Parasitic pharmacology- A plausible mechanism of action for cannabidiol
In summary
A recent editorial questions the efficacy of utilizing cannabidiol (CBD) as an anti-epileptic and proposes a plausible mechanism of action for previously seen anti-epileptic effects. While discussing the issues within the two randomized-placebo controlled studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that led to the eventual FDA approval of Edioplex for the treatment of seizures, the author raises concerns about the quality of content published by the NEJM. The author claims that the two studies claiming that CBD was a novel therapy for Dravets Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome did not examine or publish the pharmacokinetic properties of CBD within their study and that all benefits found were actually due to the drug-drug interaction between CBD and clobazam, a known anti-epileptic. As this hypothesis was only examined as a simulation further testing is needed.
Cannabinoids, like all drugs, should continue to be questioned and retested for efficiency. Cannabis is not omnipotent and just because it holds promise for a myriad of ailments and disorders does not mean it may be the most efficient or ethical treatment available. Cannabinoids and terpenes deserve to be examined based on their potential as the medical community continues to search for novel cancer treatment, anti-emetics, appetite modulating drugs, and more which can then be fully developed for maximum pharmacological efficiency and compared to the current treatment. It seems irresponsible to not compare or develop cannabis-based medicine considering the promise seen in countless studies.
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