What it means
One of the chemicals in cannabis, often called CBD. Unlike THCtee-aych-SEE (said as letters)Tetrahydrocannabinol: the main chemical in cannabis that produces a high.Full entry , it does not cause intoxication. A purified prescription form (Epidiolex) treats seizures in some rare childhood epilepsies. Over-the-counter CBD products are not checked by the FDA for strength or purity. Side effects include drowsiness, diarrhea and changes in liver tests, and it interacts with other seizure drugs.
For the nurse
Ask every client about CBD and cannabis use when taking a medication history, since they interact with many drugs. For Epidiolex, teach that liver blood tests are checked and that the client should report yellow skin, dark urine or severe tiredness.
At a glance
| Drug class | anticonvulsant (cannabinoid) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Epidiolex |
| Spanish | cannabidiol |
| Also written | Epidiolex |
Related terms
seizure
A sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that changes movement, feeling, behavior or awareness.
THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol: the main chemical in cannabis that produces a high.
dronabinol
A man-made form of THC taken by mouth to ease nausea from chemotherapy and to boost appetite in AIDS-related weight loss.