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The use of medical grade cannabis in Italy for drug-resistant epilepsy: a case series

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Abstract

In Italy, medical grade cannabis (MGC) can be prescribed for different medical conditions, including drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), once standard and approved therapies have failed, or caused non-tolerable side effects. Here, we present a retrospective case series report of five patients with DRE who started therapy with MGC. Authorized ISO 9001:2008 pharmacies prepared MGC according to Italian laws. Olive oil extracts (OOEs) were prepared following standard extraction protocols, and cannabinoids were measured on each OOE to check for successful extraction.After treatment with MGC, all patients reported a reduction in seizure frequency and severity, and some reported improved mood, sleep quality, and general well-being without relevant side effects. Despite the small sample size and open-label nature of the data, we show that MGC may be successfully used to treat DRE. This is especially true when considering that no valid therapeutic option exists for these patients and that MGC was extremely well tolerated.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Ettore Brunello Florio and Annunziata Lombardi for their support on regulatory matters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University “Federico II”, Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, NA, Italy

    Chiara Pane & Francesco Saccà

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  1. Chiara Pane
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  2. Francesco Saccà
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Correspondence to Francesco Saccà.

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The authors report no conflict of interest for the present study.

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This is a retrospective case series report, approved from our local ethics committee.

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Informed consents were obtained from patients

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Pane, C., Saccà, F. The use of medical grade cannabis in Italy for drug-resistant epilepsy: a case series. Neurol Sci 41, 695–698 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-04162-1

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