Use of cannabinoids in the treatment of epilepsy

#The present invention relates to the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in the treatment of atonic seizures. In one embodiment the patients suffering from atonic seizures are children and young adults. CBD appears particularly effective in reducing atonic seizures in patients suffering with etiologies that include: Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome; Tuberous Sclerosis Complex; Dravet Syndrome; Doose Syndrome; Aicardi syndrome; CDKL5 and Dup15q in comparison to other seizure types.

#In these patients treatment with CBD reduced the occurrence of atonic seizures by greater than 50% in a large proportion, namely 63%, of patients. This was surprising given that the proportion of patients benefitting from a greater than 50% reduction in total seizures was significantly less, (46%), in all subjects treated.

#Preferably the CBD used is in the form of a highly purified extract of cannabis such that the CBD is present at greater than 98% of the total extract (w/w) and the other components of the extract are characterised. In particular the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been substantially removed, to a level of not more than 0.15% (w/w) and the propyl analogue of CBD, cannabidivarin, (CBDV) is present in amounts of up to 1%. Alternatively, the CBD may be a synthetically produced CBD.

#FIG. 1 shows the ILEA 2010 proposal for revised terminology for organization of seizures and epilepsies.

#Definitions of some of the terms used to describe the invention are detailed below:

#The cannabinoids described in the present application are listed below along with their standard abbreviations.

#TABLE 4 Cannabinoids and their abbreviations CBD Cannabidiol CBDA Cannabidiolic acid CBDV Cannabidivarin CBDVA Cannabidivarinic acid THC Tetrahydrocannabinol