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Median convulsive seizure frequency fell by 39% with cannabidiol in a Dravet syndrome trial. New England Journal of Medicine
Median drop-seizure frequency fell by 43.9% with cannabidiol in a Lennox-Gastaut syndrome trial. New England Journal of Medicine
Specific cannabis-based medicines are licensed in the UK for certain rare, severe forms of epilepsy. NICE NG144
People in the UK have epilepsy, equating to more than 630,000 people. Epilepsy Action
Could treatment be suitable?
A specialist may assess you if:
- You have a diagnosed condition or an established clinical history.
- Standard treatments have not helped enough or were unsuitable.
- You are 18 or over and live in the UK.
- Your records allow a doctor to review previous care and current medicines.
Understanding the condition
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes recurrent seizures, sometimes called fits. A seizure happens when there is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain.
Seizures range from brief lapses in awareness to convulsions that affect the whole body, and they can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Their impact on safety, work and independence can be significant.
Recognising the impact
Common epilepsy symptoms
Symptoms depend on the type of seizure and which part of the brain is involved.
- Uncontrollable jerking and shaking (a fit)
- Losing awareness and staring blankly
- Unusual sensations, smells or tastes
- Stiffness or sudden collapse
- Tingling in the arms or legs
- Confusion or tiredness after a seizure
Seek urgent help for a prolonged seizure Call 999 if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, if one seizure follows another without recovery in between, or if someone is seriously injured or has trouble breathing. A first-ever seizure should always be assessed by a doctor. Contact NHS 111, your GP or emergency services as appropriate.
Conventional treatments
Conventional treatment options
Epilepsy is usually well controlled with anti-seizure medicines. Recognised options include:
- Anti-seizure medicines such as lamotrigine, levetiracetam or brivaracetam
- Carbamazepine for certain seizure types
- Clobazam or clonazepam as add-on treatment in some cases
- Choosing and adjusting medicines to seizure type and the individual
- Specialist review where seizures remain difficult to control
Although these options help many people, they are not enough for everyone. If epilepsy symptoms still affect daily life, a specialist assessment can help you understand whether another route may be suitable.
Specialist-led care
Can medical cannabis help with epilepsy?
A licensed cannabidiol (CBD) medicine is available on the NHS for some rare, severe childhood epilepsies. For most other epilepsy, cannabis-based options are unlicensed and only considered by a specialist where recognised medicines have not controlled seizures.
Some cannabis-based medicines are already licensed in the UK for specific, rare and severe forms of epilepsy where other treatments have not worked. This is a small and carefully defined group of patients rather than a general route.
Effects can vary from person to person, which is why a GMC-registered specialist reviews your symptoms, goals, medicines and records before deciding whether treatment may be appropriate.
1
Eligibility screening
Tell us about your diagnosis, symptoms and treatments already tried. No GP referral is needed.
2
Specialist consultation
A GMC-registered specialist reviews your records, goals, current medicines and relevant risks by online video.
3
Decision and follow-up
When treatment is appropriate, outcomes and side effects are monitored and the plan is reviewed.
Evidence
What does the evidence say?
Licensed use for specific rare epilepsies; limited for others
A purified CBD medicine is licensed in the UK for certain rare, severe epilepsies (such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes). For general epilepsy the evidence is more limited and use is specialist-led.
- Anti-seizure medicines are the recognised first-line treatment for epilepsy.
- Licensed CBD applies to specific rare, severe epilepsies, not all types.
- Other cannabis-based options are unlicensed and considered case by case.
Related support
Explore related epilepsy support
These pages may help if symptoms overlap or you want to understand the wider specialist assessment pathway.
Safety
Possible side effects
Medical cannabis is prescribed under specialist supervision, and patient experience can vary. Your clinician will explain what to watch for and adjust your plan if needed.
- Decreased appetite or feeling sick
- Diarrhoea or weakness
- Dizziness or feeling very tired
- Behavioural or mood changes
They’ll usually ease on their own, but speak to your clinician if they don’t improve over time.
For most people with epilepsy the wider evidence is still developing, and effects can vary from person to person. A doctor on the GMC Specialist Register considers your diagnosis, seizure type, the treatments already tried and the potential benefits and risks before deciding whether a prescription is appropriate.
Questions
Epilepsy FAQs
Clear answers on eligibility, suitability and legal prescribing in the UK.
Is medical cannabis legal for epilepsy in the UK?
Medical cannabis has been legal to prescribe in the UK since November 2018, but only a specialist doctor on the GMC Specialist Register can prescribe it, and only when it is clinically appropriate. Eligibility does not guarantee a prescription.
Can cannabis-based medicines help with epilepsy?
Evidence around cannabis and epilepsy is strongest for specific licensed CBD medicines used in certain rare, severe epilepsies. For most epilepsy types the evidence is still developing, and effects can vary. A specialist decides individually whether a prescription is appropriate.
Is cannabis legal in the UK?
Prescription cannabis-based products for medicinal use have had a legal prescribing route in the UK since 1 November 2018. Recreational cannabis remains illegal, and a legal medicine must be prescribed for you and used exactly as directed.
Is an online assessment as reliable as in person?
Yes. Our structured video assessments follow the same recognised diagnostic standards used in face-to-face appointments, with the added convenience of being seen from home.
Do I need a GP referral?
No GP referral is needed to start an eligibility check. Sharing your medical records helps the specialist review your history and current medicines, and we can keep your GP informed if you wish.
Find out whether a specialist assessment may be suitable
Complete a short eligibility check. A prescribing decision can only be made after a full clinical assessment by a GMC-registered specialist.