CBD Helps Reduce Drug-Resistant Epileptic Spasms in Children
Nearly 60% of children with drug-resistant epileptic spasms achieved at least 50% seizure reduction with adjunctive CBD treatment, with children with Down syndrome and cortical malformations showing the best responses.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Of 53 patients with drug-resistant childhood epileptic spasms treated with purified CBD (Epidyolex), 58.5% achieved ≥50% reduction in spasm frequency and 15% became completely spasm-free, with the highest response rates in patients with cortical malformations and Down syndrome.
Key Numbers
n=53 patients; 58.5% achieved ≥50% spasm reduction; 15% spasm-free; 77.3% co-administered clobazam; adverse effects in 62.2%; 17% discontinued for lack of efficacy; 11.3% discontinued for adverse effects; drowsiness most common AE
How They Did This
Retrospective longitudinal study of 53 patients older than 2 years with drug-resistant epileptic spasms treated with purified CBD at Niño Jesus Hospital, Madrid (2020-2024), comparing spasm frequency before and after treatment.
Why This Research Matters
Epileptic spasms persisting beyond age 2 are notoriously difficult to treat, and this study provides real-world evidence that CBD can meaningfully reduce spasm burden in this challenging population.
The Bigger Picture
This adds to growing evidence supporting CBD as a viable option for treatment-resistant pediatric epilepsy, particularly in genetic conditions like Down syndrome where seizure management options are limited.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective design; no control group; single center; clobazam co-administration in most patients makes it difficult to isolate CBD's independent effect; variable follow-up duration; relatively small sample.
Questions This Raises
- ?How much of the effect is due to CBD-clobazam synergy vs. CBD alone?
- ?Would earlier CBD introduction improve outcomes?
- ?What are the long-term effects of sustained CBD use in this population?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Retrospective single-center study with no control group, but meaningful sample size and clear clinical outcomes for a difficult-to-treat condition.
- Study Age:
- Published 2026; covers treatments from 2020-2024.
- Original Title:
- Cannabidiol as Adjunctive Treatment in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy With Epileptic Spasms Beyond Two Years of Age.
- Published In:
- Pediatric neurology, 174, 81-85 (2026)
- Authors:
- González-Alguacil, Elena(2), García Peñas, J Jose, Lamagrande Casanova, Nuria, Santana Cabrera, Elsa Maria, Duat Rodríguez, Anna, Soto Insuga, Víctor
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08285
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can CBD help children with epileptic spasms?
Yes — this study found that nearly 60% of children with drug-resistant epileptic spasms who received pharmaceutical-grade CBD (Epidyolex) had at least a 50% reduction in spasm frequency, with 15% becoming completely spasm-free.
Does CBD work better for certain types of epilepsy?
Children with Down syndrome and malformations of cortical development showed the highest response rates to CBD in this study, suggesting some underlying conditions may respond particularly well.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08285APA
González-Alguacil, Elena; García Peñas, J Jose; Lamagrande Casanova, Nuria; Santana Cabrera, Elsa Maria; Duat Rodríguez, Anna; Soto Insuga, Víctor. (2026). Cannabidiol as Adjunctive Treatment in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy With Epileptic Spasms Beyond Two Years of Age.. Pediatric neurology, 174, 81-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2025.10.013
MLA
González-Alguacil, Elena, et al. "Cannabidiol as Adjunctive Treatment in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy With Epileptic Spasms Beyond Two Years of Age.." Pediatric neurology, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2025.10.013
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabidiol as Adjunctive Treatment in Drug-Resistant Epilep..." RTHC-08285. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/gonzalez-alguacil-2026-cannabidiol-as-adjunctive-treatment
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.