doi: 10.9740/mhc.2020.11.317. eCollection 2020 Nov.
- PMID: 33224689
- PMCID: PMC7653733
- DOI: 10.9740/mhc.2020.11.317
Abstract
Epilepsy, although common, remains difficult to treat with as much as 30% of patients having treatment-resistant conditions. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome are childhood-onset epilepsies and among the most difficult to treat. Cannabidiol has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat these conditions in individuals over 2 years of age; however, there is a great deal of interest in off-label use. This article examines 3 cases: 1 of a patient with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, 1 of off-label use of cannabidiol to treat epilepsy, and 1 of nonprescription forms of cannabidiol to treat epilepsy.
Keywords: Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, cannabidiol, cannabinoids, epilepsy, treatment-resistant epilepsy
© 2020 CPNP. The Mental Health Clinician is a publication of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists.
Conflict of interest statement
Disclosures: I have nothing personal to disclose. Psychopharmacology Pearls are review articles intended to highlight both the evidence base available and/or controversial areas of clinical care for psychiatric and neurologic conditions as well as strategies of clinical decision making used by expert clinicians. As pearls, articles reflect the views and practice of each author as substantiated with evidence-based facts as well as opinion and experience. Articles are edited by members of the Psychopharmacology Pearls Editorial Board as well as peer reviewed by MHC reviewers. This article was developed as part of the 2020 Psychopharmacology Pearls product for BCPP recertification credit. The course information and testing center is at https://cpnp.org/415126.
