Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting around 70 million people worldwide. 65% of patients are managed with antiepileptic drugs and lead a normal life but, what about the remaining 35%?
These patients suffer from refractory epilepsy, significantly impacting their quality of life and increasing morbidity and mortality.
Cannabinoids are considered a complementary tool for the symptomatic management of some neurological diseases when first-line therapies fail.
For refractory epilepsy, there are two therapeutic alternatives: 100% purified CBD and cannabis extracts enriched with CBD.
CLINICAL EFFICACY:
100% Purified CBD
There clinical trials have been published, one conducted in patients with Dravet syndrome and two in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
- In the Dravet syndrome study, patients evaluated were between 2.3 and 18 years old. 43% achieved a reduction of more than 50% in seizures, and 5% achieved complete freedom from seizures.
- In the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome study, patients evaluated were between 2 and 55 years old. 46% achieved a reduction of more than 50% in seizures, and 6% achieved complete freedom from seizures.
Cannabis extracts enriched with CBD
- In a survey targeting parents of children with epilepsy (infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome) aged between 3 and 10 years old, 85% reported a reduction in the frequency of seizures, and 14% achieved complete freedom from seizures. The children showed improvement in sleep patterns, alertness, and mood.
- In another study, 53 parents of children with epilepsy (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and refractory epilepsy) aged between 9 months and 18 years were surveyed. 81% reported a reduction in the frequency of seizures, and 16% achieved complete freedom from seizures.
For decades, the prescription of cannabinoids for therapeutic purposes has been restricted and controlled, limiting the development of clinical research and commercialization for medicinal use. However, in recent years, a significant global advancement has been observed, favoring the safe use and responsible prescription of medicinal cannabis for various clinical conditions. New regulations have allowed for exponential growth in clinical research related to the use of cannabinoids in different diseases.