Cannabinoids are approved by USFDA in June 2018 for new use of
Epidiolex is a cannabidiol (CBD) oral solution. It was approved for treating rare, severe forms of epilepsy like Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. That makes sense because those are hard-to-treat conditions. The question is about a new use in 2018, so if Epidiolex was approved then, that's the answer. The other options might be older uses or not approved. For example, Marinol (dronabinol) is for chemotherapy-induced nausea and anorexia in AIDS, but that's been around longer. Sativex is another cannabinoid, but it's used in Europe, not FDA approved. So the correct answer here is probably Epidiolex for those specific epilepsies. Let me make sure there wasn't another approval in 2018. I think that's the main one. The other options would be things like pain, glaucoma, or other conditions where cannabinoids are not FDA approved yet. So the answer should be the new use for those epilepsy types.
**Core Concept**
The question tests knowledge of FDA-approved indications for cannabinoids, specifically cannabidiol (CBD), as of June 2018. Cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system, modulating neuronal excitability and inflammation, which is critical in managing refractory epilepsy.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Epidiolex (cannabidiol) was FDA-approved in June 2018 for treating **Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS)** and **Dravet syndrome**, two severe, treatment-resistant epilepsies in children. CBD, a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, reduces seizure frequency by enhancing GABAergic inhibition, inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels, and modulating TRPV1 receptors. This approval marked the first FDA-approved cannabis-derived drug for epilepsy.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** *Pain management* – Despite evidence for cannabis in pain, no FDA-approved cannabinoid is indicated solely for chronic pain.
**Option B:** *Glaucoma* – Cannabinoids lower intraocular pressure but lack FDA approval for glaucoma due to inconsistent efficacy and adverse effects.
**Option C:** *Nausea/vomiting* – Dronabinol (Marinol) and nabilone are approved for chemotherapy-induced nausea, but this use predates 2018.
**Option D:** *Anorexia in HIV/AIDS* – Dronabinol is also approved for anorexia in HIV, but again, this is not a new 2018 indication.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Epidiolex is the **only FDA-approved CBD medication**; recreational or unregulated CBD products are not interchangeable. Remember: **CBD for seizures, THC for nausea** – but only in FDA-approved