Cannabidiol (CBD) was shown in a new large-scale, randomized, controlled trial to reduce the number of seizures in patients with a severe form of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The study was conducted with Epidiolex which is manufactured by GW Pharmaceuticals.
Patients taking a 10-milligram (mg) daily dose of pharmaceutical grade cannabidiol (CBD) experienced nearly as great a reduction in seizures as patients on 20 mg, and with fewer side effects, according to lead researcher Dr. Orrin Devinsky, Director of NYU Langone's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center in New York City.
He explains: "This new study adds rigorous evidence of cannabidiol's effectiveness in reducing seizure burden in a severe form of epilepsy and, importantly, is the first study of its kind to offer more information on proper dosing. These are real medications with real side effects, and as providers we need to know all we can about a potential treatment in order to provide safe and effective care to our patients."
As in previous studies, most patients in the trial experienced some side negative side-effects. These ranged from mild issues like drowsiness and decreased appetite to more severe problems like upper respiratory infection and vomiting. However, the recent study indicates that a lower dose of the drug could still provide significant benefits while producing fewer symptoms.
"The major finding from this is that the 10-milligram-per-kilogram dose is going to be a more ideal dose for most. With the 20 milligram, there will probably be a little bit more of a benefit but the side effects are greater," Devinsky added.
It's also unclear as to whether CBD would help people with more common forms of epilepsy. Devinsky stated that small clinical trials have so far found no benefit in people with focal epilepsy, where seizures start on one side of the brain.
"I think we need more studies. It's not been investigated in generalized epilepsy, and I think we need a larger study in focal epilepsy", Devinsky said.