Premium
Cannabidiol: Pharmacology and potential therapeutic role in epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders
Author(s) -
Devinsky Orrin,
Cilio Maria Roberta,
Cross Helen,
FernandezRuiz Javier,
French Jacqueline,
Hill Charlotte,
Katz Russell,
Di Marzo Vincenzo,
JutrasAswad Didier,
Notcutt William George,
MartinezOrgado Jose,
Robson Philip J.,
Rohrback Brian G.,
Thiele Elizabeth,
Whalley Benjamin,
Friedman Daniel
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/epi.12631
Subject(s) - cannabidiol , epilepsy , medicine , tolerability , cannabis , pharmacology , cannabinoid , cannabinoid receptor , psychiatry , psychology , adverse effect , receptor , agonist
Summary To present a summary of current scientific evidence about the cannabinoid, cannabidiol ( CBD ) with regard to its relevance to epilepsy and other selected neuropsychiatric disorders. We summarize the presentations from a conference in which invited participants reviewed relevant aspects of the physiology, mechanisms of action, pharmacology, and data from studies with animal models and human subjects. Cannabis has been used to treat disease since ancient times. Δ 9 ‐Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 ‐ THC ) is the major psychoactive ingredient and CBD is the major nonpsychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Cannabis and Δ 9 ‐ THC are anticonvulsant in most animal models but can be proconvulsant in some healthy animals. The psychotropic effects of Δ 9 ‐ THC limit tolerability. CBD is anticonvulsant in many acute animal models, but there are limited data in chronic models. The antiepileptic mechanisms of CBD are not known, but may include effects on the equilibrative nucleoside transporter; the orphan G‐protein‐coupled receptor GPR 55; the transient receptor potential of vanilloid type‐1 channel; the 5‐ HT 1a receptor; and the α3 and α1 glycine receptors. CBD has neuroprotective and antiinflammatory effects, and it appears to be well tolerated in humans, but small and methodologically limited studies of CBD in human epilepsy have been inconclusive. More recent anecdotal reports of high‐ratio CBD :Δ 9 ‐ THC medical marijuana have claimed efficacy, but studies were not controlled. CBD bears investigation in epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety, schizophrenia, addiction, and neonatal hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy. However, we lack data from well‐powered double‐blind randomized, controlled studies on the efficacy of pure CBD for any disorder. Initial dose‐tolerability and double‐blind randomized, controlled studies focusing on target intractable epilepsy populations such as patients with Dravet and Lennox‐Gastaut syndromes are being planned. Trials in other treatment‐resistant epilepsies may also be warranted. A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section here .