Medical cannabis for severe treatment resistant epilepsy in children : a case-series of 10 patients Rayyan Zafar, Anne Schlag, Lawrence Phillips, David J Nutt BMJ Paediatrics Open, 2021, 5, e001234. doi : 10.1136/bmjpo-2021-001234 ABSTRACT Objectives : To report the findings of a case-series of 10 children suffering with intractable epilepsies in the UK to determine the feasibility for using whole-plant cannabis medicines to treat seizures in children. Setting : This study was conducted retrospectively through collecting clinical data from caretakers and clinicians on study outcome variables. Participants were recruited through the MedCann Support and End our Pain charity groups which are patient representative groups that support children [...]
Lire la suiteWhole-plant Cannabis Linked to Large Reduction in Seizures Kelli Whitlock Burton Medscape - Dec 29, 2021. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/965756 Whole-plant cannabis is linked to a significant reduction in seizures in children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy, early research suggests. In a small case series, children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy treated with a range of whole-plant extract cannabis-based medical products (CBMPs) reported an 86% reduction in monthly seizures. All participants had no improvement with traditional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The study adds to a small but growing body of research investigating whole-plant cannabis medicines containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in pediatric epilepsies. Rayyan Raja Zafar "Although we have previously noted the superior efficacy of whole-plant medical cannabis is a previous [...]
Lire la suiteEpidiolex Plus THC May Lower Seizures in Pediatric Epilepsy Randy Dotinga Medscape.com - Oct 14, 2021. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/960842 Children and young adults with epilepsy had fewer seizures after combination treatment with the drug Epidiolex, which contains the cannabidiol (CBD), and various doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the component of cannabis that makes people high in larger quantities, researchers reported. "THC can contribute to seizure control and mitigation some of the side effects of CBD," said study coauthor and Austin, Tex., child neurologist Karen Keough, MD, in an interview. Keough and colleagues presented their findings at the 50th annual meeting of the Child Neurology Society. In a landmark move, the Food and [...]
Lire la suiteLong-Term Efficacy for Epidiolex in Resistant Epilepsy Pauline Anderson Medscape - Dec 17, 2018. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/906653 NEW ORLEANS — Results of open-label extension trials show the recently approved drug Epidiolex (GW Pharmaceuticals), a purified formulation of cannabidiol (CBD), is safe and effective beyond a year in patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) and Dravet Syndrome, two rare and resistant epilepsy types. "We now have long-term data to say that it still works; the efficacy is not going to drop off, and more importantly, it's still going to be safe and you're not going to learn anything new down the road," study author Anup D. Patel, MD, Section Chief of Pediatric Neurology, [...]
Lire la suiteData Supporting Cannabis for Childhood Epilepsy Remain Scarce Will Pass Medscape.com, September 13, 2021 https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/958616 Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) have shown early promise for refractory childhood epilepsy, but positive media attention, as well as pressure from politicians and marijuana advocacy groups, should not supplant clinical trials and acceptable standards of evidence, according to two leading experts. In a recent invited review article, Martin Kirkpatrick, MD, of the University of Dundee (Scotland), and Finbar O'Callaghan, MD, PhD, of University College London suggested that childhood epilepsy may be easy terrain for commercial interests to break ground, and from there, build their presence. "Children with epilepsy are at risk of being [...]
Lire la suiteCannabidiol modulation of oxidative stress and signalling Sonia R. Pereira, Becky Hackett, David N. O’Driscoll, Melody Cui Sun and Eric J. Downer Neuronal Signaling, 2021, 5, NS20200080 doi : 10.1042/NS20200080 Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the primary non-euphoric components in the Cannabis sativa L. plant, has undergone clinical development over the last number of years as a therapeutic for patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndromes. This phytocannabinoid demonstrates functional and pharmacological diversity, and research data indicate that CBD is a comparable antioxidant to common antioxidants. This review gathers the latest knowledge regarding the impact of CBD on oxidative signalling, with focus on the proclivity [...]
Lire la suiteIn vitro and in vivo pharmacological activity of minor cannabinoids isolated from Cannabis sativa Ayat Zagzoog, Kawthar A. Mohamed, Hye Ji J. Kim, Eunhyun D. Kim, Connor S. Frank, Tallan Black, Pramodkumar D. Jadhav, Larry A. Holbrook & Robert B. Laprairie Scientific Reports, www.nature.com, 2020, 10, 20405, 1-13. Doi : 10.1038/s41598-020-77175-y The Cannabis sativa plant contains more than 120 cannabinoids. With the exceptions of Δ9-tetrahydro-cannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), comparatively little is known about the pharmacology of the less-abundant plant-derived (phyto) cannabinoids. The best-studied transducers of cannabinoid-dependent effects are type 1 and type 2 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R, CB2R). Partial agonism of CB1R by Δ9-THC is [...]
Lire la suiteThe Impact of Cannabidiol on Human Brain Function : A Systematic Review, Albert Batalla et al., 2021
The Impact of Cannabidiol on Human Brain Function : A Systematic Review Albert Batalla, Julian Bos, Amber Postma and Matthijs G. Bossong Frontiers in Pharmacology, January 2021 | Volume 11 | Article 618184, 1-15. doi : 10.3389/fphar.2020.618184 Background : Accumulating evidence suggests that the non-intoxicating cannabinoid compound cannabidiol (CBD) may have antipsychotic and anxiolytic properties, and thus may be a promising new agent in the treatment of psychotic and anxiety disorders. However, the neurobiological substrates underlying the potential therapeutic effects of CBD are still unclear. The aim of this systematic review is to provide a detailed and up-todate systematic literature overview of neuroimaging studies [...]
Lire la suiteCannabidiol as a Therapeutic Alternative for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder : From Bench Research to Confirmation in Human Trials Rafael M. Bitencourt and Reinaldo N. Takahashi Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2018, 12, 502, 1-10. Doi : 10.3389/fnins.2018.00502 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by poor adaptation to a traumatic experience. This disorder affects approximately 10% of people at some point in life. Current pharmacological therapies for PTSD have been shown to be inefficient and produce considerable side effects. Since the discovery of the involvement of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in emotional memory processing, pharmacological manipulation of eCB signaling has become a therapeutic possibility for the treatment of [...]
Lire la suiteIntegrating Endocannabinoid Signaling and Cannabinoids into the Biology and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Matthew N. Hill, Patrizia Campolongo, Rachel Yehuda and Sachin Pate Neuropsychopharmacology REVIEWS, 2018, 43, 80–102. doi : 10.1038/npp.2017.162 Exposure to stress is an undeniable, but in most cases surmountable, part of life. However, in certain individuals, exposure to severe or cumulative stressors can lead to an array of pathological conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), characterized by debilitating trauma-related intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, hyperarousal, as well as depressed mood and anxiety. In the context of the rapidly changing political and legal landscape surrounding use of cannabis products in the USA, [...]
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