over for the family.
Felipe was just two years old when he was diagnosed with autism. For his mother, Juliana, this marked the beginning not only of a learning process but also a long search for support. The pediatrician could only offer limited help. She referred Felipe to a login , who prescribed the toddler a neuroleptic. The effects were modest, the side effects enormous: Felipe began to move uncontrollably and to emit uncontrollably loud screams.
“It was incredibly exhausting,” Juliana recalls. “Not just emotionally, but physically too.” The 39-year-old suffers from chronic sleep deprivation. “Felipe would wake up every few hours and then couldn’t fall back asleep.” Melatonin has helped somewhat, but it’s not really good: Felipe’s nights are still over long before it gets light.
Help from Brazil
Juliana tried to find a therapy place for her son – in vain. "The waiting list was practically endless." She then traveled with Felipe to her home country of Brazil, where her sister lives. The trained special education teacher had previously organized intensive therapy for her nephew – at her own expense. "We did what we could," says Juliana. "When you see as a mother that your child needs help, you don't just stand by and do nothing."
She was already back in Switzerland when her sister first brought up the topic of CBD. But back home, nobody wanted to hear about it. Luckily, her sister knew a doctor in São Paulo who had experience with medical cannabis. After an online consultation, he wrote Felipe a prescription.
Epilepsy yes, autism no
The cannabis drops have calmed Felipe down, and in combination with melatonin, he finally sleeps through the night. He no longer hits or bites himself, and he no longer bursts into tears seemingly for no reason. He has also lost a significant amount of weight – the neuroleptic had triggered intense hunger pangs in their son. "For us, all of this has been a huge step forward," says Juliana. "Far from perfect. But much better than before."
The health insurance company doesn't accept the prescription issued in South America. Juliana and her husband, who works in construction, have to pay for the drops themselves. "We didn't hesitate for a second," says the healthcare professional. "Even though it puts a huge dent in our finances every month." In Switzerland, doctors refuse to issue Felipe a prescription. "They said CBD is only approved for children with epilepsy, not for autistic children."
Initially, the family was able to obtain the drops through MedCan. However, due to restrictions on the sale of CBD for oral administration, this is no longer possible.
Problems at school
At four, Felipe started kindergarten – a great source of hope and relief for his mother. He attended a small class with only three children. "At first, things went well," Juliana recounts. But as the class grew larger, more and more problems arose. Felipe would undress, spill water over the desk, and throw his snack across the classroom. "I recognized situations like that from my own childhood," Juliana says. She suspects he was overwhelmed by the many stimuli at school. "That's typical for autistic children." At the end of 2025, Felipe had to leave the class.
Juliana is now caring for her son almost around the clock again. She can only work on weekends. "I'm not hoping for a miracle," she says. "But I do wish for someone to support us. A doctor who knows what they're doing. And who listens to us." Of course, she's also hoping for a prescription and coverage from her health insurance. "I have the feeling that natural medicine is taken much less seriously in Switzerland than conventional medicine. Yet I see every day how well CBD works for Felipe ."
Hope dies last
When Juliana talks about her son, she sounds both exhausted and determined. She wants to keep fighting so that her son can continue to take what brings him relief – with financial support and a medical contact person in Switzerland. "I live here. My son goes to school here. I hope we can get help here too."
