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Cannabidiol (Epidiolex)

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Cannabinoids and Pain

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Abstract

Investigations into the medical uses of the plants Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica have found the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) to possess antiepileptic effects without the psychotropic effects of the other well-known cannabinoid, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS) are two treatment-resistant seizure disorders for which alternative medications have been sought. Greenwich Biosciences developed a pharmaceutical grade liquid CBD which was analyzed in three pivotal studies in order to determine its safety and efficacy in these difficult-to-treat seizure disorders. These studies demonstrated a significant reduction in seizure frequency with a low side effect profile and led to FDA approval of this liquid CBD for the treatment of LGS and DS under the name of Epidiolex in 2018.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ochsner Health Systems, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Nathan J. Harrison

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  1. Nathan J. Harrison
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Correspondence to Nathan J. Harrison .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Western Reserve Hospital, Center For Pain Medicine, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

    Samer N. Narouze

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Harrison, N.J. (2021). Cannabidiol (Epidiolex). In: Narouze, S.N. (eds) Cannabinoids and Pain. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69186-8_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69186-8_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-69185-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-69186-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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