Cannabis extracts significantly improved epilepsy in about a quarter of patients

About a quarter of children and adolescents profited from a treatment with oral cannabis extracts. This is the result of a retrospective chart review of 119 patients of the Children’s Hospital Colorado of the University of Colorado in Aurora, USA. The average length of use of oral cannabis extract was 11.7 months (range 0.3-57 months).

Twenty-four percent of patients were considered responders to cannabis, which was defined by a more than 50% reduction in seizures. Adverse events were reported in 19% of patients, with the most common side effects being somnolence and worsening of seizures. Families of patients with Dravet syndrome terminated use of cannabis more quickly due to ineffectiveness than patients with other epilepsy syndromes. Dravet syndrome may respond better to CBD (cannabidiol).

Read the study here.