Title |
Cannabinoids and Epilepsy
|
---|---|
Published in |
Neurotherapeutics, October 2015
|
DOI | 10.1007/s13311-015-0375-5 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Evan C Rosenberg, Richard W Tsien, Benjamin J Whalley, Orrin Devinsky |
Abstract |
Cannabis has been used for centuries to treat seizures. Recent anecdotal reports, accumulating animal model data, and mechanistic insights have raised interest in cannabis-based antiepileptic therapies. In this study, we review current understanding of the endocannabinoid system, characterize the pro- and anticonvulsive effects of cannabinoids [e.g., Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (CBD)], and highlight scientific evidence from pre-clinical and clinical trials of cannabinoids in epilepsy. These studies suggest that CBD avoids the psychoactive effects of the endocannabinoid system to provide a well-tolerated, promising therapeutic for the treatment of seizures, while whole-plant cannabis can both contribute to and reduce seizures. Finally, we discuss results from a new multicenter, open-label study using CBD in a population with treatment-resistant epilepsy. In all, we seek to evaluate our current understanding of cannabinoids in epilepsy and guide future basic science and clinical studies. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 6 | 16% |
United States | 5 | 13% |
Mexico | 3 | 8% |
Canada | 2 | 5% |
Ireland | 1 | 3% |
France | 1 | 3% |
Comoros | 1 | 3% |
Denmark | 1 | 3% |
Spain | 1 | 3% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 17 | 45% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 31 | 82% |
Scientists | 3 | 8% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 3 | 8% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 3% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 2 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Austria | 1 | <1% |
Puerto Rico | 1 | <1% |
South Africa | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 618 | 99% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 101 | 16% |
Researcher | 84 | 13% |
Student > Master | 83 | 13% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 61 | 10% |
Other | 45 | 7% |
Other | 99 | 16% |
Unknown | 151 | 24% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 97 | 16% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 61 | 10% |
Neuroscience | 58 | 9% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 50 | 8% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 50 | 8% |
Other | 129 | 21% |
Unknown | 179 | 29% |