Epidiolex, the medical-grade CBD used to treat rare forms of childhood epilepsy, could provide relief to military veterans suffering the effects of exposure to chemicals in wartime, according to recent research by Chinese experts.
The findings, in a study of rats, suggest the drug might be an effective treatment for Gulf War Illness (GWI), a chronic condition suffered by veterans of Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991.
“Long-term oral administration of CBD holds promise to alleviate cognitive and mood impairments as well as chronic pain experienced by veterans suffering from GWI,” the study observes.
CBD helped ease the blockage of pleasure feelings, and lowered the rats’ sensitivity to pain, according to the research. Also, rats administered Epidiolex showed improvements in recognizing objects and remembering locations, the study revealed.
Causes of GWI
Epidiolex, a high-CBD, no-THC formula, is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment specifically for seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, Dravet Syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. It is also approved by the European Medicines Agency and the UK’s Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. (The drug goes by the alternative spelling “Epidyolex” in Europe and the UK.) Canada’s federal health regulator, Health Canada, approved the medicine late last year.
GWI is attributed to exposure to various environmental hazards, including pesticides, chemical warfare agents, and medications administered during the 1990-1991 conflict in the Middle East, as well as the burning of oil wells.
The illness causes immune system dysfunction, inflammation, and damage to the nervous system. Veterans with GWI experience chronic fatigue, muscle and joint pain, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory problems, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbances and headaches.
More research needed
The researchers said the study is promising in light of previous research on other compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, such as curcumin, melatonin, and monosodium luminol, which also showed benefits in alleviating symptoms of GWI. However, those compounds required relatively higher doses than CBD, indicating that Epidiolex may offer a more efficient solution at lower dosages. Lower dosages also reduce the risk of potential side effects and make treatment more accessible for patients.
Epidiolex effectively improved brain function at a dose of 20 mg/kg, which is roughly equivalent to a human dose of 3.2 mg/kg per day.
“CBD treatment could be a viable option either alone or in combination with existing treatments,” the study concluded, although researchers emphasized the need to rule out potential drug-drug interactions before widespread use.
With an estimated 25% to 32% of the nearly 700,000 U.S. veterans who served in the Gulf War affected by GWI, the number of veterans potentially suffering from the condition ranges from 175,000 to 224,000.
The study highlighted the need for more comprehensive research before conclusions can be drawn about the efficacy of CBD as a treatment for GWI. The study raised concerns about the potential for adverse effects, particularly the risk of suicidal ideation. Although the FDA has issued warnings about the possibility of suicide in patients taking Epidiolex, those warnings are based on presumed effects rather than concrete data, the study noted.
CBD research grows
The study’s findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that CBD’s anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties may be beneficial for a wide range of conditions, including PTSD, another condition suffered by military veterans.
The study was carried out in a collaboration among academic institutions, industry research bodies and corporations that focus on military and civilian medicine and pharmaceutical research. The authors of the report, published on BioMed Central, a part of German Scientific publisher Springer Nature, are from the School of Basic Medicine at Qingdao University, the People’s Liberation Army’s Military Institute for Disease Prevention and Control, the School of Pharmacy at Qingdao University, and Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
The Chinese study comes after research in Japan concluded that Epidiolex failed to reduce the frequency of seizures in children in a critical Phase 3 trial.
Epidiolex is produced by GW Pharmaceuticals, a division of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Dublin.
CBD helped ease the blockage of pleasure feelings, and lowered the rats’ sensitivity to pain, according to the research. Read More