title: Cannabidiol as potential treatment in refractory pediatric epilepsy.
abstract: In recent years there has been great scientific and public interest focused on the therapeutic potential of compounds derived from cannabis for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children. From in vitro and in vivo studies on animal models, cannabidiol (CBD) appears to be a promising anticonvulsant drug with a favorable side-effect profile. In humans, CBD efficacy and safety is not supported by well-designed trials and its use has been described by anecdotal reports. It will be necessary to investigate CBD safety, pharmacokinetics and interaction with other anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) alongside performing double-blinded placebo-controlled trials in order to obtain conclusive data on its efficacy and safety in children.
authors.affiliation: a Child Neurology, Headache Paediatric Center, Paediatric Sleep Disorders, NESMOS Department, Chair of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology , Sapienza University, c/o Sant'Andrea Hospital , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.affiliation: a Child Neurology, Headache Paediatric Center, Paediatric Sleep Disorders, NESMOS Department, Chair of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology , Sapienza University, c/o Sant'Andrea Hospital , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology Division , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Papetti
authors.affiliation: a Child Neurology, Headache Paediatric Center, Paediatric Sleep Disorders, NESMOS Department, Chair of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology , Sapienza University, c/o Sant'Andrea Hospital , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: a Child Neurology, Headache Paediatric Center, Paediatric Sleep Disorders, NESMOS Department, Chair of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology , Sapienza University, c/o Sant'Andrea Hospital , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parisi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069279:Drug Resistant Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002185:Cannabidiol
keywords: CBD; Cannabis; cannabidiol; epilepsy; refractory epilepsy in children