Cannabis and related products in the treatment of epilepsy

Abstract

There has been much recent heightened interest in the possible use of cannabinoid products in the treatment of complex epilepsies. Although systematic studies have now been performed and reported showing benefit of cannabidiol as Epidiolex (GW Pharma) in the treatment of Dravet and Lennox Gastaut syndromes, there remains much confusion with the role of hemp oils and other products for which there is no consistent product or evidence base for use. There is also much debate as to whether the psychoactive component, tetrahydrocannabinol is required for optimal effect, with no sound evidence base for support. The current position is that that data has been acquired for Epidiolex, and licence for use granted by the Federal Drug Administration, with data submitted to the European Medicines Authority. We await full licence and availability to enable prescription as a further therapeutic option for the complex developmental epileptic encephalopathies.