Purified CBD showed promise for epilepsy conditions beyond the ones it was approved for
A systematic review of 42 studies found purified CBD effective across a broad range of epilepsy types beyond Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, including CDKL5 deficiency, Dup15q, Doose, and other rare syndromes.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Beyond its approved indications (DS, LGS, TSC), purified CBD showed effectiveness in open-label studies for CDKL5 deficiency disorder, Aicardi syndrome, Dup15q syndrome, Doose syndrome, SYNGAP1 encephalopathy, and epilepsy with myoclonic absences. A randomized controlled trial in tuberous sclerosis complex showed significantly greater seizure reduction than placebo. Common adverse events: somnolence, decreased appetite, diarrhea, elevated liver enzymes.
Key Numbers
570 records screened, 42 included. CBD doses up to 50 mg/kg/day. Effective for: DS, LGS, TSC (approved), plus CDKL5, Aicardi, Dup15q, Doose, SYNGAP1, myoclonic absences (preliminary). RCT in TSC: significant seizure reduction vs. placebo.
How They Did This
Systematic review of MEDLINE and NIH Clinical Trials Registry (no date or language restrictions). 570 records screened, 42 studies included. Included clinical trials, cohorts, case-control, cross-sectional, case series, and case reports of pharmaceutical-grade CBD (>98% purity) in sesame oil oral solution.
Why This Research Matters
Many children with rare epilepsy syndromes have no effective treatment options. This review provides preliminary evidence that purified CBD may help across a wider range of epilepsy types than currently approved, potentially expanding access for thousands of patients.
The Bigger Picture
The FDA has approved CBD for three epilepsy syndromes, but this review suggests the mechanism of action may be relevant to epilepsy broadly. If confirmed in controlled trials, purified CBD could become a treatment option for many currently untreatable seizure disorders.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Most evidence beyond DS/LGS/TSC comes from open-label studies. No controlled trials for the rarer syndromes. Publication bias likely. Cannot determine optimal dosing for each syndrome.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which additional epilepsy syndromes should be prioritized for CBD clinical trials?
- ?Is there a common mechanism explaining CBD efficacy across different epilepsy types?
- ?Would insurance cover off-label CBD use based on this evidence?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CBD showed promise across 6+ epilepsy syndromes beyond its 3 approved indications
- Evidence Grade:
- Comprehensive systematic review but most evidence for newer indications comes from uncontrolled studies.
- Study Age:
- 2021 systematic review with no date restrictions.
- Original Title:
- Highly Purified Cannabidiol for Epilepsy Treatment: A Systematic Review of Epileptic Conditions Beyond Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.
- Published In:
- CNS drugs, 35(3), 265-281 (2021)
- Authors:
- Lattanzi, Simona(5), Trinka, Eugen(4), Striano, Pasquale(9), Rocchi, Chiara, Salvemini, Sergio, Silvestrini, Mauro, Brigo, Francesco
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03274
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Which epilepsy types does CBD help with?
Beyond its approved uses (Dravet, Lennox-Gastaut, tuberous sclerosis), preliminary evidence suggests CBD may help with CDKL5 deficiency, Aicardi syndrome, Dup15q syndrome, Doose syndrome, SYNGAP1 encephalopathy, and epilepsy with myoclonic absences.
Is this about any CBD product?
No. This review specifically examined pharmaceutical-grade, highly purified CBD (>98% purity) in sesame oil oral solution. Results cannot be extrapolated to other cannabis products or over-the-counter CBD.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03274APA
Lattanzi, Simona; Trinka, Eugen; Striano, Pasquale; Rocchi, Chiara; Salvemini, Sergio; Silvestrini, Mauro; Brigo, Francesco. (2021). Highly Purified Cannabidiol for Epilepsy Treatment: A Systematic Review of Epileptic Conditions Beyond Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.. CNS drugs, 35(3), 265-281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-021-00807-y
MLA
Lattanzi, Simona, et al. "Highly Purified Cannabidiol for Epilepsy Treatment: A Systematic Review of Epileptic Conditions Beyond Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.." CNS drugs, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-021-00807-y
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Highly Purified Cannabidiol for Epilepsy Treatment: A System..." RTHC-03274. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/lattanzi-2021-highly-purified-cannabidiol-for
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.