An Observational Study of Adjunctive Artisanal Cannabidiol Use by Adults with Treatment Resistant Epilepsies: Behavioral and Urinalysis Data

Abstract

AbstractBackground For approximately 30% of people with epilepsy, seizures are not well-controlled by antiepileptic drugs. This condition, called treatment resistant epilepsy (TRE), is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and substantially impacts the quality of life of both the individual and their family. Non-responsiveness to AEDs leads many people with TRE to seek alternative therapies, such as cannabinoid-based medication, particularly cannabidiol (CBD), with or without medical or professional advice. This is due in part to widespread reporting in the media on the benefits of CBD for seizures in some forms of epilepsy. Methods Ten adults with TRE, opting to add CBD to their existing treatment regime, participated in this prospective, observational, longitudinal study. We hypothesized that adjunctive CBD use would positively impact participants’ quality of life and psychological well-being. Participants were followed for a period of approximately six months – for approximately one month prior to the initiation of CBD use and approximately five months after. At three time points, participants provided urine samples and completed behavioral questionnaires that assessed quality of life, anxiety/depression, and adverse events. Results Analyses showed a statistically significant improvement in quality of life, a statistically significant decrease in anxiety symptoms, and a statistically significant decrease in the experience of adverse events over time (p < 0.05). Urinalysis revealed the majority of participants had no CBD/metabolites in their system at the beginning of the study, and confirmed the presence of CBD/metabolites in participants’ urine after CBD was added to their treatment regime. Conclusion These results suggest that adjunctive use of artisanal CBD may be beneficial for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of TRE and may improve medication tolerability.