Keywords
Cannabidiol
Dravet Syndrome
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Refractory childhood epilepsy
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting approximately 70 million people worldwide. In refractory cases, especially in children with syndromes such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut, conventional treatment shows limited efficacy. Cannabidiol (CBD), a phytocannabinoid derived from Cannabis sativa, has been studied as a potential adjunctive therapy. Objective: To evaluate, through an integrative review, the efficacy and safety of CBD in the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children and adolescents. Methods: A search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and LILACS databases using the PICO strategy and Boolean operators, including studies published between 2002 and 2023 in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials involving children and adolescents (0-18 years) were included. Results: A total of 849 articles were identified, of which only two met the inclusion criteria. Both showed a significant reduction in seizure frequency with CBD doses of 10 to 20 mg/kg/day compared to placebo. The most common adverse events were somnolence, diarrhea, and elevated liver enzymes, mainly in patients concurrently using valproate. Conclusion: CBD demonstrates promising efficacy as adjunctive treatment for refractory epilepsy in children, with an acceptable safety profile. However, the scarcity of studies and individual variability highlight the need for further research for long-term evaluation.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Gabrielli Castro Martins, Danilo Tannus de Queiroz, Gianlucca Thomazini, João Pedro de Freitas Rosmaninho, Paula Moreira de Jesus, Paola Dias Tagliacozzo, Sandro Blasi Esposito
