A medication derived from marijuana could help patients with a rare form of epilepsy. Epidiolex, a pure cannabidiol (CBD) with no THC content, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June.

This comes on the heels of a breakthrough trial, which included the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Co-author of the study Dr. Michael Privitera and others found patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a severe, yet rare form of epilepsy, showed significant improvement on CBD. The oral solution reduced the frequency of drop seizures, which cause sudden loss of muscle strength.

As Ohio rushes to get its medical marijuana program fully operational, CBD is one medication already showing up in headshops and on health food store shelves. But what is the tincture inside those little glass bottles? Many consumers are trying CBD tinctures, ointments and gummies for everything from pain to anxiety and sleep disorders. Is there research to suggest CBD really has other applications beyond reducing drop seizures?

Joining Cincinnati Edition from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center are Epilepsy Center Director and College of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine Professor Michael Privitera, MD; Corporate Pharmacy Drug and Policy Development Specialist Geralyn Waters; and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Krissy Reinstatler.

Tune in to Cincinnati Edition August 23 at 1 p.m. to hear this segment.