Is cannabis useful in refractory epilepsy?

Abstract

AbstractDespite the fact that in the last decades more than 20 antiepileptic drugs have been developed, 25-30% of epileptics remain drug-resistant. Therapeutic failure and the adverse effects of polytherapy cause parents to seek new therapeutic alternatives, without waiting for the (often-prolonged) scientific evidence. The anti-epileptic properties of the cannabis are known already more than 4 millennia, persisting its use until beginnings of last century in, which the appearance of new antiepileptic drugs and the legal prohibition of cannabis, caused its medical withdrawal. From better understanding of the composition of cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system, there are performed preclinical and clinical studies that, mostly, show favorable results with good safety margin, especially in case of the products with higher concentration of cannabidiol. While we think that, it will not be the miracle and definitive solution of these children, there is currently an alternative that may involve improvements in the quality of life in cases of epilepsy considered as drug resistant, non-surgical, that do not respond to the ketogenic diet. The future challenge will be to find the right composition, and the most effective and safe dose of cannabinoids, as well as to select the epileptic syndromes that are candidates for such treatment.