Health and effects
Cannabinoids and Adverse events
What studies can tell us about cannabinoids and Adverse events, including human research, early evidence, and important limits.
The short answer
What does the research say about Adverse events?
Researchers have studied cannabinoids in connection with Adverse events. The current literature covers CBD, CBC, and Cannabinoids in general. This page brings together 27 human-study sources and 12 research reviews. It includes 13 specific study findings from 12 sources. The source set includes human research as well as earlier-stage studies. There is no single answer that applies to every cannabinoid, dose, product, or person. 1
Key takeaways
What to know first
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Research on Adverse events covers CBD, CBC, and Cannabinoids in general; those areas should not be combined into one claim. 1
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The source set includes human research as well as earlier-stage studies. 2
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Dose, formulation, route, study population, and outcome can change how closely a study applies to a real-world question. 3
Research areas
What researchers studied about Adverse events
These are the main questions represented in the current literature. Each link opens a source used to build the overview.
Too limited for a firm answer
CBD
Researchers have studied CBD in connection with Adverse events. The exact compound, dose, formulation, sleep or health measure, and study design determine what the source can show.
Mostly mechanism-focused
CBC
Researchers have studied CBC in connection with Adverse events. The exact compound, dose, formulation, sleep or health measure, and study design determine what the source can show.
Human research included
Cannabinoids in general
Researchers have studied Cannabinoids in general in connection with Adverse events. The exact compound, dose, formulation, sleep or health measure, and study design determine what the source can show.
Results extracted so far
What did the studies report?
These summaries appear only when the recorded study outcome is specific enough to reproduce from the linked source. If a source has no result summary here, the result has not been extracted yet; that does not mean the study found no effect.
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In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 224 patients aged 1-65 with tuberous sclerosis complex and medication-resistant epilepsy, researchers reported an increase in treatment discontinuation due to adverse events following 25 or 50 mg/kg/day by the oral route over 16 weeks. The recorded comparator was matched placebo. 2
Recorded result: Eight patients in the 25 mg/kg/day group, 10 in the 50 mg/kg/day group, and two in the placebo group discontinued because of adverse events.
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In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trial involving 171 patients aged 2-55 with treatment-resistant Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, researchers reported an increase in adverse-event frequency following 20 mg/kg/day by the oral route over 14 weeks. The recorded comparator was matched placebo. 3
Recorded result: Adverse events occurred in 86% of the CBD group and 69% of the placebo group.
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In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trial involving 171 patients aged 2-55 with treatment-resistant Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, researchers reported an increase in withdrawal due to adverse events following 20 mg/kg/day by the oral route over 14 weeks. The recorded comparator was matched placebo. 3
Recorded result: Withdrawal due to adverse events occurred in 14% of the CBD group and 1% of the placebo group.
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In a single-centre randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled parallel trial involving 102 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis, hormonal therapy, and recurrent symptoms, researchers reported an increase in mild adverse-event frequency following escalated from 10 mg/day to 150 mg/day, then tapered by the oral route over 10 weeks. The recorded comparator was placebo. 4
Recorded result: The abstract reports more mild adverse events with CBDO, mainly gastrointestinal symptoms and perceived weight changes; counts and P values are not provided.
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In a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving 583 participants across 4 CBD randomized trials for the serious-adverse-event estimate, researchers reported an increase in serious adverse-event risk at 20 mg/kg/day in randomized trials following 20 mg/kg/day by the oral route over varied across included trials. The recorded comparator was placebo or trial control. 5
Recorded result: Serious adverse events were more frequent with 20 mg/kg/day CBD (RR 2.30; 95% CI 1.36 to 3.89; moderate certainty).
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In a systematic review of all study designs involving 14 studies involving 682 children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, researchers reported an increase in adverse-event frequency across pediatric DEE studies following up to 50 mg/kg/day by the oral route over varied across included studies. The recorded comparator was varied; included nonrandomized studies. 6
Recorded result: Adverse events were described as relatively common, including somnolence, appetite loss, diarrhea, fatigue, and elevated aminotransferases.
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In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled dose-ranging safety trial involving 34 children aged 4 to 10 years with Dravet syndrome, researchers reported an increase in adverse-event frequency following 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day in two daily doses by the oral route over 3-week treatment period including titration. The recorded comparator was placebo. 7
Recorded result: The abstract classifies the trial as Class I evidence that CBD produced more adverse events than placebo; group counts are not provided.
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In a descriptive real-world multicenter study involving 551 children with treatment-resistant developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, researchers reported an increase in adverse-event frequency in a large pediatric DEE cohort following not stated in the PubMed abstract by the oral route over 12 to 32 months; median follow-up 22 months. The recorded comparator was none. 8
Recorded result: Adverse events occurred in 32.7% and were described as mostly mild, transient, and responsive to dose adjustment.
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In a retrospective cohort study involving 29 patients aged 6 to 24 years with pediatric-onset intractable epilepsy, researchers reported an increase in adverse-event frequency in pediatric intractable epilepsy following median maintenance dose 14.2 mg/kg/day by the oral route over median follow-up 14.3 months. The recorded comparator was none. 9
Recorded result: Adverse events occurred in 37.9%; three patients discontinued for pneumonia, lethargy, or seizure aggravation.
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In a retrospective longitudinal study involving 53 children older than 2 years with drug-resistant epileptic spasms, researchers reported an increase in adverse-event frequency in childhood epileptic spasms following not stated in the PubMed abstract by the oral route over treated from 2020 to 2024; patient-level duration not stated. The recorded comparator was none. 10
Recorded result: Adverse events occurred in 62.2%; 11.3% discontinued because of adverse events and 17% for lack of efficacy.
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In an open-label expanded-access follow-up involving 140 patients with treatment-resistant focal epilepsies, including 33 with TSC, researchers reported an increase in adverse-event frequency in focal expanded access following started at 2-10 mg/kg/day and titrated up to 25-50 mg/kg/day by the oral route over up to 144 weeks. The recorded comparator was none. 11
Recorded result: Adverse events occurred in 91% of the TSC group and 96% of the non-TSC group.
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In a prospective observational multicenter cohort involving 101 pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy patients across 19 Thai hospitals, researchers reported an increase in adverse-event frequency with CBD-enriched cannabis oil following median modal CBD dose 6 mg/kg/day; effective range 1-15 mg/kg/day by the oral route over median follow-up 15 months. The recorded comparator was none. 12
Recorded result: Adverse events were reported in 92%, mostly mild; 33 discontinued, including 57% of discontinuers for intolerable adverse events.
How strong is the research?
Not every study answers the same question
This page separates research in people, research reviews, and earlier-stage biology before interpreting the larger question.
Human studies
Research involving people is closest to everyday health questions. The product, dose, population, and outcome still determine what each study can show.
Reviews and evidence summaries
Reviews can compare several studies at once. Their conclusion is only as strong and as relevant as the studies they include.
Lab, animal, and mechanism research
Early-stage research can explain biological interest. It cannot, by itself, show that the same effect happens in people.
Another 4 of 43 research sources could not be placed cleanly into those three groups from the recorded study details.
What these studies actually looked at
The research on Adverse events is not one kind of study. This source set includes 18 clinical studies in people, 10 systematic reviews or meta-analyses, 2 narrative or expert reviews, and 1 case report or case series. 3
The recorded populations or models include people or patients (23 sources), pediatric, adolescent, or developmental context (7 sources), and 102 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis, hormonal therapy, and recurrent symptoms (1 source). A result from one group or model should not be assumed to apply to another. 4
The most common recorded outcome focus is safety, adverse-event, impairment, or formulation-specific concerns (17 sources), safety, risk, adverse-event, or formulation-specific concerns (10 sources), and safety, tolerability, adverse-event, impairment, toxicity, or formulation-specific concerns (3 sources). Closely related outcome names can still describe different measurements. 5
Some source records specify doses including not stated in the PubMed abstract (3 sources), 20 mg or kg or day (2 sources), and 25 or 50 mg or kg or day (1 source). These are descriptions of what researchers tested, not personal dosing instructions. 6
The Adverse events source set also contains findings or reviews that remain too limited, indirect, or mixed for a broad answer. That uncertainty is part of the result, not an empty space to fill with assumptions. 7
Examples from the literature
What did the studies actually look at?
Each example names the research question and the study details recorded for that source.
human research
Adverse events associated with medical cannabis reported within a centralized call center.
On this page, this source examines Cannabinoids and safety, adverse-event, impairment, or formulation-specific concerns. 1
- Population or model
- people or patients
- Outcome focus
- safety, adverse-event, impairment, or formulation-specific concerns
- Evidence stage
- human research
clinical study in people
Add-on Cannabidiol Treatment for Drug-Resistant Seizures in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial.
On this page, this source examines CBD and treatment discontinuation due to adverse events. 2
- Study type
- clinical study in people
- Population or model
- people or patients
- Outcome focus
- treatment discontinuation due to adverse events
- Dose recorded
- 25 or 50 mg or kg or day
- Evidence stage
- human research
clinical study in people
Cannabidiol in patients with seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (GWPCARE4): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.
On this page, this source examines CBD and adverse-event frequency and CBD and withdrawal due to adverse events. 3
- Study type
- clinical study in people
- Population or model
- people or patients
- Outcome focus
- participants with adverse events and withdrawal due to adverse events
- Dose recorded
- 20 mg or kg or day
- Evidence stage
- human research
clinical study in people
Cannabidiol-Enriched Extract Oil for Postoperative Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain Secondary to Endometriosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial-DREAMLAND Study.
On this page, this source examines CBD and mild adverse-event frequency. 4
- Study type
- clinical study in people
- Population or model
- 102 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis, hormonal therapy, and recurrent symptoms
- Outcome focus
- mild adverse events
- Dose recorded
- escalated from 10 mg or day to 150 mg or day, then tapered
- Evidence stage
- human research
systematic review or meta-analysis
Cannabis derivatives and their synthetic analogs for treatment-resistant epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
On this page, this source examines CBD and serious adverse-event risk at 20 mg or kg or day in randomized trials. 5
- Study type
- systematic review or meta-analysis
- Population or model
- people or patients
- Outcome focus
- serious adverse-event risk at 20 mg or kg or day in randomized trials
- Dose recorded
- 20 mg or kg or day
- Evidence stage
- systematic review
Safety and limits
What should readers keep in mind?
Research on Adverse events should be read beside safety. A compound can be non-intoxicating or naturally occurring and still have pharmacologic effects, side effects, interactions, or product-quality concerns.
Research doses are descriptions of what a study tested. They are not personal dosing instructions. Questions involving medications, pregnancy, children, driving, liver health, heart health, or serious symptoms deserve professional medical guidance.
Common questions
Questions people ask
Can cannabinoids help with Adverse events?
Research exists, but there is not one answer for every cannabinoid or product. The source set includes human research as well as earlier-stage studies. 7
Why can studies reach different answers?
Studies may test different cannabinoids, doses, formulations, routes, people, and outcomes. Those differences can change the result. 8
What should I check in a study?
Check whether it studied people, what product and dose it used, what it measured, how long it lasted, and whether safety was reported. 9
Sources
Read the research
The numbered sources below support the main overview. Links open the PubMed record or DOI in a new tab.
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1
Adverse events associated with medical cannabis reported within a centralized call center. human research PubMed 42158949 DOI 10.3389/fphar.2026.1792520
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2
Add-on Cannabidiol Treatment for Drug-Resistant Seizures in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial. clinical study in people; human research PubMed 33346789 DOI 10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.4607
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3
Cannabidiol in patients with seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (GWPCARE4): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. clinical study in people; human research PubMed 29395273 DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(18
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4
Cannabidiol-Enriched Extract Oil for Postoperative Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain Secondary to Endometriosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial-DREAMLAND Study. clinical study in people; human research PubMed 42261989 DOI 10.1177/25785125251413989
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5
Cannabis derivatives and their synthetic analogs for treatment-resistant epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. systematic review or meta-analysis; systematic review PubMed 40267856 DOI 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2025.107559
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6
Efficacy and safety of cannabidiol in children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies: A systematic review. systematic review or meta-analysis; systematic review PubMed 41135306 DOI 10.1016/j.seizure.2025.10.001
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7
Randomized, dose-ranging safety trial of cannabidiol in Dravet syndrome. clinical study in people; human research PubMed 29540584 DOI 10.1212/wnl.0000000000005254
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8
A multicenter study on the use of purified cannabidiol for children with treatment-resistant developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. descriptive real-world multicenter study; human research PubMed 40669175 DOI 10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110590
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9
Adjunctive cannabidiol in intractable pediatric epilepsy: A retrospective study on tolerability, efficacy, and safety across genetic and nongenetic etiologies. retrospective cohort study; human research PubMed 41630268 DOI 10.1097/md.0000000000047425
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10
Cannabidiol as Adjunctive Treatment in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy With Epileptic Spasms Beyond Two Years of Age. retrospective longitudinal study; human research PubMed 41197417 DOI 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2025.10.013
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11
Long-term efficacy and safety of cannabidiol in patients with treatment-resistant focal epilepsies treated in the Expanded Access Program. open-label expanded-access follow-up; human research PubMed 40673944 DOI 10.1111/epi.18496
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12
National Multicenter Cohort Study: Adjunctive Cannabidiol-Enriched Cannabis Oil for Pediatric Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Treatment in Thailand. observational study in people; human research PubMed 40460512 DOI 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2025.04.015
See all 43 research sources
This complete source list is the deeper research layer for the page. Study type and evidence context are shown when they are available in the current record.
- Cannabinol for acute treatment of insomnia disorder in a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial clinical study in people; human research / 3 linked research notes PubMed 41698831
- Pharmacologic treatment of fibromyalgia: an update. narrative or expert review; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 41142233
- The safety of studies with intravenous Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol in humans, with case histories. systematic review or meta-analysis; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 21845389
- Cannabis-based medicines for chronic neuropathic pain in adults. systematic review or meta-analysis; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 41548880
- Adverse events associated with medical cannabis reported within a centralized call center. human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 42158949
- Self-reported adverse events associated with ∆8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8-THC) Use. case report or case series; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 37217977
- Systematic review of drug-drug interactions of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and Cannabis. systematic review or meta-analysis; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 38868665
- Evaluating Delta-8-THC-Induced Psychosis: A Systematic Review. systematic review or meta-analysis; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 39805119
- Prevalence of carboxy-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabiniol in antidoping samples. evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 38176407
- Using Large Language Models to Support Content Analysis: A Case Study of ChatGPT for Adverse Event Detection. human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 38696245
- Safety study of cannabidiol products in healthy dogs. clinical study in people; human research / 2 linked research notes PubMed 38496308
- Physiological effect and pharmacokinetic evaluation of combined oral administration of cannabidiolic acid and cannabigerolic acid in dogs. clinical study in people; mechanism-focused research / 1 linked research note PubMed 41822224
- A Phase I, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Single Ascending Dose, Multiple Dose, and Food Effect Trial of the Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetics of Highly Purified Cannabidiol in Healthy Subjects. clinical study in people; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 30374683
- Update on Cannabidiol in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy. narrative or expert review; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 39585547
- A Phase I, Open-Label, Parallel-Group, Single-Dose Trial of the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Cannabidiol in Subjects with Mild to Severe Renal Impairment. clinical study in people; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 31802404
- Long-term safety and efficacy of highly purified cannabidiol for treatment refractory epilepsy. evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 33667843
- Final analysis of potential drug-drug interactions between highly purified cannabidiol and anti-seizure medications in an open-label expanded access program. evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 37593907
- Balancing risks and benefits of cannabis use: umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials and observational studies. systematic review or meta-analysis; evidence still limited / 2 linked research notes PubMed 37648266
- The contribution of addictovigilance data to the French medical cannabis experimentation. human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 39547825
- A Phase-2 Open-Label Trial of Cannabidiol to Treat Core and Associated Symptoms of Autism in Children and Adolescents Without Intellectual Disability. clinical study in people; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 42204954
- Pharmacotherapies for cannabis use disorder. systematic review or meta-analysis; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 41025421
- Cannabis and cannabinoids for symptomatic treatment for people with multiple sclerosis. systematic review or meta-analysis; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 35510826
- The differential effects of medicinal cannabis on mental health: A systematic review. systematic review or meta-analysis; evidence still limited / 1 linked research note PubMed 40186931
- Cannabidiol in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy: an open-label interventional trial. clinical study in people; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 26724101
- Cannabinoid treatment for autism: a proof-of-concept randomized trial. clinical study in people; mechanism-focused research / 1 linked research note PubMed 33536055
- Effect of Cannabidiol on Drop Seizures in the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. clinical study in people; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 29768152
- Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome. clinical study in people; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 28538134
- Effectiveness of a Cannabinoids Supplement on Sleep and Mood in Adults With Subthreshold Insomnia: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Pilot Trial. clinical study in people; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 39980821
- Single dose and chronic oral administration of cannabigerol and cannabigerolic acid-rich hemp extract in fed and fasted dogs: Physiological effect and pharmacokinetic evaluation. clinical study in people; mechanism-focused research / 1 linked research note PubMed 35246858
- Pharmacokinetic and Safety Evaluation of Various Oral Doses of a Novel 1:20 THC:CBD Cannabis Herbal Extract in Dogs. clinical study in people; mechanism-focused research / 1 linked research note PubMed 33134364
- A Two-Phase, Dose-Ranging, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety and Preliminary Test of Acute Effects of Oral Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabivarin in Healthy Participants. clinical study in people; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 37721990
- Cannabidiol in patients with seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (GWPCARE4): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. clinical study in people; human research / 2 linked research notes PubMed 29395273
- Add-on Cannabidiol Treatment for Drug-Resistant Seizures in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial. clinical study in people; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 33346789
- Cannabidiol-Enriched Extract Oil for Postoperative Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain Secondary to Endometriosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial-DREAMLAND Study. clinical study in people; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 42261989
- Randomized, dose-ranging safety trial of cannabidiol in Dravet syndrome. clinical study in people; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 29540584
- Adjunctive cannabidiol in intractable pediatric epilepsy: A retrospective study on tolerability, efficacy, and safety across genetic and nongenetic etiologies. retrospective cohort study; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 41630268
- Cannabidiol as Adjunctive Treatment in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy With Epileptic Spasms Beyond Two Years of Age. retrospective longitudinal study; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 41197417
- Real-world efficacy and safety of cannabidiol in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. retrospective real-world cohort study; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 41165013
- Efficacy and safety of cannabidiol in children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies: A systematic review. systematic review or meta-analysis; systematic review / 1 linked research note PubMed 41135306
- Long-term efficacy and safety of cannabidiol in patients with treatment-resistant focal epilepsies treated in the Expanded Access Program. open-label expanded-access follow-up; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 40673944
- A multicenter study on the use of purified cannabidiol for children with treatment-resistant developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. descriptive real-world multicenter study; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 40669175
- National Multicenter Cohort Study: Adjunctive Cannabidiol-Enriched Cannabis Oil for Pediatric Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Treatment in Thailand. observational study in people; human research / 1 linked research note PubMed 40460512
- Cannabis derivatives and their synthetic analogs for treatment-resistant epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. systematic review or meta-analysis; systematic review / 1 linked research note PubMed 40267856