The use of cannabidiol for seizure management in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy

Neurocase. 2017 Oct-Dec;23(5-6):287-291. doi: 10.1080/13554794.2017.1391294. Epub 2017 Oct 24.

Abstract

Epilepsy, commonly encountered by patients with brain tumors, is often refractory to standard therapies. Our aim was to examine the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical grade cannabidiol (CBD; Epidiolex; Greenwich Biosciences) in those patients with epilepsy with concomitant tumors enrolled in The University of Alabama at Birmingham CBD Program (NCT02700412 and NCT02695537). Of the three patients with refractory seizures and a history of a primary brain tumor, two had improvement in seizure frequency and all three had improvement in seizure severity. These pilot results suggest that CBD should be further studied for the treatment of brain tumor-related epilepsy.

Keywords: Brain tumor; CBD; cannabidiol; epilepsy; tumoral epilepsy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications*
  • Cannabidiol / administration & dosage
  • Cannabidiol / adverse effects
  • Cannabidiol / pharmacology*
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / adverse effects
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Resistant Epilepsy / drug therapy*
  • Drug Resistant Epilepsy / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
  • Cannabidiol

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02700412
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02695537