CBD transdermal gel reduces epileptic seizures in kids with DEEs: JAMA

USA: CBD transdermal gel is safe, well-tolerated, and may reduce epileptic seizures in children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs), a recent study has revealed. 

According to the study, published in JAMA Network Open, cannabidiol (CBD) transdermal gel was associated with reductions in focal impaired awareness seizures (FIAS) and tonic-clonic seizures (TCS) frequency and disease burden. 

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies are the most severe group of epilepsies that begin typically in infancy and childhood. They include but are not limited to, many well-known epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), West, and myoclonic-atonic epilepsy.

DEEs are the most severe group of drug-resistant epilepsies. Considering this, there arises an urgent need for alternatives to oral therapies to reduce seizures and improve developmental outcomes and comorbidities in this medically complex population.

Against the above background, Ingrid E. Scheffer, Austin Health and Royal Children's Hospital, Florey Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and colleagues aimed to assess the safety and tolerability of CBD transdermal gel in children with DEEs and to evaluate seizure frequency, sleep, and quality of life in a nonrandomized controlled trial conducted in 2 centers in Australia and New Zealand from April 2018 to July 2019. 

The study included children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 years with DEEs who were receiving a stable regimen of 1 to 4 antiseizure medications. Following a 1-month baseline and titration periods, patients entered a 5.5-month flexible-dosing maintenance period for a total of 6.5 months of treatment.

The intervention was twice-daily applications of CBD transdermal gel at doses of 125 to 500 mg for 6.5 months.

Safety and tolerability assessments included adverse events (AEs) and examination of the skin. The outcome for seizures was the median percentage change from baseline in monthly (28-day) seizure frequency of FIAS and TCS over 6.5 months. 

"The treatment was associated with a reduction in FIAS and TCS frequency, as well as with caregiver-reported improvements in behavior, sleep, cognition, and quality of life," wrote the authors. "These findings highlight the need for a double-masked randomized clinical trial of CBD transdermal gel."

Reference:

The study titled, "Safety and Tolerability of Transdermal Cannabidiol Gel in Children With Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial," is published in JAMA Network Open. 

DOI: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2783716