A large-scale study conducted across 19 universities and hospitals in Thailand, along with the Ministry of Public Health, found that medical-grade cannabidiol (CBD)-enriched oil significantly reduced seizures in children with drug-resistant epilepsy, with most patients tolerating the treatment for over a year.
CBD oil.
The prospective observational study followed 101 pediatric patients between 2021 and 2023. Participants had a median age of 10 and experienced around 75 seizures monthly, despite previously trying an average of seven antiseizure medications. The children received CBD-enriched oil as an add-on therapy, with a median dose of 6 mg/kg per day. Researchers monitored outcomes for at least three months, with many followed for a median of 15 months.
The results showed that more than half of the children experienced at least a 50% reduction in seizure frequency. Improvements were sustained over multiple check-ins—at three, six, nine, and 12 months. Most seizure types responded positively to the treatment, though complex motor seizures showed less consistent improvement.
While a majority of patients experienced side effects, most were mild. The most common issues were sleepiness, loss of appetite, elevated liver enzymes, and irritability. A third of patients stopped the treatment, mainly due to side effects (57%) or lack of effectiveness (30%).
Researchers conclude by saying “The Thai medical-grade CBD-enriched oil is effective and tolerable for at least 12 months of adjunctive treatment in pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy in Thailand.”
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