CBD has proven therapeutic benefit for Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, while three other cannabinoids (CBDV, THCV, THCA) are in various stages of epilepsy research.
Epilepsy patients, neurologists, parents of children with treatment-resistant seizures.
One-third of epilepsy patients are drug-resistant; CBD showed clear benefit for the most severe pediatric forms.
What the researchers found
Preclinical studies confirmed anticonvulsant activity of CBD and CBDV across multiple epilepsy models. Clinical trials showed clear therapeutic benefit of CBD for treatment-resistant seizures in Dravet syndrome and drop seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, with good safety profiles.
Why it matters
About one-third of epilepsy patients are drug-resistant. CBD has become the first cannabis-derived compound approved for epilepsy, and several other cannabinoids in the research pipeline could expand treatment options.
The numbers in context
Four cannabinoids investigated: CBD, CBDV, THCV, and THCA. CBD showed benefit specifically in Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Clinical trials for CBDV results were still pending at publication.
How the study worked
Review of preclinical and clinical studies on investigational cannabinoids for epilepsy, searched across MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EBSCO, Google Scholar, and SCINDEX databases.
What this study cannot tell us
Clinical evidence was strongest for CBD; other cannabinoids still lacked human trial data. The full therapeutic potential across epilepsy types remains unknown.
How to read the evidence
Moderate - review covers both established (CBD) and preliminary (other cannabinoids) evidence with appropriate distinction between the two.
When this study was published
Published in 2018. CBD (Epidiolex) has since been FDA-approved for these indications.
The bigger picture
The success of CBD for epilepsy has opened the door for investigating other cannabinoids. Each compound has different mechanisms of action, which could mean different cannabinoids work for different types of seizures.
Questions still open
- Will CBDV clinical trials show the same promise as preclinical data suggested? Could combinations of cannabinoids be more effective than single compounds? What mechanisms explain CBD's anticonvulsant effects?
Common questions
Does CBD help with seizures?
Are there other cannabis compounds that might treat epilepsy?
Read the original research
Investigational cannabinoids in seizure disorders, what have we learned thus far?
Expert opinion on investigational drugs, 27(6), 535-541
Citation
Ružić Zečević, Dejana; Folić, Marko; Tantoush, Ziyad; Radovanović, Milan; Babić, Goran; Janković, Slobodan M. (2018). Investigational cannabinoids in seizure disorders, what have we learned thus far?. Expert opinion on investigational drugs, 27(6), 535-541. https://doi.org/10.1080/13543784.2018.1482275
Explore the wider topic
- CBD Oil Quality Guide: How to Avoid Snake Oil
- Anxiety After Quitting Weed: When to Consider Medication
- Cannabis for Chemotherapy Nausea: What the Evidence Actually Shows
- Cannabis for Chronic Pain: What the Research Actually Supports
- Cannabis and Epilepsy: The Epidiolex Story and What It Means
- Does CBD Actually Work for Anxiety? What the Evidence Shows
- Does CBD Help with Weed Withdrawal? What Studies Show
- CBD vs THC: The Differences That Actually Matter
- The Proven Medical Benefits of Cannabis: What Research Supports
- Quitting Weed Before Surgery
- Weed and Medications: What Changes When You Quit
- Quitting Weed During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know
- Quitting Weed While Pregnant: What You Need to Know
- Cannabis and Older Adults: Risks Seniors Should Know
- Cannabis and Breastfeeding: THC in Breast Milk