Decoding epilepsy treatment: A comparative evaluation contrasting cannabidiol pharmacokinetics in adult and paediatric populations

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by overstimulation of neurotransmitters and uncontrolled seizures. Current medications for epilepsy result in adverse effects or insufficient seizure control, highlighting the necessity to develop alternative therapies. Cannabidiol (CBD), derived from cannabis plants, has been popularly explored as an alternative. CBD is shown to have anti-convulsivatng and muscle-relaxing properties, which have been used in patients with epilepsy with promising results. Current research explores varying dosages in either adult or paediatric patients, with little or no comparison between the two populations. In this review, we aim at consolidating this data and comparing the effect and pharmacokinetic properties of CBD across these two patient populations. When comparing the absorption, there was insufficient data to show differences between paediatric and adult patients. Similarly, limited information was available in comparing the distribution of CBD, but a higher volume of distribution was found in the paediatric population. From the metabolism perspective, the paediatric population had a greater success rate when treated with the drug compared to the adult population. In the elimination, there were no clear distinctions in the clearance rate between the two populations. The drug’s half-life was highly variable in both populations, with paediatrics having a lower range than adults. In summary, the paediatric population had a more significant reduction in the severity of seizures compared to the adult population upon CBD treatment. The complexity in which CBD operates highlights the need for further studies of the compound to further understand why differences occur between these two populations.