CBD-enriched cannabis oil reduced seizures in 73% of children with drug-resistant epilepsy over at least one year
In a retrospective study of 114 children with refractory epilepsy, 73.3% reported seizure improvement with artisanal CBD-enriched cannabis oil, and 59% of those continuing for at least one year had over 50% seizure reduction.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
73.3% of 114 patients reported some seizure improvement. Of 86 patients continuing treatment for at least one year, 51 (59%) showed >50% seizure reduction. Seizure etiology, type, age, and sex were not associated with response. Side effects were minor, and positive effects beyond seizure reduction were noted.
Key Numbers
114 patients total. 84 (73.3%) reported some improvement. 86 continued for at least one year. 51 of 86 (59%) had >50% seizure reduction. Response was not predicted by etiology, seizure type, age, or sex.
How They Did This
Retrospective study of children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy from various etiologies treated with artisanal CBD-enriched cannabis oil from January 2014 to June 2019, with at least one year of follow-up.
Why This Research Matters
While RCTs have established CBD efficacy for specific epilepsy syndromes, this real-world study shows that artisanal CBD oil may help a broader range of treatment-resistant pediatric epilepsy across different etiologies.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that response was not predicted by seizure etiology or type suggests CBD-enriched oil may have broad applicability in drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy, not just the specific syndromes studied in clinical trials.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective, uncontrolled design without placebo comparison. Artisanal product may vary in composition. Self/parent-reported seizure counts. Selection bias may favor patients who responded and continued treatment.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would these results hold up in a controlled trial?
- ?What is the optimal CBD:THC ratio for seizure control?
- ?Why does seizure etiology not predict response?
- ?How long do benefits persist beyond one year?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 59% had over 50% seizure reduction after at least one year
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: reasonable sample size with long-term follow-up, but retrospective, uncontrolled, and using artisanal product.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- The Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Cannabidiol-Enriched Oil in Children With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy.
- Published In:
- Pediatric neurology, 136, 15-19 (2022)
- Authors:
- Tzadok, Michal(3), Hamed, Nasrin, Heimer, Gali, Zohar-Dayan, Efrat, Rabinowicz, Shira, Ben Zeev, Bruria
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04271
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What type of CBD product was used?
Artisanal (non-pharmaceutical) CBD-enriched cannabis oil, which may differ from pharmaceutical-grade CBD products like Epidiolex in composition and standardization.
Did all types of epilepsy respond equally?
The study found no significant difference in response based on seizure etiology, seizure type, patient age, or sex, suggesting broad applicability.
Were there significant side effects?
Side effects were described as minor, and positive effects beyond seizure reduction were noted, though specific adverse events were not detailed.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04271APA
Tzadok, Michal; Hamed, Nasrin; Heimer, Gali; Zohar-Dayan, Efrat; Rabinowicz, Shira; Ben Zeev, Bruria. (2022). The Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Cannabidiol-Enriched Oil in Children With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy.. Pediatric neurology, 136, 15-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2022.06.016
MLA
Tzadok, Michal, et al. "The Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Cannabidiol-Enriched Oil in Children With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy.." Pediatric neurology, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2022.06.016
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Cannabidiol-Enrich..." RTHC-04271. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/tzadok-2022-the-longterm-effectiveness-and
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.