CBD Use-Related Adverse Events Twice As Common in Patients With Epilepsy 

May 21, 2023

Article published by Neurology Advisor

Cannabidiol (CBD) use among patients with epilepsy is associated with an elevated risk for adverse events (AEs), including somnolence, decreased appetite, and pyrexia, according to findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Open Network.

CBD is among a number of naturally occurring compounds, which are termed cannabinoids and are produced by the cannabis plant. CBD has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency as an additional treatment for severe types of epilepsy, including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS).

For the study, researchers assessed the frequency of and risk for AEs related to CBD use among individuals with epilepsy. They searched databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for articles that reported at least 1 AE after CBD use among patients with epilepsy from database inception up to August 4, 2022.

Future research needs to investigate the therapeutic effects of CBD and AEs in the presence of various dosages of other antiepileptic dugs in order to achieve a safe and effective dose for treatment-resistant patients with epilepsy.