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.
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: José Alexandre S Crippa; Antonio Waldo Zuardi; Jaime Eduardo Cecílio Hallak; Bruna Miyazawa; Sandra Aparecido Bernardo; Carmem Maria Donaduzzi; Silvane Guzzi; Wagner Alex Jann Favreto; Alline Campos; Maria Eugênia C Queiroz; Francisco S Guimarães; Patrícia Moura da Rosa Zimmermann; Letícia Mello Rechia; Volnei Jose Tondo Filho; Liberato Brum Junior Journal: Cannabis Cannabinoid Res Date: 2020-02-27
Authors: Marcin Ożarowski; Tomasz M Karpiński; Aleksandra Zielińska; Eliana B Souto; Karolina Wielgus Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-04-21 Impact factor: 5.923
Authors: Lyndsey L Anderson; Marika Heblinski; Nathan L Absalom; Nicole A Hawkins; Michael T Bowen; Melissa J Benson; Fan Zhang; Dilara Bahceci; Peter T Doohan; Mary Chebib; Iain S McGregor; Jennifer A Kearney; Jonathon C Arnold Journal: Br J Pharmacol Date: 2021-09-30 Impact factor: 9.473