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Use of cannabidiol in the treatment of epilepsy
, 1
Affiliations- Department of Developmental Neurology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
open access
Abstract
Introduction. Cannabis sativa has been cultivated for human use for about 5,000 years, and has likewise been used in the treatment of epilepsy for thousands of years.
State of the art. Cannabidiol (CBD), which was isolated from cannabis sativa in 1940, has an anti-seizure effect and no psychoactive activity. Its effectiveness in reducing various types of seizures has been proven in animal seizure and epilepsy models. Recent randomised, placebo-controlled trials have confirmed its effectiveness in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Clinical implications. The aim of this position paper was to present the specific mechanism of CBD’s anti-seizure action and current indications for CBD’s use in epilepsy. The only cannabis-derived drug that has successfully passed clinical trials and has obtained United States Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency approval for epilepsy is Epidiolex®. This paper presents the outcomes of the completed clinical trials with the use of this drug.
Future directions. CBD may be an effective drug in drug-resistant epilepsy, particularly in Dravet Syndrome, Lennox- Gastaut Syndrome and seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. Additional randomised, placebo-controlled studies with CBD are needed.
Abstract
Introduction. Cannabis sativa has been cultivated for human use for about 5,000 years, and has likewise been used in the treatment of epilepsy for thousands of years.
State of the art. Cannabidiol (CBD), which was isolated from cannabis sativa in 1940, has an anti-seizure effect and no psychoactive activity. Its effectiveness in reducing various types of seizures has been proven in animal seizure and epilepsy models. Recent randomised, placebo-controlled trials have confirmed its effectiveness in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Clinical implications. The aim of this position paper was to present the specific mechanism of CBD’s anti-seizure action and current indications for CBD’s use in epilepsy. The only cannabis-derived drug that has successfully passed clinical trials and has obtained United States Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency approval for epilepsy is Epidiolex®. This paper presents the outcomes of the completed clinical trials with the use of this drug.
Future directions. CBD may be an effective drug in drug-resistant epilepsy, particularly in Dravet Syndrome, Lennox- Gastaut Syndrome and seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. Additional randomised, placebo-controlled studies with CBD are needed.
Keywords
cannabidiol, drug-resistant epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, Dravet Syndrome, tuberous sclerosis
About this articleTitle
Use of cannabidiol in the treatment of epilepsy
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Article type
Invited Review Article
Pages
14-20
Published online
2022-02-23
Page views
7966
Article views/downloads
2703
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2022;56(1):14-20.
Keywords
cannabidiol
drug-resistant epilepsy
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Dravet Syndrome
tuberous sclerosis
Authors
Maria Mazurkiewicz-Bełdzińska
Marta Zawadzka
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