touchMEETING HIGHLIGHTS Epilepsy FOCUS: Shared experience of cannabidiol
In the following two webinars, seven leading experts discuss case studies of patients treated with GW CBD, reviewing patient profiles, optimal dosing and titration, management of adverse events and polytherapy, and initiating GW CBD in patients previously on non-regulatory approved cannabis-based products. The topics highlighted in the webinars can easily be accessed from the panel on the left side of the page.
To register with Epilepsy FOCUS, attend upcoming live webcasts, and watch on-demand videos, please go to https://www.epilepsy-focus.co.uk/
Webinar 2: Initiating patients with GW CBD
Webinar 2: Managing adverse events and determining the optimal dose of GW CBD
Webinar 2: Initiating GW CBD in patients who have previously received a non-regulatory approved cannabis-based product
Webinar 2: Panel discussion and audience Q & A
Webinar 1: GW CBD patient profile
Webinar 1: Starting and maintaining patients on GW CBD and managing adverse events
Webinar 1: GW CBD in patients who have tried or are currently receiving non-regulatory approved cannabis-based products
Overview
Two webinars with seven leading experts discussing case studies of patients treated with cannabidiol.
About Faculty
Prof. Dr Elizabeth Thiele
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
Prof. Dr Selim Benbadis
University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
Prof. Dr Bernhard Steinhoff
University of Freiburg, Freiburg in Breisgau, Germany
Prof. Dr Andreas Schulze-Bonhage
University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Prof. Dr Ulrich Brandl
University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany
Prof. Dr Angela Kaindl
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Prof. Dr Sameer Zuberi
Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
Disclosures:
Prof. Dr Elizabeth Thiele: Consultant for GW Pharmaceuticals, Zogenix, Biocodex, Aquestive, West Therapeutics, RegenexBio. Research grants from GW Pharmaceuticals, Zogenix.
Prof. Dr Selim Benbadis: Consultant for Brain Sentinel, Cavion, Ceribell, Eisai, Greenwich, LivaNova, NeuroPace, SK Biopharmaceuticals, Sunovion. Speakers’ bureau for Eisai, Greenwich, LivaNova, Sunovion. National Medical Director for RSC Diagnostic Services (EEG). Florida Medical Director of Stratus/Alliance (EEG). Member of Epilepsy Study Consortium. Grant support from Cavion, LivaNova, Greenwich, SK Biopharmaceuticals, Sunovion, Takeda, Xenon. Royalties as an author or editor for eMedicine-Medscape-WebMD, UpToDate. Editorial board for Epilepsy.com (Epilepsy Foundation) controversy section, eMedicine-Medscape-WebMD, Epileptic Disorders, Epilepsy and Behaviour, Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.
Prof. Dr Bernhard Steinhoff: Speaker honoraria from Al-Jazeera, Desitin, Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, Hikma, Novartis, Sandoz, UCB. Advisory boards or consultancy agreements from Arvelle, Bial, B. Braun, Desitin, Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, UCB.
Prof. Dr Andreas Schulze-Bonhage: Research support from Bial, BMBF, DFG, EU, HBP, NIH. Honoraria for lectures or advice from Arvelle, Bial, Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, UCB.
Prof. Dr Ulrich Brandl: Honoraria for presentations, lectures, or advisory boards from Bial, Desitin, Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, UCB, Zogenix.
Prof. Dr Angela Kaindl: Speaker honoraria from GW Pharmaceuticals.
Prof. Dr Sameer Zuberi: Sameer Zuberi is Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at the Royal Hospital for Children and Honorary Professor of Paediatric Neurology in the University of Glasgow. He leads the Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group and is clinical lead of the Scottish National Genetic Epilepsy Service. His other roles include President of the European Paediatric Neurology Society, Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, past Chair of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Commission on Classification & Terminology (2013-17) and ILAE Nosology & Definitions Task Force Member.
Elizabeth Thiele provides an overview of the diverse patient profiles of individuals with epilepsy who may benefit from GW CBD treatment, and how to initiate and escalate dosing, and manage adverse events.
Interview Questions
In this interview, Prof. Dr Elizabeth Thiele answers the following questions:
- What does a typical patient with Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome who is receiving cannabidiol (EpidyolexⓇ) look like?
- How do you initiate treatment with cannabidiol and escalate dose?
- How do you manage the use of concomitant medications alongside cannabidiol treatment?
- What are the most common adverse events you observe with cannabidiol treatment and how do you manage these?
- How does previous use of unregulated cannabis products including non-responsiveness and tolerability issues guide treatment decisions with cannabidiol?
About Prof. Dr Elizabeth Thiele
Elizabeth Thiele is Director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Service at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA, and is Professor of Neurology at the Harvard Medical School. She organised and established the Herscot Center for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and a ketogenic diet clinic to treat and manage patients with epilepsy.
Disclosures:
Consultant for GW Pharmaceuticals, Zogenix, Biocodex, Aquestive, West Therapeutics, RegenexBio. Research grants from GW Pharmaceuticals, Zogenix
Bernhard Steinhoff describes the characteristics, disease history and markers of responsiveness for patients who may benefit from cannabidiol treatment, in addition to the management of adverse events and concomitant medications.
Interview Questions
In this interview, Prof. Dr Bernhard Steinhoff answers the following questions:
- What characteristics and disease history do patients with Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome have?
- Are there any markers of patients who may be more responsive to cannabidiol?
- What is your approach to managing adverse events with cannabidiol?
- How do you manage concomitant medications with cannabidiol treatment?
- Does previous experience of unregulated cannabis products guide cannabidiol treatment decisions?
About Prof. Dr Bernhard Steinhoff
Bernhard Steinhoff is Professor of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology at the University of Freiburg and is Medical Director of the Epilepsy Centre Kork. He is a past president of the German Society of Epileptology and author of numerous peer-reviewed papers and book articles.
Disclosures:
Speaker honoraria from Al-Jazeera, Desitin, Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, Hikma, Novartis, Sandoz, UCB. Advisory boards or consultancy agreements from Arvelle, Bial, B. Braun, Desitin, Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, UCB.
Please Select A Video:
Overview & Learning Objectives
Overview
Cannabidiol (Epidyolex®, GW CBD) is indicated for use as an adjunctive therapy, in conjunction with clobazam, for seizures associated with Lennox Gastaut syndrome (LGS) or Dravet syndrome (DS) in patients ≥2 years of age.1 Here we present a webinar discussion and summary on the shared experiences of six leading physicians on the use of GW CBD for treating these rare epilepsies.
Learning Objectives
After watching this touchMEETING HIGHLIGHTS, you should be able to:
- Describe some of the diverse profiles of patients who may benefit from cannabidiol
- Understand how to initiate GW CBD and reach optimal dosing
- Discuss potential strategies to manage patients experiencing adverse events (AEs)
- Understand how to manage patients with previous or current experience of non-regulatory approved cannabis-based products
Adverse Events
Adverse Events
Adverse events should be reported according to local regulations. For the UK, reporting forms and information can be found on the MHRA yellow card site at mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard target or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Adverse events should also be reported to GW pharma on medinfo@gwpharm.com.
References
References
EMA. Epidyolex Summary of product characteristics Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/epidyolex-epar-product-information_en.pdf (accessed August 2020).
- For additional resources and patient cases, please visit the GW Pharmaceuticals Epilepsy Focus site: https://www.epilepsy-focus.co.uk/