Off-label use of cannabidiol in genetic epileptic and developmental encephalopathies: A case report

Developmental Epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are severe neurological conditions where cognitive functions appear modulated by both seizure and interictal epileptiform activity. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of drug-resistant seizures in patients with DEEs. Along with its antiseizure effects, CBD demonstrated clinical beneficial effects in patients' quality of life, sleep and numerous adaptive behaviors. However, based on the available phase III studies, the indications for this treatment have so far been restricted to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet syndrome (DS) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) by regulatory authorities. We present the case of a 30-year-old girl with a rare genetic DEE, experiencing relevant seizure frequency reduction together with striking improvement in sleep quality, mood, behavior, language and motor skills after introducing off-label CBD.