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External gel: a new treatment for epilepsy in children
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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A newly developed topical gel containing cannabidiol, when added to combination anticonvulsant therapy, helps reduce the intensity of seizures and significantly improves the well-being of children with epilepsy and convulsive encephalopathy, a non-randomized controlled trial has shown.
Convulsive encephalopathy develops mainly in early childhood and is included in the category of severe epilepsies, along with Dravet syndrome, West syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, myoclonic-atonic epilepsy. As for cannabidiol, it has the ability to reduce neuronal excitability and limit seizure activity. An open experiment demonstrated the safety and good tolerability of this component in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
The staff of the Royal Children's Hospital (Australia, Melbourne) collected about 50 patients of the middle age category of 10 years (46% - girls) suffering from convulsive encephalopathy. All children took anticonvulsants (from one to four drugs) according to a previously prescribed drug regimen.
After the initial dose and titration analysis for four weeks, patients were given maintenance therapy for more than five months with varying dosages. In general, cannabidiol gel was administered twice daily in doses ranging from 125 to 500 mg and continued for more than six months.
The frequency of epileptic paroxysms was analyzed in 46 patients. Specialists noted a decrease in the indicator by more than 12%.
Initially, 33 patients reported periodic focal episodes of clouding of consciousness and tonic-clonic episodes. Throughout the entire period of treatment and observation, both types of pathological episodes showed a positive response to the additional use of the developed gel preparation.
The relatives of sick children also noted positive changes in socialization and interpersonal activity: patients became more alert, energetic, their sleep, concentration, and cognitive ability improved. Clinical indicators of the cardiovascular system did not change.
The scientists are planning to conduct a double-blind, randomized trial using a topical cannabidiol-containing gel preparation soon.
Experts welcome the emergence of a new type of treatment for such a complex pathology. Additional intrigue is provided by the external use of the drug, which has not happened before: anticonvulsant therapy included oral and parenteral administration of medications.
The results of the scientific work have been published on the JAMA Network Open page. You can read more about it by following the link https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/958889