Cannabidiol Provides Improved Seizure and Nonseizure Outcomes 

Clinical trial data presented at the 2022 American Epilepsy Society (AES) annual meeting showed that patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) and Dravet Syndrome (DS) who were given cannabidiol oral solution (Epidolex; Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Dublin, Ireland) had improvements in seizure and nonseizure outcomes across all age groups. 

The BECOME Caregiver Survey reported patient seizure improvements measured by decreased frequency in at least 1 seizure type and severity. 

Patient improvements occurred with convulsive seizures (72% each), drop seizures (71% each), nonconvulsive/nondrop seizures (66% <18 years of age; 69% >18 years of age), and nighttime seizures (61% <18 years of age; 63% >18 years of age).
 
Many respondents also reported reductions in use of rescue medications (57%), emergency room visits (56% <18 years of age; 51% >18 years of age), hospitalizations (55% <18 years of age; 50% >18 years of age), and occurrence of seizure-related injuries (48% <18 years of age; 49% >18 years of age). 

Nonseizure-related outcomes included improvements in alertness, cognition and executive function, emotional and social function, language and communication, physical function, sleep, and daily activities since initiating treatment with cannabidiol. 
 
“The data from the BECOME Caregiver Survey provide important insights into the reported effects of cannabidiol on both seizure and non-seizure outcomes,” said Kelvin Tan, MB BCh, MRCPCH, senior vice president, chief medical officer, Jazz Pharmaceuticals. “These data expand our understanding of the multifaceted experience of people living with epilepsy and their caregivers and could ultimately refine the Epidiolex treatment paradigm across age groups. The BECOME study ensures that patients and caregiver lived experience is front and center in clinical research.”

The most common side effects from the drug include sleepiness, decreased appetite, diarrhea, increase in liver enzymes, feeling very tired or weak, rash, sleep problems, fever, vomiting, and infections.