Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35267245›Full record

Observational studyAnnals of clinical and translational neurology2022

Observational study of medical marijuana as a treatment for treatment-resistant epilepsies.

Orrin Devinsky, Angelica Marmanillo, Theresa Hamlin, Philip Wilken, Daniel Ryan, Conor Anderson, Daniel Friedman, George Todd

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Annals of clinical and translational neurology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
6.6field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 38 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Observational
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Orrin DevinskyNYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York, New York, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0044-4632
Angelica MarmanilloThe Center for Discovery, Harris, New York, USA.
Theresa HamlinThe Center for Discovery, Harris, New York, USA.
Philip WilkenThe Center for Discovery, Harris, New York, USA.
Daniel RyanThe Center for Discovery, Harris, New York, USA.
Conor AndersonThe Center for Discovery, Harris, New York, USA.
Daniel FriedmanNYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York, New York, USA.
George ToddThe Center for Discovery, Harris, New York, USA.
Center for Discovery · USCrystal Run Healthcare · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesMedical cannabis formulations with cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are widely used to treat epilepsy. We studied the safety and efficacy of two formulations.

methodsWe prospectively observed 29 subjects (12 to 46 years old) with treatment-resistant epilepsies (11 Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; 15 with focal or multifocal epilepsy; three generalized epilepsy) were treated with medical cannabis (1THC:20CBD and/or 1THC:50CBD; maximum of 6 mg THC/day) for ≥24 weeks. The primary outcome was change in convulsive seizure frequency from the pre-treatment baseline to the stable optimal dose phase.

resultsThere were no significant differences during treatment on stable maximal doses for convulsive seizure frequency, seizure duration, postictal duration, or use of rescue medications compared to baseline. No benefits were seen for behavioral disorders or sleep duration; there was a trend for more frequent bowel movements compared to baseline. Ten adverse events occurred in 6/29 patients, all were transient and most unrelated to study medication. No serious adverse events were related to study medication.

interpretationOur prospective observational study of two high-CBD/low-THC formulations found no evidence of efficacy in reducing seizures, seizure duration, postictal duration, or rescue medication use. Behavioral disorders or sleep duration was unchanged. Study medication was generally well tolerated. The doses of CBD used were lower than prior studies. Randomized trials with larger cohorts are needed, but we found no evidence of efficacy for two CBD:THC products in treating epilepsy, sleep, or behavior in our population.

Indexed as

CannabidiolEpilepsies, MyoclonicEpilepsyMedical MarijuanaAdolescentAdultAnticonvulsantsChildDronabinolHumansMiddle AgedSeizuresYoung AdultAnticonvulsantsCannabidiolDronabinolMedical Marijuana

Identifiers

PMID35267245
PMCPMC8994986
OpenAlexW4220874106

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.