Cannabidiol: a promising approach in the treatment of epilepsy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34024/rnc.2024.v32.16047Keywords:
Cannabidiol, Epilepsy, TreatmentAbstract
Introduction. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition in which neurons are in a state of hyperexcitation, producing excessive electrical discharges. Cannabidiol, on the other hand, is a phytocannabinoid extracted from the Cannabis plant that modulates the human endocannabinoid system. Objective. To comprehensively investigate the available evidence on the use of cannabidiol in the treatment of epilepsy. Method. This is a literature review. The information sources used were Medline via Pubmed, Scielo, and Lilacs. Searches were conducted using the following descriptors: "Epilepsy," "Cannabidiol," "Treatment," and "Tetrahydrocannabinol." The selection of these descriptors was based not only on internal criteria but also on a search conducted on the Health Sciences Descriptors platform. After introducing the inclusion and exclusion criteria adopted for this research, 56 studies were selected. Results. Of the 56 selected articles, 24 reported significant reductions in seizure frequency, 8 did not show favorable results for the use of cannabidiol in epilepsy treatment, 5 reported long-term efficacy, 16 supported the use of cannabidiol, and 3 reported improved quality of life. Conclusions. More research is needed to establish the safest and most effective dosages and administration routes, thereby making cannabidiol a safe treatment tool.
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Accepted 2024-07-06
Published 2024-07-17
