Historique
Article de Périodique
Cannabinoids and adverse convulsive effects: A pharmacovigilance and addictovigilance analysis of cases reported in France (2025)
Auteur(s) :
LAROCHE, M. L. ;
LABETOULLE, M. ;
JOUANJUS, E. ;
KROGER, E. ;
ZONGO, A.
Année
2025
Page(s) :
art. e70028
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Refs biblio. :
53
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Discipline :
PAT (Pathologie organique / Organic pathology)
Thésaurus géographique
FRANCE
Thésaurus mots-clés
ETUDE RETROSPECTIVE
;
ETUDE DE CAS
;
CANNABINOIDES
;
CONVULSION
;
EFFET SECONDAIRE
;
PHARMACOVIGILANCE
;
ADDICTOVIGILANCE
;
USAGE RECREATIF
;
BASE DE DONNEES
;
FACTEUR DE RISQUE
;
SURVEILLANCE EPIDEMIOLOGIQUE
;
USAGE THERAPEUTIQUE
Résumé :
BACKGROUND: Seizures after the use of cannabinoids are reported, but no precise descriptions of the characteristics of subjects and factors that may trigger seizures are available.
OBJECTIVES: To study the characteristics and circumstances associated with the occurrence of seizures in individuals using cannabinoids for medical or recreational purposes.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of spontaneous reports of adverse drug effects issued by the French pharmacovigilance and addictovigilance systems, and by manufacturers, extracted data from the Eudravigilance database (01/01/1985-21/07/2023). The request used the broad MedDRA SMQ term 'convulsive', with all products containing cannabinoids (THC, CBD, cannabis or natural cannabinoids).
RESULTS: Among 4296 notifications with cannabinoids, 130 (3%) reports of convulsive effects were analysed: 29 cases (23.3%) related to medical use (27 CBD, 1 THC and 2 combined THC/CBD preparations) and 98 (75.4%) related to recreational use. The median age was 29.0 years (min-max: 3-75), 78.7% were men and 81.1% were serious cases. Among the recreational users, 38.8% used Cannabis sativa with a history of epilepsy, and 68.4% of them were taking antiepileptics. In total, 67.7% of individuals had at least one risk factor for seizures, i.e., 31.0% among medical users and 78.6% among recreational users. The main risk factors with medical use were inefficacy of CBD (17.2%), fatigue (13.8%) and concomitant epileptogenic medications (10.3%). The main risk with recreational use was concomitant epileptogenic medications (39.8%), consumption of illicit drugs (33.7%) and alcohol (32.7%).
CONCLUSION: This analysis demonstrates the importance of alerting cannabinoid users, particularly recreational cannabis users and those with a history of epilepsy, about seizure-associated risks. Moreover, educational information should be provided together with the prescription of licensed cannabinoids and medical cannabis. [Author's abstract]
OBJECTIVES: To study the characteristics and circumstances associated with the occurrence of seizures in individuals using cannabinoids for medical or recreational purposes.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of spontaneous reports of adverse drug effects issued by the French pharmacovigilance and addictovigilance systems, and by manufacturers, extracted data from the Eudravigilance database (01/01/1985-21/07/2023). The request used the broad MedDRA SMQ term 'convulsive', with all products containing cannabinoids (THC, CBD, cannabis or natural cannabinoids).
RESULTS: Among 4296 notifications with cannabinoids, 130 (3%) reports of convulsive effects were analysed: 29 cases (23.3%) related to medical use (27 CBD, 1 THC and 2 combined THC/CBD preparations) and 98 (75.4%) related to recreational use. The median age was 29.0 years (min-max: 3-75), 78.7% were men and 81.1% were serious cases. Among the recreational users, 38.8% used Cannabis sativa with a history of epilepsy, and 68.4% of them were taking antiepileptics. In total, 67.7% of individuals had at least one risk factor for seizures, i.e., 31.0% among medical users and 78.6% among recreational users. The main risk factors with medical use were inefficacy of CBD (17.2%), fatigue (13.8%) and concomitant epileptogenic medications (10.3%). The main risk with recreational use was concomitant epileptogenic medications (39.8%), consumption of illicit drugs (33.7%) and alcohol (32.7%).
CONCLUSION: This analysis demonstrates the importance of alerting cannabinoid users, particularly recreational cannabis users and those with a history of epilepsy, about seizure-associated risks. Moreover, educational information should be provided together with the prescription of licensed cannabinoids and medical cannabis. [Author's abstract]
Affiliation :
Regional Centre of Pharmacovigilance, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France