Epilepsy and cannabidiol: a guide to treatment.

Abstract

The growing interest in cannabidiol (CBD), specifically a pure form of CBD, as a treatment for epilepsy, among other conditions, is reflected in recent changes in legislation in some countries. Although there has been much speculation about the therapeutic value of cannabis-based products as an anti-seizure treatment for some time, it is only within the last two years that Class I evidence has been available for a pure form of CBD, based on placebo-controlled RCTs for patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. However, just as we are beginning to understand the significance of CBD as a treatment for epilepsy, in recent years, a broad spectrum of products advertised to contain CBD has emerged on the market. The effects of these products are fundamentally dependent on the purity, preparation, and concentration of CBD and other components, and consensus and standardisation are severely lacking regarding their preparation, composition, usage and effectiveness. This review aims to provide information to neurologists and epileptologists on the therapeutic value of CBD products, principally a purified form, in routine practice for patients with intractable epilepsy.

Overview publication

TitleEpilepsy and cannabidiol: a guide to treatment.
Date2020-02-01
Issue nameEpileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape
Issue numberv22.1:1-14
DOI10.1684/epd.2020.1141
PubMed32096470
AuthorsArzimanoglou A, Brandl U, Cross JH, Gil-Nagel A, Lagae L, Landmark CJ, Specchio N, Nabbout R, Thiele EA, Gubbay O & The Cannabinoids International Experts Panel
InfoCollaborators, Auvin S, Carreño M, Chin RF, Cilio RR, Di Marzo V, Fons-Estupina MC, Hughes E, Jansen FE, Kälviäinen R, Lerman-Sagie T, Mazurkiewicz-Beldzinska M, Pietrafusa N, Ramantani G, Rheims S, Sánchez-Carpintero R, Striano P, Whalley BJ
KeywordsCBD, Dravet, Epidiolex, Epidyolex, Lennox-Gastaut, cannabidiol, cannabis, epilepsy, guidelines, oil
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