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CBD Oil vs Epidiolex — Which Is Better for Epilepsy?

The major difference between the purified and FDA-approved Epidiolex and CBD Oil brands is that Epidiolex contains 99% CBD and no other cannabinoids. CBD oils, on the other hand, contain supportive cannabinoids that enhance their pharmacological activity. On the flip side, CBD Oils may contain contaminants and psychoactive compounds if they’re improperly manufactured and not tested by a third-party laboratory.

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 How One Boy's Fight With Epilepsy Led To The First Marijuana-Derived Pharmaceutical

The first prescription medication extracted from the marijuana plant is poised to land on pharmacists' shelves this fall. Epidiolex, made from purified cannabidiol, or CBD, a compound found in the cannabis plant, is approved for two rare types of epilepsy. Its journey to market was driven forward by one family's quest to find a treatment for their son's epilepsy.

Articles of Interest

10 years in the making: drug discovered by Reading scientists reaches UK children with severe epilepsy

Here we track the story of the drug’s long journey from bench to bedside.

Approval of drug derived from cannabis not necessarily a win for weed

Epilepsy is the only disorder where there is solid scientific evidence demonstrating that CBD is safe and effective. This does not mean that CBD will not work for other disorders, but epilepsy is the only one where we have clear, well-documented evidence that CBD helps.

Cannabis-based drug for childhood epilepsy approved for use in UK

Plant-derived Epidyolex is first medicine of its kind to be given green light by regulators

Dravet’s Syndrome and a Novel Antiepileptic Drug: Cannabidiol Epidiolex®

Prior to initiating treatment with cannabidiol, clinicians should obtain serum AST, ALT, and total bilirubin levels. These labs should also be obtained at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months when initiating treatment, and periodically thereafter as clinically indicated. Clinicians should obtain these labs within 1 month of changing the dose, or if there is an addition or change in medications that are also known to affect the liver, such as valproic acid.

Epidiolex (Cannabidiol) Primer: Frequently Asked Questions for Patients and Caregivers

Four pivotal randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trials evaluated the use of CBD in patients with DS and LGS with regard to the efficacy and safety in convulsive and drop seizure, respectively. All trials demonstrated a significant absolute reduction in seizure frequency.

Epidiolex as adjunct therapy for treatment of refractory epilepsy: a comprehensive review with a focus on adverse effects

The recent FDA approval of Epidiolex combined with the placement of this compound in schedule V of the CSA (the least restrictive schedule of the CSA) has created a much-needed opportunity for the continued study of high-concentration, regulated CBD as a potential therapy for refractory epilepsy.

More Evidence That Weed Extract Effectively Treats Epilepsy in Children

It's the first large randomized clinical trial of CBD to help treat seizures.

The first FDA-approved cannabis-derived drug is available for prescription in the US

Epidiolex, a fruit-flavored liquid marketed to treat two forms of severe childhood epilepsy from the British company GW Pharmaceuticals, became the first cannabis-derived drug to be approved by the FDA...

What You Need to Know About Epidiolex, the First FDA-Approved Drug Made From Cannabis

The approval of Epidiolex "serves as a reminder that advancing sound development programs that properly evaluate active ingredients contained in marijuana can lead to important medical therapies.

Resources

Epidiolex

EPIDIOLEX significantly reduced seizures in people living with LGS, Dravet syndrome, or TSC for whom multiple previous antiseizure medicines did not work well.