Unlike products available under the Medical Cannabis Access Programme or Ministerial Licence, Epidyolex is the only authorised cannabis-based medication currently available in Ireland which is indicated for the treatments of some rare epilepsies. This means that the medication has established a positive benefit/risk profile through clinical trials and is subject to ongoing monitoring by regulatory authorities such as the Health Products Regulatory Authority and the European Medicines Agency.
More details on the clinical trial data supporting the use of Epidyolex can be by visiting our ‘Evidence in Epilepsy’ section.
Epidyolex can be prescribed as an add-on treatment to another anti-epileptic drug called clobazam (Frisium), to treat patients from the age of two years who have Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) or Dravet syndrome (DS). LGS and DS are rare and severe types of epilepsy that begin in childhood and can continue into adulthood. Epidyolex can also be used to treat Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), a rare genetic condition that typically causes seizures to occur.
Epilepsy Ireland successfully advocated to have the medication reimbursed by the HSE and it has been available under the LTI, Medical Card, Drug Repayment Schemes etc since January 2022. You can read more on this by visiting the 'News' section of our website.
The medication has been reimbursed in Ireland since January 2022 – meaning that the cost of the medication is covered under the Medical Card, Long-Term illness, and Drugs Repayment Scheme.
A common question is whether Epidyolex will be available to people with other types of epilepsy. While it is indicated only for DS, LGS and TSC it is possible that specialists could prescribe it 'off-label' for people with other types of epilepsy. However, this would most likely be possible only in rare circumstances where other treatment options have been exhausted. This would also be a matter to discuss with your treating consultant.