A new study published in the journal Indian Pediatrics finds that cannabidiol (CBD) can be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), including those with Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes.
Researchers from the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health reviewed the medical records of 50 children with DRE who had been treated with CBD for at least six months. The average age of the participants was 7.8 years.
The study found that eight children became completely seizure-free while on CBD. In total, 10 had a complete response to treatment, 18 had a partial reduction in seizure frequency, and 14 showed either modest or no significant improvement. Of the 50 participants, eight discontinued the treatment—four due to lack of efficacy, three due to increased side effects, and one because seizures worsened.
Adverse effects were reported in some children, but none required hospitalization. Side effects were generally manageable, further supporting CBD’s potential as a safe add-on therapy for pediatric epilepsy patients who don’t respond to standard treatments.
“Cannabidiol is a useful and safe add-on drug in children with DRE”, concludes the study.
