Cannabidiol for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children: a critical review of the literature

Objective: The aim of this current report was to present a critical review of the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in the treatment of refractory epilepsies in the pediatric population.Data source: Literature review was carried out in the Medline (PubMed), Cochrane, and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases with the descriptors " Cannabidiol" and "Epilepsy." The search was not limited by the date of publication, language, or study design. A total of 69 articles were included in the review.Data synthesis: The efficacy of CBD in treating epileptic seizures has been confirmed by randomized controlled trials for Lennox- Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. The incidence of side effects reported in subjects of the studies is high. However, most studies indicate a good safety profile and tolerance to the drug, with most of the adverse effects being mild to moderate and transient.Conclusions: There is no consensus on the release of CBD as a therapeutic tool by the drug regulatory agencies worldwide. However, the use of CBD is promising since it has presented satisfactory results in crisis control in well-designed studies. In addition, this drug has a good safety and tolerance profile. However, further studies with a long follow-up period are needed to confirm its usefulness and the long-term safety in pediatric patients.