title: Plant-Derived and Endogenous Cannabinoids in Epilepsy.
abstract: Cannabis is one of the oldest psychotropic drugs and its anticonvulsant properties have been known since the last century. The aim of this review was to analyze the efficacy of cannabis in the treatment of epilepsy in adults and children. In addition, a description of the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in epilepsy is given in order to provide a biochemical background to the effects of endogenous cannabinoids in our body. General tolerability and adverse events associated with cannabis treatment are also investigated. Several anecdotal reports and clinical trials suggest that in the human population cannabis has anticonvulsant properties and could be effective in treating partial epilepsies and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, still known as "grand mal." They are based, among other factors, on the observation that in individuals who smoke marijuana to treat epilepsy, cessation of cannabis use precipitates the re-emergence of convulsive seizures, whereas resuming consumption of this psychotropic drug controls epilepsy in a reproducible manner. In conclusion, there is some anecdotal evidence for the potential efficacy of cannabis in treating epilepsy. Though there has been an increased effort by patients with epilepsy, their caregivers, growers, and legislators to legalize various forms of cannabis, there is still concern about its efficacy, relative potency, availability of medication-grade preparations, dosing, and potential short- and long-term side effects, including those on prenatal and childhood development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of L'Aquila, Ospedale "San Salvatore", 67100, L'Aquila, Italy. averrott@unich.it.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Ospedale "Santa Maria della Misericordia", Sant'Andrea Delle Fratte, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castagnino
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.|European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso del Fiorano, 65, 00143, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccarrone
authors.affiliation: European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso del Fiorano, 65, 00143, Rome, Italy. Filomena.fezza@uniroma2.it.|Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00130, Rome, Italy. Filomena.fezza@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fezza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D064086:Medical Marijuana / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002186:Cannabinoids; D064086:Medical Marijuana; D010936:Plant Extracts