The objective was to review the efficacy, safety, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of pure, plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD; Epidiolex) in the treatment of Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS).
The review, “Epidiolex (Cannabidiol): A New Hope for Patients With Dravet or Lennox-Gastaut Syndromes,” was published in Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
“The frequency and severity of seizures have profound impacts on quality of life, risk for injury (eg, convulsive seizures in [Dravet syndrome], drop seizures in [Lennox-Gastaut syndrome]), health care use, and increased risk for mortality,” the researchers wrote.
It is carbohydrate neutral and compatible with ketogenic diets — a diet high in fats and low in carbs that has been shown to reduce the frequency of seizures and improve cognitive function in children with Dravet syndrome.
Previous clinical trials have found that Epidiolex effectively reduces the frequency of epileptic seizures when used in combination with other anti-epileptic medications.
Researchers in this study reviewed the main findings of these trials regarding the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of Epidiolex for the treatment of children with Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes.