An extensive review of existing research has reinforced the potential of CBD as a treatment for patients who suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy, while urging further studies.
The new paper, from two Brazilian universities, is based on six primary CBD research initiatives selected from a pool of nearly 1,500 initially identified. Three focused on patients with Dravet syndrome and three on those with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome – severe forms of epilepsy that often resist conventional treatment.
The study found that patients who received CBD experienced an average 41.1% reduction in the total number of seizures, compared to an 18.1% reduction in placebo groups – a 127% higher response rate for those who received the intervention. While the findings highlight CBD’s efficacy, the researchers stressed that more studies are needed to refine protocols and confirm long-term benefits.
‘Worthy of consideration’
“Given these results, it is possible to conclude that the therapeutic response of cannabidiol is worthy of consideration in new protocols and of being added to public healthcare systems for its antiepileptic potential,” according to the report, in which the scientists systematically collected, analyzed, and combined data from multiple studies to narrow down to the six most compatible. It included citations from databases such as Google Scholar, Scielo, and PubMed/MEDLINE.
Conducted by teams from Tiradentes University and Universidade de São Paulo, the secondary research was published in Acta Epileptologica, a journal under Springer Nature, the German-British academic publishing company headquartered in London.
While CBD demonstrated effectiveness in reducing seizures, the study noted several side effects, including sleepiness, decreased appetite, and diarrhea.
Researchers said the combined placebo group’s relatively high efficacy rate suggests that alternative methods of data collection and analysis may be needed in future studies.
CBD’s medical status
High-concentration medical-grade CBD is already used to treat children who suffer seizures associated with Dravet, Lennox-Gastaut, and tuberous sclerosis complex. Epidiolex, the first and only medical CBD formulation widely available in major markets, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, the European Medicines Agency and the UK’s Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. (The drug goes by the alternative spelling “Epidyolex” in Europe and the UK.) Epidiolex is made by GW Pharmaceuticals, a division of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Dublin. Jazz entered the Brazilian market in 2019 under strict regulatory guidelines.
The Brazilian review adds to the growing body of studies supporting CBD’s role in epilepsy treatment. However, as regulatory agencies and healthcare providers consider incorporating CBD into broader treatment protocols, health officials have said further studies are needed to address lingering questions about dosage, long-term effects, and potential interactions with other medications.
Health questions
Health agencies on both sides of the Atlantic have repeatedly raised concerns regarding CBD’s potentially harmful effects on pregnant women and fetuses, young children, the elderly, and the liver and male reproductive system. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the UK’s Food Standards Agency have all issued such warnings and called for further research.
CBD developments in Brazil are being closely watched by international cannabis companies, given the country’s potential to become a significant player in the global medical CBD market. With a population exceeding 200 million and increasing acceptance of cannabis-based treatments, Brazil is positioned to be a lucrative market for CBD makers. According to Statista, Brazil’s demand for medical CBD and medical marijuana was projected to reach $185 million in last year, with CBD accounting for up to 80% due to its wider range of uses and fewer regulatory hurdles compared to THC.