Phytocannabinoids and epilepsy.

Abstract

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE:

Antiepileptic drugs often produce serious adverse effects, and many patients do not respond to them properly. Phytocannabinoids produce anticonvulsant effects in preclinical and preliminary human studies, and appear to produce fewer adverse effects than available antiepileptic drugs. The present review summarizes studies on the anticonvulsant properties of phytocannabinoids.

METHODS:

Literature search using the PubMed database to identify studies on phytocannabinoids and epilepsy.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Preclinical studies suggest that phytocannabinoids, especially cannabidiol and cannabidivarin, have potent anticonvulsant effects which are mediated by the endocannabinoid system. Human studies are limited in number and quality, but suggest that cannabidiol has anticonvulsant effects in adult and infantile epilepsy and is well tolerated after prolonged administration.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION:

Phytocannabinoids produce anticonvulsant effects through the endocannabinoid system, with few adverse effects. Cannabidiol and cannabidivarin should be tested in randomized, controlled clinical trials, especially in infantile epileptic syndromes.

• Authors: R G dos Santos, J E C Hallak, J P Leite, A W Zuardi, J A S Crippa
• Journal: Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics (J Clin Pharm Ther) Vol. 40 Issue 2 Pg. 135-43 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1365-2710 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25475762 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Cannabinoids
• Endocannabinoids
• Plant Extracts
• Cannabidiol
• Dronabinol
• cannabidivarin

Topics

• Animals
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Cannabidiol (therapeutic use)
• Cannabinoids (therapeutic use)
• Cerebral Cortex (metabolism)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Dronabinol (therapeutic use)
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Endocannabinoids (biosynthesis)
• Epilepsy (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, therapeutic use)