Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – The use of cannabis in the treatment of a variety of conditions has been explored by researchers across the world.
A new study has revealed that cannabidiol (medicinal cannabis) could provide a valuable treatment option for children with several forms of epilepsy that do not respond to existing medications, bringing fresh optimism to affected families.
Purified cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating compound also known as CBD, is currently available through Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) as an add-on therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy linked to Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
However, many Australian families living with other rare types of treatment-resistant childhood epilepsy are not eligible for PBS support. As a result, they may need to pay privately for the medication, with annual expenses exceeding $24,000.
In Victoria, some families are able to access financial assistance through the state government’s Compassionate Access Scheme, although the program has a limited number of places available.
The lead researcher Dr Daniel Perkins from the University of Melbourne indicated that the findings offer real-world evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) may have therapeutic benefits beyond its currently recognised use in treating Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
The 12-month, multi-centre study was carried out by researchers from the University of Melbourne, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre and Austin Health. It monitored 103 children and adolescents with epilepsy, all aged under 18, who were receiving cannabidiol through the Victorian Government’s Compassionate Access Scheme.
Each participant had a severe form of epilepsy that had not responded to existing anti-seizure medications available in Australia, highlighting the need for additional treatment options for drug-resistant cases.
From November 2020 to May 2025, children receiving care at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Health and Austin Health were treated with pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol at daily doses between 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg.
The cannabidiol was initially administered orally alongside each patient’s existing epilepsy medications. As individual responses to the treatment became clearer, some children were able to gradually reduce their use of other anti-seizure medicines.
Over the 12-month study period, researchers found a significant decline in epilepsy severity. Although the treatment did not benefit every child, 77% of those who continued cannabidiol therapy after one year experienced some degree of improvement. These benefits included fewer seizures, reduced reliance on other medications, fewer emergency department visits, and fewer hospital admissions.
For families of children with epilepsy who have already tried multiple treatments without success, these outcomes could represent a meaningful improvement in everyday wellbeing and quality of life.
Lead researcher Dr Daniel Perkins from the University of Melbourne explained that children who began the study with more severe epilepsy symptoms generally experienced a slightly greater improvement over the treatment period.
He further indicated that although the participants had a wide variety of epilepsy conditions, the findings did not indicate that any specific type of epilepsy responded better to cannabidiol treatment than others.
Overall, the therapy was considered well tolerated, with adverse effects leading to treatment discontinuation in just 6.8% of patients.
Approximately one in every 200 Australian children has epilepsy, and about one-third of these cases do not respond effectively to standard medications.
University of Melbourne co-researcher Dr Andreas Halman indicated that thousands of children across Australia are affected by forms of epilepsy that are difficult to control with existing treatments, creating major challenges for their health, wellbeing and overall quality of life.
“Alongside other international evidence, this research strengthens the case for the Federal Government to consider expanding funded access to cannabidiol for other types of childhood drug-resistant epilepsy.”
Researchers of the study indicated that future targeted research would assist in marking which patients are have the highest chance of responding to the treatment.
