TY - JOUR
T1 - Cannabidiol in Pediatric Epilepsy
AU - Armstrong, Dallas
AU - Marsh, Eric
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2018/3
Y1 - 2018/3
N2 - Purpose of Review: To summarize current understanding of the role of endocannabinoids as well as exogenous cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabiniol and cannabidiol in the functions of the body, including the brain, and to explore the role of cannabidiol in the treatment of pediatric epilepsy. Recent Findings: Previously, the evidence supporting the role of cannabidiol in the treatment of epilepsy was largely anecdotal. In 2017, two randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials suggested that cannabidiol may be effective in the treatment of epilepsy, though conclusions about both seizure reduction and adverse effects are clouded by the large number of patients taking concomitant anti-seizure medications (such as valproic acid and clobazam) whose serum levels are often increased with the administration of cannabidiol. Summary: Cannabidiol has been well-tolerated in pediatric patients and may be an effective treatment for medically intractable epilepsy. Future studies that control for concomitant administration of clobazam and/or valproic acid are necessary.
AB - Purpose of Review: To summarize current understanding of the role of endocannabinoids as well as exogenous cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabiniol and cannabidiol in the functions of the body, including the brain, and to explore the role of cannabidiol in the treatment of pediatric epilepsy. Recent Findings: Previously, the evidence supporting the role of cannabidiol in the treatment of epilepsy was largely anecdotal. In 2017, two randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials suggested that cannabidiol may be effective in the treatment of epilepsy, though conclusions about both seizure reduction and adverse effects are clouded by the large number of patients taking concomitant anti-seizure medications (such as valproic acid and clobazam) whose serum levels are often increased with the administration of cannabidiol. Summary: Cannabidiol has been well-tolerated in pediatric patients and may be an effective treatment for medically intractable epilepsy. Future studies that control for concomitant administration of clobazam and/or valproic acid are necessary.
KW - Cannabidiol
KW - Cannabis
KW - CBD
KW - Epilepsy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85054292733&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85054292733&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s40124-018-0152-0
DO - 10.1007/s40124-018-0152-0
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85054292733
VL - 6
SP - 26
EP - 29
JO - Current Pediatrics Reports
JF - Current Pediatrics Reports
SN - 2167-4841
IS - 1
ER -