The use of cannabidiol as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with drug-resistant epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Centre for Global Epilepsy, Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Department of Neurology, Neurological Intensive Care and Neurorehabilitation, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE, Salzburg, Austria
Neuroscience Institute, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Salzburg, Austria
Karl Landsteiner Institute of Neurorehabilitation and Space Neurology, Salzburg, Austria
Abstract
Background:
Highly purified cannabidiol (CBD), recently approved for various neurological disorders, is explored as a potential therapeutic avenue for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) among adult people with epilepsy (PWE) in this systematic review and meta-analysis.
Objectives:
To conduct an extensive literature review and meta-analysis of CBD use for DRE in adult PWE.
Design:
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Data sources and methods:
We conducted a systematic review of the literature according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and two electronic resources; we searched Ovid MEDLINE and Scopus using appropriate keywords until August 2023. Data were presented as standardized mean difference (SMD) and odds ratio with confidence interval (CI) via random effect. We appraised the risk of bias of the included studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool while their strength of evidence with the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Education (GRADE) Levels of Evidence.
Results:
We identified 16 studies, 3 of which were randomized controlled trials and 3 prospective cohort studies, while the rest were expanded access programs, deriving a total of 668 participants receiving CBD for seizure control. CBD was used concomitantly with antiseizure medications in all studies. There was a statistically significant seizure reduction in the group receiving CBD therapy compared to the placebo group (SMD: −1.50, 95% CI (−3.47, 0.47), p < 0.01).
Conclusion:
The evidence on CBD use in adult patients with DRE demonstrates a moderate level of certainty according to GRADE level and OCEBM level 2. Further prospective studies involving multiple centers are encouraged to study both the efficacy and safety of CBD in adult patients with DRE.
Trial registration:
International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) 2023 CRD42023449955.
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Keywords: cannabidiol, drug-resistant epilepsy, intractable epilepsy, medication-resistant epilepsy, treatment-resistant epilepsy
Article notes
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Received 2024 Jul 11; Accepted 2024 Dec 23; Collection date 2025.
Introduction
Epilepsy constitutes a heterogeneous group of neurological disorders characterized by a predisposition to recurrent, unprovoked seizures with multifaceted implications affecting neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social domains. 1 Globally, approximately 70 million people across all age groups grapple with epilepsy, with a disproportionate burden experienced in low- to middle-income countries. 2 The global lifetime prevalence of epilepsy is estimated at 7.60 per 1000 persons. 3
People with epilepsy (PWE) are typically treated with antiseizure medications (ASMs) to prevent seizure recurrence. While current ASMs prove effective in controlling seizures for 60%–70% of individuals, about one-third still experience ongoing epileptic seizures despite appropriate treatment, resulting in adverse psychological and social ramifications, compromised educational and occupational attainment, diminished quality of life, and heightened mortality risk.4–7 Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is presently defined as the failure of two ASM schedules, either as monotherapies or in combination, that were appropriately selected, tolerated, and utilized but failed to achieve sustained seizure freedom. 8
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) contains various compounds, with phytocannabinoids being prominent among them. Of particular interest is cannabidiol (CBD), notable for its lack of psychoactive properties, absence of euphoria or undesirable side effects, and minimal risk of abuse.9,10 While further studies are needed, the anticonvulsant effects of CBD, acting on multiple molecular targets, have been identified to be mediated through various mechanisms, including both agonist and antagonist effects on ionic channels, neurotransmitter transporters, and multiple 7-transmembrane receptors. 10 Negligible activity has been observed at cannabinoid receptors. Moreover, it is suggested that a combination of interactions with cannabinoid receptors, particularly CB1 receptor-mediated and CB1 receptor-independent pathways, contributes to the anti-epileptiform and antiseizure effects of CBD. 11
Recent legislative advancements in the United States and Australia have legalized the use of highly purified CBD for medicinal purposes, encompassing its diverse applications, including the management of rare epilepsy syndromes such as Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS). This addresses chronic noncancer pain and cancer-related symptoms, mitigating anxiety, and treating other neurological disorders.12,13 Similarly, in Europe, CBD is not classified as a controlled substance, and its use is not restricted by specific laws. 14 The European Medicines Agency authorized CBD in 2019 as an adjunctive therapy for seizures specifically associated with LGS, DS, and tuberous sclerosis complex. 15
Given the nascent nature of research on the use of CBD for DRE management, we would like to investigate CBD as adjunctive therapy for adults with DRE. We aim to delve into the specifics of highly purified CBD interventions in DRE and analyze the outcomes in adult patients following its treatment.
Materials and methods
We conducted this systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We registered the study protocol in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; ID #CRD42023449955).
Eligibility criteria
We applied the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Study design (PICOS) framework in compliance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines to define the eligibility criteria for studies included in this review:
- Population (P): Studies which documented quantifiable adult patients and their respective sex; adult patients were defined as 18 years of age and above; sample size of at least two participants or one participant in each study group for interventional and observational studies; with confirmed diagnosis of DRE.
- Intervention (I): Studies using CBD-only formulations without any tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or other psychoactive cannabinoids for managing seizures of DRE. We excluded studies that used CBD in combination with THC or other cannabinoids to maintain the focus on the effects of pure cannabidiol in the treatment of DRE. The majority of studies used highly purified CBD, such as Epidiolex®, a plant-derived, pharmaceutical-grade formulation of cannabidiol with a concentration of 100 mg/mL.
- Comparison (C): Studies which reported pre- and post-CBD therapy seizure frequency.
- Outcomes (O): Studies which reported CBD regime and participants’ outcomes. CBD regime details included the brand and molecular names of CBD, types of CBD used, dosage, frequency, and duration of CBD therapy. Participants’ outcomes included seizure control and adverse events of CBD usage.
- Study design (S): Reviews, abstracts, book chapters, patents, symposiums, oral and poster presentations, case reports, and publications whereby full texts cannot be obtained or out of scope were excluded.
Information sources and search strategy
We conducted a comprehensive search at Ovid MEDLINE and Scopus in August 2023 using keyword combinations of (“adult drug-resistant epilepsy” OR “drug-refractory epilepsy” OR “intractable epilepsy” OR “medication-resistant epilepsy” OR “treatment-resistant epilepsy”) AND (“cannabidiol”). We limited our search to studies published in the English language.
Selection process
All relevant articles acquired from the search strategy were imported to the website-based systematic review software, Covidence, with the duplicates withdrawn. Two reviewers independently performed a two-step review of the imported studies. The titles and abstracts of the articles were first screened for inclusion, followed by a full-text review of the chosen studies. A third reviewer resolved any conflicts between the two reviewers.
Data collection process and data items
The data were extracted from the selected studies using the data extraction features of Covidence. The data were then exported and cross-checked using Microsoft Office 365 Excel. The data extracted includes study design, participant demographics, CBD regime, and participant outcomes. Participant demographics included age, sex, geography, and ethnicity. Details of epilepsies included therapies prior to CBD treatment, the diagnosis of DRE, pre- and post-CBD therapy seizure frequency. CBD regime includes the brand and molecular names of CBD, types of CBD used, dosage, frequency, and duration of CBD therapy. Participants’ outcomes included seizure control and adverse events of CBD usage. For controlled studies, we extracted relevant information along with their variances. For uncontrolled studies, we extracted similar information but without control group comparisons. The final Excel format was then converted to an R-compatible format for analytical implementation on the R interface.
Risk of bias assessment
Three independent reviewers assessed the risk of bias in the included studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools tailored to their study designs. The cumulative scores from domains queried in the tools reflect the overall risk of bias, where higher scores indicate a lower risk. This scoring methodology allows categorization into high (<50%), moderate (50%–79%), or low (⩾80%) bias risk based on the percentage of selected criteria. Any discrepancies in scoring were resolved through consensus by a third reviewer, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of bias across the included studies.
Synthesis methods
We performed descriptive summaries for the characteristics of included studies, participants, and key findings.
We employed a random-effects model using the R 4.3.1 software with meta version 7.0-0 package to synthesize the results. 16 The random-effects model accounts for both within-study and between-study heterogeneity of participant demographics, CBD regimes, and outcomes, providing more conservative estimates of effect sizes as we combined diverse study designs. Effect sizes were calculated as standardized means and standard deviations for continuous outcomes and odds ratios for dichotomous outcomes with a confidence interval (CI) of 95% using the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test and visualized in forest plots. The width of the squares in the forest plot corresponds to the weight of each study in the analysis. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using both the I2 statistic (>50% indicates significant heterogeneity) and Cochran’s Q test (p < 0.1 indicates significant heterogeneity).
Studies where quantitative data are limited or heterogeneity is too high to be included in the meta-analysis are discussed in a narrative synthesis.
Certainty assessment
Two independent reviewers performed a certainty assessment for each included study, utilizing the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Education (GRADE) Levels of Evidence and the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) Levels of Evidence frameworks. Any discrepancies between the assessments of the two reviewers were resolved via a third reviewer.
Results
Selection of studies
Figure 1 shows the search and selection of studies based on the PRISMA flowchart. The electronic search retrieved a total of 2594 studies from Scopus and 143 studies from OVID Medline. Of these studies, we removed 136 studies due to duplicates. We further excluded 2526 studies based on the title and abstract content. We retrieved the remaining 75 studies for full-text evaluations and excluded another 59 for not meeting the eligibility criteria. Finally, 16 studies were included in this review. Ten of the 16 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The search algorithm utilised can be referred to our Supplemental Material.
Participant demographics
Of the 16 studies, 10 are expanded access programs (EAPs), 3 are prospective cohort studies, and 3 are randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Eleven out of 16 studies were conducted in the United States of America. Across all studies, 668 adult PWE treated with CBD were identified, who included 340 males and 328 females. Therapies before initiating CBD trials include ASMs, vagus nerve stimulation, ketogenic diet, and epilepsy surgeries such as callosotomy and lobectomy. Common concomitant ASMs used were levetiracetam, clonazepam, carbamazepine, valproic acid, and lamotrigine. The subjects’ demographics and their clinical information are summarized in Table 1.
| AuthorRef. | Design type | Number of centers; country | Sample size (adult participants taking CBD only) | Age, mean ± SD (adult participants taking CBD only) | Male sex, N (%) | Etiology of epilepsy, N (%) | Number of concomitant ASMs, mean ± SD | Ketogenic diet, N (%) | VNS, N (%) | Previous epilepsy surgery, N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hess et al. 17 | Expanded-access multicenter study | Unclear; United States of America | 6 | 24.2 ± 5.5 | 4 (66.7) | Tuberous sclerosis complex, 4 (66.7) Unknown, 2 (23.3) | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Szaflarski et al. 18 | Open-label, prospective, single-center, add-on prospective study | 1; United States of America | 62 | 30.0 ± 10.8 | 29 (46.8) | Lennox–Gaustat syndrome, NR Dravet Syndrome, NR | 3.0 ± 0.8 | NR | NR | 27 (43.5) |
| Gaston et al. 19 | Open-label, compassionate use of CBD, EAP | 1; United States of America | 53 | NR | 27 (50.9) | Focal, 35 (66) Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, 9 (17) Symptomatic generalized epilepsy, 4 (7.5) Idiopathic generalized epilepsy, 2 (3.8) Dravet syndrome, 1 (1.9) Tuberous sclerosis complex, 1 (1.9) ESES, 1 (1.9) | 3.2 ± 0.8 | NR | 19 (36) | 17 (32) |
| Martin et al. 20 | Open-label, compassionate use of CBD, EAP | 1; United States of America | 27 | 34 ± 14 | 13 (48) | NR | 3.3 ± 0.9 | NR | NR | 8 (30) |
| Szaflarski et al. 21 | Open-label, compassionate use of CBD, EAP | 1; United States of America | 36 | 35.8 ± 14.1 | 30 (54) | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Anderson et al. 22 | Open-label interventional study | Unclear; United States of America | 7 | 26.6 ± 5.65 | 5 (71.4) | Lennox–Gaustat syndrome, NR Dravet syndrome, NR | 3.7 ± 0.8 | 0 | 5 (71.4) | 2 (28.6) |
| Nenert et al. 23 | Open-label, compassionate use of CBD, EAP | Unclear; United States of America | 21 | 37.1 ± 15.7 | 8 (38.1) | Temporal lobe epilepsy, 7 (33.3) Focal epilepsy, 4 (19.0) Frontal lobe epilepsy, 4 (19.0) Peritumoral epilepsy, 2 (9.5) Bitemporal, 1 (4.8) Intractable epilepsy, 1 (4.8) Multifocal probably SGE, 1 (4.8) Symptomatic generalized epilepsy, 1 (4.8) | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Gaston et al. 24 | Open-label, compassionate use of CBD, EAP | Unclear; United States of America | 80 | 32.9 ± 13.6 | 36 (45) | NR | 3.1 ± 0.9 | NR | NR | 38 (48) |
| Grayson et al. 25 | Open-label, compassionate use of CBD, EAP | Unclear; United States of America | 64 | 31.5 ± 12.0 | 31 (48) | NR | 3.1 ± 0.8 | NR | NR | 31 (48) |
| Houston et al. 26 | Open-label, compassionate use of CBD, EAP | Unclear; United States of America | 15 | 36.6 ± 17.4 | 3 (20) | Temporal lobe epilepsy, 4 (26.7) Unspecified, 4 (26.7) Frontal lobe epilepsy, 3 (20.0) Bitemporal, 1 (6.7) Generalized epilepsy, 1 (6.7) Symptomatic generalized epilepsy, 1 (6.7) Multifocal, 1 (6.7) | 2.8 ± 1.1 | NR | NR | NR |
| Patel et al. 27 | Open-label EAP | 1; United States of America | 54 | 27.7 ± 8.3 | 31 (57.4) | NR | NR | 20 (37) | 23 (42.6) | 11 (20.4) |
| Silvennoinen et al. 28 | EAP | 2; United Kingdom | 18 | Median (range): 27.5 (20–51) | 11 (61.1) | Dravet syndrome, 18 (100) | 4 ± NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Navarro 29 | Open-label, prospective cohort, single-center study | 1; Colombia | 44 | 33.2 ± 14.7 | 33 (75) | Structural, 22 (50) Unknown, 16 (36.4) Genetic, 5 (11.4) Infectious, 1 (2.3) Immune, 1 (0) Metabolic, 0 (0) | 2.4 ± 0.9 | NR | 4 (9.1) | NR |
| O’Brien et al. 30 | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, clinical trial | 14; Australia and New Zealand | 195 mg: 63 390 mg: 62 | 195 mg: 37.0 ± 12.55 390 mg: 40.4 ± 12.32 | 195 mg: 32 (50.8) 390 mg: 26 (41.9) | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Ebadi et al. 31 | Triple-blind randomized, controlled clinical trial | 1; Iran | 12 | 24.5 ± 1.31 | 6 (50) | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Kochen et al. 32 | Open, observational, prospective cohort study | 1; Argentina | 44 | 35 ± 10 | 15 (34) | Focal cortical dysplasia, 20 (46) Nonlesional epilepsy, 13 (30) Hippocampal sclerosis, 4 (9) Intracranial gliosis, 3 (7) Primitive neuroectodermal tumor/ganglioglioma, 1 (2) Inflammatory, 1 (2) Vascular malformation, 1 (2) Tuberous sclerosis complex, 1 (2) | 3 ± 0.8 | 0 | 1 (2) | 6 (14) |
CBD regime and outcomes
CBD was used concomitantly with ASMs in all studies. Twelve studies used a plant-derived highly purified CBD solution named Epidiolex, which contains 100 mg/mL of CBD solution administered orally. In terms of the route of CBD administration, 13 were administered orally, 3 sublingually, and 1 transdermally. Ten studies used 50 mg/kg/day as the maximum CBD dosage. The CBD dosing across studies was homogenous at 6- and 12-month points, as illustrated by forest plots in Figures 2 and 3, with an I2-value of 0%.18,19,21–25
Seizure reduction was observed in all studies but was reported to be statistically significant in the studies by Gaston et al. 19 and Ebadi et al. 31 Three studies compared changes in seizure frequency between the CBD-treated and placebo/control groups. These studies include 162 participants receiving CBD therapy and 194 placebo/control participants. Using a random-effects model, as depicted in Figure 4, there is a statistically significant seizure reduction in the group receiving CBD therapy compared to the placebo/control group (mean diffusivity: −1.50, 95% CI (−3.47, 0.47), p < 0.01).
The studies reported adverse events and patient outcomes differently, resulting in heterogeneity. Of the 16 studies, only 11 looked into adverse events related to CBD administration. Common adverse events reported following CBD treatment are gastrointestinal and neuropsychiatric manifestations. One study reported the three most common adverse events: diarrhea, sedation, and decreased appetite. 24 Regarding patient outcomes, two studies reported improved quality of life and mood profiles. The CBD regime and outcomes of each study are further described in Table 2.
| AuthorRef. | Duration (adult participants included for analysis, N) | CBD type and dose, mean ± SD (range) (mg/kg/day) | Administration protocol | Seizure outcomes, mean reduction rate ± SD (range)/N (%) with p-value, if any | Adverse events following CBD treatment, N (%) with p-value, if any | Other patient outcomes, mean ± SD (range)/N (%) with p-value, if any |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hess et al. 17 | 6 Months (6) Weekly follow-up | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex®: 100 mg/mL oral solution) NR | Participants were started with 5 mg/kg/day, given in two divided doses, increased by 5 mg/kg/day every week up to an initial maximum dose of 25 mg/kg/day; the maximum dose is 50 mg/kg/day at a maximum rate of 5 mg/kg/day each week. Concomitant ASMs were adjusted as clinically indicated to optimize seizure control. | −24.2 ± 46.6 (−91.1, 29.3) Reduced seizure: 4 (66.7) | Drowsiness, 5 (83.3) Ataxia, 3 (50.0) Diarrhea, 2 (33.3) Agitation, 1 (16.7) Behavioral difficulties, 1 (16.7) Confusion, 1 (16.7) Temporary and mild, resolved through dose adjustments of CBD/ASMs | Cognitive gains, 3 (50.0) Behavior improved, 1 (16.7) |
| Szaflarski et al. 18 | 24 Weeks (45) Flexible follow-up, to the maximum of 12 weeks | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) 26.6 ± 10.3 (NR) | Participants were started at 5 mg/kg/day CBD divided between AM and PM taken approximately 12 h apart, typically combined with other ASMs, and allowed to be titrated in 5 mg/kg/day up to a maximum of 50 mg/kg/day, with adjustments made based on seizure response and tolerability. | Baseline (N = 62): 45.7 ± 121.5 (NR) 24 Weeks (N = 45): 17.2 ± 21.5 (NR) 25% Responder rate: 9 (20.0) 50% Responder rate: 15 (33.3) 75% Responder rate: 7 (15.6) 100% Responder rate: 2 (4.4) p > 0.05 | AEP Baseline (N = 62): 42.1 ± 10.1 24 Weeks (N = 45): 36.0 ± 11.5 p < 0.0001 | NR |
| Gaston et al. 19 | 1 Year (53) Weekly follow-up | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) 27.8 ± 17.3 (0.0–50.0) | Participants were started on CBD at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day, with a dose increasing every 2 weeks by increments of 5 mg/kg/day to seizure control or tolerability at in-person visits to a maximum dose of 50 mg/kg/day. Dose modifications of concomitant ASMs were allowed. | Seizure count at enrollment/1-year visit <14: 41.5/62.3 14–50: 30.2/24.5 >50: 28.3/13.2 p < 0.001 | AEP Baseline (N = 53): 42.2 ± 9.5 1 year (N = 53): 36.4 ± 11.6 p > 0.05 | At enrollment/1-year visit QOLIE-89: 49.4 ± 19.0/57.0 ± 21.3 POMS: 34.7 ± 33.5/25.0 ± 33.3 p < 0.05 |
| Martin et al. 20 | 1 Year (27) 2-Week follow-up | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) 36.5 ± NR (NR) | Participants were started with a 5 mg/kg/day CBD dose divided between morning and evening doses at the usual time of their ASM administration and gradually titrated upward in 5 mg/kg/day every 2 weeks until reaching a tolerable and treatment-effective dose with a maximum dose of 50 mg/kg/day. | −63 ± 60 (NR) p > 0.05 | NR | NR |
| Szaflarski et al. 21 | 6 Months (36) Weekly follow-up | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) 28 ± 16 (NR) | Participants were started with a 5 mg/kg/day CBD dose divided between morning and evening doses taken 12 h apart and gradually titrated upward in 5 mg/kg/day every 2 weeks until reaching a tolerable and treatment-effective dose, with a maximum dose of 50 mg/kg/day. Concomitant ASMs are attempted to be kept stable throughout the study, but adjustments were allowed to be made should there be interactions. | −31.2 ± 118 (NR) p > 0.05 | NR | NR |
| Anderson et al. 22 | 13 Months (7) 1- to 3-Month follow-up | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) 19.3 ± 8.4 (5–30) | Participants were started on CBD at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day in twice-daily divided doses with dose escalation of 5 mg/kg every 1–2 weeks as tolerated. ASMs remained and were adjusted as needed during the study. | Responder: 4 (57.1) | NR | NR |
| Nenert et al. 23 | 10–24 Weeks (21) NR | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) 22.1 ± 4.1 (15–25) | Participants were started on a 5 mg/kg/day CBD dose and titrated until a stable dosage of CBD was achieved for at least 2 weeks. Concomitant ASMs were allowed. | −59.8 ± 46.3 (−100.0, 50.0) Seizure free: 6 (28.6) Reduced seizure: 12 (57.1) Increased seizure: 3 (14.3) | AEP Details NR, but decreased p < 0.001 | POMS Details NR, but improvement for confusion, depression, and fatigue subscales p < 0.05 |
| Gaston et al. 24 | 6 Months (57) 2-Week follow-up | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) 25 ± 12 (NR) | Participants were started on a 5 mg/kg/day CBD dose, divided into twice daily doses, and increased in increments of 5 mg/kg/day up to a maximum dose of 50 mg/kg/day, depending on tolerability and seizure control through 2 years. Concomitant ASMs were allowed. | Seizure free: 3 (5) >50% Seizure reduction: 27 (47) | AEP Baseline (N = 57): 41.6 ± 10 1 year (N = 57): 35.5 ± 11 p < 0.05 Most experienced adverse events: (1) diarrhea; (2) sedation; (3) decreased appetite | NR |
| Grayson et al. 25 | 1 Year (64) NR | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) 33.4 ± 12 (NR) | Participants were initiated CBD at 5 mg/kg/day and titrated by 5 mg/kg/day every 2 weeks for seizure control or adverse events to a maximum of 50 mg/kg/day. Concomitant ASMs were allowed. | Baseline (N = 64): 47 ± 141 (NR) 24 Weeks (N = 64): 20 ± 32 (NR) | NR | |
| Houston et al. 26 | 13.8 Weeks (15) NR | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) 21 ± 4 (15–25) | Participants were initiated CBD at 5 mg/kg/day and titrated by 5 mg/kg/day every 2 weeks for seizure control or adverse events to a maximum of 50 mg/kg/day. Concomitant ASMs were adjusted only when the clinician deemed it necessary. | Reduction of monthly seizures, 18.53 ± 18.67 (60.4) Seizure freedom in five patients | NR | Diffusion tensor imaging analysis Increase in FA and AD and a decrease in MD and RD, suggesting a possible increase in connectivity in the pons, middle cerebellar peduncle, and left uncinate fasciculus |
| Patel et al. 27 | 1 Year (10) Monthly for the first 4 months and then every 3 months after establishment of a steady CBD dose | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) NR | After establishing baseline seizure frequency, participants were started with an initial daily dose of 5 mg/kg/day, which was increased by 5 mg/kg/day at a minimum of every 7 days to a maximum daily dose of 50 mg/kg/day. Adjustments of concomitant ASMs were allowed to optimize seizure control. | No reduction: 14 (29.2) <50% Reduction: 14 (29.2) 50% Reduction: 20 (41.7) 90% Reduction: 6 (12.5) | Drowsiness: 44 (81.5) Diarrhea: 22 (40.7) Ataxia: 15 (27.8) Elevated LFTs: 9 (16.7) Irritability: 8 (14.8) Fatigue: 4 (7.4) Loose stool: 3 (5.6) Appetite suppression: 3 (5.6) | NR |
| Silvennoinen et al. 28 | 6 Months (17) Baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months after CBD initiation | Plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution (Epidiolex: 100 mg/mL oral solution) NR | CBD was introduced at 2.5 mg/kg once/day or twice/day and increased no quicker than 2.5 mg/kg every week up to a ceiling dose of 20 mg/kg/day in two divided doses. Concomitant ASMs were allowed. | >30% Seizure reduction: 3 (16.7) Seizure freedom: 1 (5.6) | Deranged LFT: 9 (52.9) Deranged LFT >3× upper normal limit: 4 (23.5) Somnolence/obtundation: 7 (41.2) Behavioral /psychiatric problems: 4 (23.5) Diarrhea: 4 (23.5) Others (reduced appetite, nausea, refusing medications): 10 (58.8) | Physician Caregiver Global Impression of Change (CGIC) improvement: 7 (41.2) Caregiver CGIC improvement: 8 (47.1) |
| Navarro 29 | 12 Weeks (44) NR | CBMF (100 mg/mL CBD + THC <1.9 mg/mL; Epidiolex-like formulation) Max dose: 14 mg/kg/day | Participants were given 0.1 mL CBD-rich oil sublingually every 12 h, up-titrated weekly based on seizure response and tolerability, with an allowable maximum dose of 50 mg/kg/day. Concomitant ASMs were allowed. | >50% Seizure reduction: 35 (79.5) >75% Seizure reduction: 23 (52.3) >90% Seizure reduction: 20 (45.5) | Aggression: 1 (2.3) Sleepiness: 1 (2.3) | NR |
| O’Brien et al. 30 | 2 Years (195 mg: 62; 390 mg: 61) | 195 mg Transdermal cannabidiol gel (approximately 2.6 mg/kg) 390 mg Transdermal cannabidiol gel (approximately 5.3 mg/kg) — | Participants were started with 195 mg or 390 mg transdermal CBD or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Concomitant ASMs were allowed. | No significant difference in seizure frequency for all groups at week 12 50% Seizure reduction was reported in the remaining 115 (60.8%) participants at 6 months | Control group: 26/63 (41.3%) Treatment groups: 63/125 (50.2%) | NR |
| Ebadi et al. 31 | 8 Weeks (12) 4-Week follow-up | INOVO Lipomed Liposomal CBD (containing 30 mg/mL of active CBD) by KMT Pharmaceutics 70 mg at first week 140 mg at second week 210 mg at third to final week | Participants of the CBD group were administered 70 mg in the first week, then 140 mg in the second week, and 210 mg in the third to final week as a single dose. Usual ASMs were allowed concomitantly. | Decrease in seizure frequency: 45.58 (NR) Reduction in seizure severity: 4.69 (NR) Change in seizure severity score: −2.25 (1.10) at 4 weeks and −4.08 (2.71) at 8 weeks but insignificant p < 0.05 | Sleepiness, headache, anxiety, nausea, constipation, dizziness, tremors, irritability, change in heart rate, skin problems, urinary retention, blurred vision, change in appetite, fatigue, diarrhea, dry mouth, drooling, hypotension or hypertension, dysphagia, sore throat or tongue, abdominal pain, and cough | QoLI-31 score Week 4: −9.32 (NR) Week 8: −9.14 (NR) p < 0.05 |
| Kochen et al. 32 | 6 Months (44) 4-Week follow-up | RHSO-X from Hemp Meds (21 mg/mL) NR | Participants were started 250 mg/day, administered sublingually twice daily, and titrated monthly according to clinical response and tolerability for at least 6 months. Concomitant ASMs were allowed as adjuvant treatment. | 80%–99% Seizure reduction: 14 (32) 50%–79% Seizure reduction: 22 (50) <50% Seizure reduction: 5 (11) Seizure increment: 1 (2) Seizure freedom: 2 (5) | AE reported in 29 participants (66) Diarrhea: 17 (58.6) Somnolence: 4 (13.8) Decreased appetite: 4 (13.8) Drowsiness: 6 (20.7) | Quality of life (QOLIE 10) score Improvement: 31 (70.4) Worsening: 10 (22.7) Unchanged: 3 (6.8) |
Risk of bias assessment
Tables 3 and 4 summarize the quality assessment for each study using the JBI critical appraisal tools tailored to their respective study designs. Two case series were judged to be at a low risk of bias, while the other two were judged to be at moderate risk of bias, primarily due to lack of methodology description.
| JBI checklist items | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | Risk of bias a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hess et al. 17 | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Szaflarski et al. 18 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Martin et al. 20 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Gaston et al. 19 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Martin et al. 20 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Anderson et al. 22 | N | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Nenert et al. 23 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Grayson et al. 25 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Houston et al. 26 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Patel et al. 27 | N | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Silvennoinen et al. 28 | N | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Navarro 29 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
| Kochen et al. 32 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Moderate |
Certainty of evidence for CBD in DRE
A total of 16 manuscripts were systematically reviewed, revealing a spectrum of evidence quality across the studies. Many of the studies were open-label, introducing potential biases such as reporting bias and placebo effects, which may have influenced subjective outcomes like seizure reduction and quality of life improvements. The lack of blinding reduces the certainty of these results, and they should be interpreted with caution.
Among the included studies, three had a moderate GRADE level of evidence and 2b OCEBM level, indicating sound evidence derived from individual RCTs due to their use of blinding and placebo controls. Concurrently, six studies were categorized as having a low GRADE level of evidence and 3b OCEBM level, while seven were designated as having a very low GRADE level of evidence and 4 OCEBM level. Overall, the certainty of evidence for the utilization of CBD in DRE emerges as a combination of moderate, low, and very low-quality studies. The distribution of evidence levels is presented in Table 5.
| Study | Publication year | Article location | GRADE level of evidence | OCEBM level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hess et al. 17 | 2016 | Journal manuscript | Very low | 4 |
| Szaflarski et al. 18 | 2018 | Journal manuscript | Low | 3b |
| Gaston et al. 19 | 2019 | Journal manuscript | Low | 3b |
| Martin et al. 20 | 2019 | Journal manuscript | Very low | 4 |
| Szaflarski et al. 21 | 2019 | Journal manuscript | Moderate | 2b |
| Anderson et al. 22 | 2020 | Journal manuscript | Very low | 4 |
| Nenert et al. 23 | 2020 | Journal manuscript | Very low | 4 |
| Gaston et al. 24 | 2021 | Journal manuscript | Low | 3b |
| Grayson et al. 25 | 2021 | Journal manuscript | Low | 3b |
| Houston et al. 26 | 2021 | Journal manuscript | Very low | 4 |
| Patel et al. 27 | 2021 | Journal manuscript | Very low | 4 |
| Silvennoinen et al. 28 | 2021 | Journal manuscript | Low | 3b |
| Navarro 29 | 2023 | Journal manuscript | Very low | 4 |
| O’Brien et al. 30 | 2022 | Journal manuscript | Moderate | 2b |
| Ebadi et al. 31 | 2023 | Journal manuscript | Moderate | 2b |
| Kochen et al. 32 | 2023 | Journal manuscript | Low | 3b |
Discussion
Optimal CBD regime
The dosing of CBD varied across studies, with a starting dose of as low as 2.5 mg/kg/day with gradual uptitration, monitoring of clinical response for as short as 8 weeks, to as long as 2 years. The CBD doses were escalated as tolerated, not more than 5 mg/kg/day in every 1–2 weeks, practiced in 10 studies. The maximum dose reported was 50 mg/kg/day, administered in 10 studies. Among these, 12 studies utilized a plant-derived highly purified CBD sesame seed oil-based oral solution known as Epidiolex, with a concentration of 100 mg/mL.
In 2019, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis and cannabinoids for medical purposes. This legalization has led to the common use of CBD, along with THC, for treating various medical conditions, including intractable epilepsy and spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients, as identified by the Thai Ministry of Public Health. 33 However, due to the psychoactive effects of THC, its legally accepted concentration is limited to 0.2%. Therefore, our review exclusively focuses on pure CBD formulations.
The route of administration of CBD across the 16 studies included oral, sublingual, and transdermal routes, with the oral route being the most prevalent. Oral CBD exhibits a half-life of 1–2 days and undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism via an enzyme, which is a member of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) family, CYP3A4, resulting in a bioavailability of approximately 6%. In vitro studies have indicated that CBD is a potent inhibitor of multiple CYP isozymes, including CYP2C and CYP3A. However, the relevance of these in vitro findings at plasma concentrations remains uncertain. The lipophilic properties of CBD facilitate access to intracellular sites, thereby modulating calcium levels in various cell types, including hippocampal neurons. This modulation of calcium homeostasis may underlie CBD’s neuroprotective properties, as CBD targets transient receptor potential channels involved in intracellular calcium modulation. 34
Effects of adjunctive antiseizure therapy with CBD administration
Among the 16 studies reviewed, concurrent ASMs commonly included levetiracetam, clonazepam, carbamazepine, valproic acid, lamotrigine, and clobazam. The concurrent use of clobazam in particular has been reported to result in a variety of side effects. Some of the included studies maintained a consistent clobazam dosage, while others adjusted clobazam doses due to adverse reactions or significant laboratory results related to CBD interactions.27,29 Conversely, some clinicians opted to exclude participants who were using clobazam to control for its potential effects.30,31 The most frequently reported adverse event associated with CBD and clobazam co-administration was somnolence, observed in 6 out of 16 studies. This phenomenon is attributed to increased levels of clobazam and its active metabolite, N-desmethylclobazam, due to their shared metabolic pathway via CYP. 17 While there is evidence suggesting that combined CBD and clobazam treatment may enhance anticonvulsant effects compared to ASMs alone, this relationship appears complex. A lower subthreshold dose of CBD did not promote greater antiseizure effects despite increasing plasma clobazam concentrations, indicating that CBD may possess independent anticonvulsant activity. 35
CBD use on longitudinal EEG changes
Only one study used the identification and quantification of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) to measure the response to CBD therapy. 25 In this EAP, longitudinal EEG data were analyzed, focusing on the number of IEDs per unit of time. These IEDs have been associated with both the frequency and severity of seizures, noting a positive but nonsignificant association between CBD dosage and longitudinal changes in IEDs.36,37
While the precise role of IEDs as an indicator of the effectiveness of antiseizure therapy remains somewhat unclear, it is noteworthy that multiple studies, encompassing both animal and human subjects, have consistently demonstrated a proportionate reduction in IEDs following CBD treatment.38,39 However, there are no reported associations between the frequency of IED and seizure frequency, with or without antiseizure therapy. Still, they reported statistical significance between IED incidence and epilepsy duration (p = 0.04). 40
CBD effects on brain imaging
A couple of studies highlighted an additional area of interest in our investigation pertaining to the brain imaging of participants undergoing CBD therapy. The first of them, by Houston et al., analyzed MRI changes and found significant alterations in white matter integrity, albeit without significant differences after adjustments for various controlling factors. 26 Notably, short-term exposure to CBD did not yield significant changes in gray matter volume or cortical thickness in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy. 41
Another study investigated the resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC), revealing substantial alterations across multiple brain regions, encompassing the cerebellum, frontal areas, temporal areas, hippocampus, and amygdala. 23 Furthermore, CBD demonstrated a reduction in activation within brain regions implicated in stimulus conflict resolution and normalization of condition-based functional connectivity in the right superior frontal gyrus. 42 In epilepsy patients, network impairment in the left hippocampus and left thalamus regions was identified, corresponding to changes in rs-FC. 43 This finding underlines the potential utility of investigating rs-FC as a biomarker for treatment response in epilepsy patients. 44
CBD use on cognitive function
We have discussed and learned the significant CBD-induced alteration via neuroimaging. However, the research findings on CBD’s impact on cognitive function vary widely. One of our studies reported no statistically significant association with CBD and changes in cognition. 20 A statistically significant reduction of cognitive functioning associated with frequent or heavy CBD use was reported (95% CI, −0.32 to −0.17; p < 0 .001), while a small positive effect of CBD on working memory, assessed by backward digit span, was noted.45,46 Furthermore, South Korean researchers have suggested that CBD is neurotoxic, proposing that astrocytes may mitigate CBD-induced neurotoxicity by regulating intracellular calcium mechanisms. Calcium imaging showed higher intracellular calcium concentration in neurons treated with CBD than in neurons co-cultured with astrocytes. It is speculated that the astrocytes reduce the neurotoxicity of CBD by regulating intracellular calcium mechanisms and sustaining neuronal viability. 47
Though not discussed in our review, functional outcomes represent a crucial secondary measure of cognitive functioning, encompassing academic and occupational outcomes influenced by various demographic factors. We did not include this in our discussion as the functional outcome is heterogeneous and complex, mounted by multiple acquired factors, which are very demographic-dependent, requiring more specific prospective modeling.48,49
Study limitations
The open-label design prevalent in many studies introduced potential reporting and placebo biases, particularly affecting subjective outcomes such as seizure reduction and quality of life improvements. Additionally, the heterogeneity in outcome reporting and reliance on self-reported data may have contributed to reporting and selection biases. As most studies relied on Epidiolex, the findings may not fully represent the general effectiveness of CBD for DRE across various formulations. Additionally, the concurrent use of ASMs alongside CBD treatment makes it challenging to isolate the effects of CBD alone on DRE or to fully understand its combined impact with ASMs. Consequently, while findings suggest efficacy, the certainty of evidence remains a combination of moderate, low, and very low quality, underscoring the need for further high-quality, multicenter RCTs to better elucidate CBD’s therapeutic potential in this population.
Conclusion
Our review has shown that CBD was efficacious as an adjunctive therapy in seizure reduction in adult patients with DRE. Given the consistency in the reported positive outcomes observed as seizure reduction across all included studies, the level of evidence on CBD use in adult PWE with DRE is classified as moderate GRADE level and OCEBM level 2. Further prospective multicenter studies are required to explore the use of CBD in adult patients with DRE of various etiologies.
Supplemental Material
Acknowledgments
None.
Appendix
Abbreviations
ASMs antiseizure medications
CBD cannabidiol
CI confidence interval
CYP cytochrome P450
DRE drug-resistant epilepsy
DS Dravet syndrome
EAPs expanded access programs
GRADE Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Education
IEDs interictal epileptiform discharges
JBI Joanna Briggs Institute
LGS Lennox–Gastaut syndrome
OCEBM Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine
OR odds ratio
PRISMA Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews
PWE people with epilepsy
RCTs randomized controlled trials
rs-FC resting-state functional connectivity
SMD standardized mean difference
THC tetrahydrocannabinol
Footnotes
Footnote Group
Contributor Information
Marjorie Jia Yi Ong, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Muhammad Samir Haziq Abd Rahman, Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Vanessa Lin Lin Lee, Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
Kong Heng Lee, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Carmen Jia Yinn Chang, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Ching Soong Khoo, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia; Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Centre for Global Epilepsy, Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Rozita Hod, Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hui Jan Tan, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Eugen Trinka, Department of Neurology, Neurological Intensive Care and Neurorehabilitation, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE, Salzburg, Austria; Neuroscience Institute, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Salzburg, Austria; Karl Landsteiner Institute of Neurorehabilitation and Space Neurology, Salzburg, Austria.
Declarations
Untitled section
Footnote Group
References
Untitled section
References
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