Cannabidiol
About Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol is a medicine prescribed to help control and reduce seizures associated with specific severe forms of epilepsy. It is used as a supportive treatment to improve seizure control in patients who have not responded well to standard therapies.
To get the best results, you must take Cannabidiol regularly and consistently every day, exactly as your doctor directs. You can take this medicine with or without food, but you must choose one way and do it the same way with every single dose to keep medicine levels steady in your body. Maintaining a consistent daily routine and managing lifestyle factors like stress and sleep can also help improve your overall treatment results.
While taking Cannabidiol, some people may experience mild side effects like sleepiness, diarrhoea, or a decrease in appetite. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you notice signs of serious liver damage, such as yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, or severe fatigue.
Talk to your doctor before starting Cannabidiol if you have a history of liver disease, depression, or suicidal thoughts. Do not take this if you have had a severe allergic reaction to this medicine or any of the ingredients in its oral liquid base.
This medicine can interact with other antiseizure drugs, alcohol, and certain foods, which may increase your risk of severe sleepiness or liver issues. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or are an elderly individual, you should consult your doctor before taking Cannabidiol to ensure it is safe for your specific situation.
Uses of Cannabidiol
Medicinal Benefits
Cannabidiol provides significant real-world relief by reducing the overall number and severity of daily or weekly seizures. The key benefits of Cannabidiol are as follows:
- Reduced Seizure Frequency: Cannabidiol provides significant real-world relief by reducing the overall number and severity of daily or weekly seizures.
- Fewer Daily Interruptions: By lowering the frequency of sudden, unpredictable seizure episodes, patients can experience fewer interruptions to their daily activities and a reduced risk of seizure-related injuries.
- Improved Alertness and Sleep: This reduction in seizure activity often translates to improved alertness between episodes and better sleep patterns.
- Enhanced Safety and Independence: This reduction in seizure activity often translates to an overall enhanced sense of safety and independence in daily life for both patients and their families.
Directions for Use
- Cannabidiol can be taken with or without food.
- Take Cannabidiol twice daily at the same time each day for best results, or as directed by your doctor.
- Measure the prescribed dose using the provided measuring cup/syringe and take it by mouth.
- Shake the bottle well before use.
Storage
Side Effects of Cannabidiol
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Feeling very sleepy, tired, or weak
- Decreased appetite or weight loss
- Diarrhoea or loose stools
- Fever or infections
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away):
- Signs of liver damage (such as dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe nausea, or upper stomach pain)
- New or worsening depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts
- Severe allergic reactions (such as swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, hives, or difficulty breathing)
- Extreme sleepiness that makes it difficult to wake up or perform daily tasks
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Always use the specific measuring syringes provided in the original packaging to ensure you are taking the correct amount.
- Do not switch to a different brand or generic form of this medicine without consulting your doctor, as different brands may be absorbed differently.
- Avoid driving, operating heavy machinery, or performing dangerous activities until you know how Cannabidiol affects your alertness.
- Never stop taking Cannabidiol suddenly, as stopping abruptly can cause severe and continuous seizures that do not stop.
- Your doctor will need to perform regular blood tests to check your liver function before you start and during your treatment with Cannabidiol.
Drug Interactions
- Valproate (antiseizure medicine): Taking this with Cannabidiol can significantly increase your risk of liver damage.
- Clobazam (sedative/antiseizure medicine): Cannabidiol can increase the levels of clobazam in your body, which may lead to extreme drowsiness and breathing difficulties.
- Other medicines affected by liver processing: Certain medications (like rifampin or some antifungal drugs) change how fast your liver breaks down Cannabidiol, which can make it less effective or cause more side effects.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consuming alcohol while taking Cannabidiol, as it may increase the risk of drowsiness and sedation.
Pregnancy
cautionThere is limited information on how Cannabidiol affects pregnancy. Therefore, avoid taking Cannabidiol if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant unless advised by your doctor or the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionCannabidiol may pass into breastmilk, so it is not recommended for breastfeeding women unless advised by your doctor or the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
unsafeCannabidiol may cause drowsiness, so avoid driving or operating machinery until you are mentally alert.
Liver
cautionCannabidiol should be used with caution in patients with liver impairment. Please inform your doctor if you have a history of liver disease. Your doctor may have to adjust the dose of Cannabidiol based on the severity of your condition.
Kidney
consult your doctorPlease consult your doctor before taking Cannabidiol if you have a history of kidney disease. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Cannabidiol.
Children
unsafeCannabidiol is not recommended for use in children under 1 year old, as its safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep meals consistent: Since high-fat meals can significantly increase how much of this medicine enters your bloodstream, try to eat meals with a similar fat content around your dosing times.
- Maintain a seizure diary: Track your daily doses, when you take them, and any seizure activity. This helps your doctor evaluate how well Cannabidiol is working.
- Prioritise sleep: Lack of sleep is a well-known seizure trigger. Aim for a consistent sleep schedule of 7 to 8 hours per night.
- Stay hydrated: Because diarrhoea is a common side effect of Cannabidiol, make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
Special Advise
- Cannabidiol may cause harm to the liver. Therefore, it is important to monitor liver function before and during treatment with Cannabidiol.
- When taking Cannabidiol, monitor your mental health closely. If you notice any significant changes in your mood or have suicidal thoughts while taking Cannabidiol, seek immediate medical attention from your doctor.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Seizures (fits): They occur due to a sudden surge of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, leading to temporary changes in movement, emotions, behaviour, and consciousness. They typically last for 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
Dravet syndrome (DS): It is a type of epilepsy (seizure disorder) that starts in infancy or early childhood (usually before 15 months of age) and can cause mild to severe symptoms. Seizures can last for more than 5 minutes, affecting one side of the body and sometimes switching to the other side later.
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS): It is a severe type of epilepsy that typically starts before the age of four. People with LGS experience different types of seizures, delays in learning and development, and unusual brain activity, that can be seen in a test called electroencephalogram (EEG).
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC): It is a rare genetic condition that causes harmless tumours to grow in various body parts, including the brain, nerves, spine, eyes, heart, lungs, kidney, and skin. TSC lasts a lifetime, and most people with it will experience seizures at some point in their lives.
FAQs
Cannabidiol is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat seizures (fits) caused by conditions like Dravet syndrome (a severe type of seizure that starts in infancy), Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (a severe type of seizure that starts in early childhood), and tuberous sclerosis complex (a rare genetic condition that causes benign tumours in various body parts).
Cannabidiol contains Cannabidiol, which works by calming down overactive nerve cells by controlling calcium levels through specific receptors in the brain. It also enhances the effects of adenosine, a natural brain chemical that promotes relaxation. Thereby, Cannabidiol effectively aids in the treatment of seizures.
The common side effects of Cannabidiol include drowsiness, diarrhoea, fever, cough, rash, vomiting, weakness, tiredness, decreased appetite, weight loss, insomnia (inability to sleep), infection, and elevated liver enzymes. Most of these side effects will gradually resolve over time without the need for medical attention. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Do not stop taking Cannabidiol until instructed by your doctor. Stopping Cannabidiol abruptly may cause withdrawal symptoms, such as increased seizure episodes and seizures that last too long (status epilepticus). Your doctor may lower the dose gradually to prevent these symptoms.
Cannabidiol is generally safe when taken as prescribed by your doctor. However, it may cause side effects such as drowsiness or sleep problems. Always follow your doctor's instructions to minimize risks.
No, Cannabidiol is not an opioid. It is an anticonvulsant, a class of medications primarily used to treat seizures. Opioids, on the other hand, are pain-relieving medications.
No, Cannabidiol is not recommended for patients with abnormal liver function, as it may cause harm to the liver. Therefore, inform your doctor before taking Cannabidiol if you have any liver problems. It is important to monitor liver function before and during treatment with Cannabidiol.
You can take Cannabidiol with or without food, but you must be consistent. Taking it the same way every time ensures that your body absorbs the same amount of medicine with each dose. Talk to your doctor.
You should avoid alcohol while taking Cannabidiol. Alcohol can greatly increase the sleepiness, dizziness, and coordination issues caused by this medicine, which can be dangerous. Talk to your doctor.
If you vomit shortly after taking Cannabidiol, do not take another dose to replace it. Wait until your next scheduled dose to take your normal amount. Talk to your doctor.
