Epidiolex (cannabidiol) is a prescription drug doctors use to treat seizures caused by certain epilepsy syndromes and tuberous sclerosis. The drug comes as a liquid solution. You usually take it twice per day.
Doctors prescribe Epidiolex to adults and certain children to treat seizures related to:
- epilepsy syndromes that begin during infancy and childhood, specifically:
- Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
- tuberous sclerosis complex
The active ingredient in Epidiolex is cannabidiol. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)
Epidiolex belongs to a group of drugs called cannabinoids.
This article describes the dosages of Epidiolex, as well as its strength and how to take it. To learn more about Epidiolex, see this in-depth article.
Below are details about Epidiolex’s form, strength, and dosages. Doctors will usually prescribe the lowest dose possible. If necessary, your doctor may increase your dosage, depending on your response to treatment.
Note: This table highlights the basics of Epidiolex’s dosage. Dosages are shown in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). Be sure to read on for more detail.
| Condition | Starting dosage | Maintenance dosage | Maximum dosage |
| Dravet syndrome | 2.5 mg/kg twice per day | 5 mg/kg twice per day | 10 mg/kg twice per day |
| Lennox-Gastaut syndrome | 2.5 mg/kg twice per day | 5 mg/kg twice per day | 10 mg/kg twice per day |
| tuberous sclerosis complex | 2.5 mg/kg twice per day | 12.5 mg/kg twice per day | – |
What is Epidiolex’s form?
Epidiolex comes as a liquid solution that you swallow. It can also be given through a feeding tube.
What strength does Epidiolex come in?
Epidiolex comes in one strength: 100 milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL). It’s available in bottles of 60 mL and 100 mL.
What are the usual dosages of Epidiolex?
The dosage of Epidiolex varies, depending on the cause of the seizures.
The information below describes dosages that doctors commonly prescribe or recommend. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for seizures from epilepsy syndromes
For seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes, the starting dosage is 2.5 mg/kg twice per day. After a week, if you tolerate the dosage well, the doctor may increase the dosage to 5 mg/kg twice per day. If needed, the doctor can prescribe a maximum dosage of 10 mg/kg twice per day.
Dosage for seizures from tuberous sclerosis complex
For seizures caused by the tumors of tuberous sclerosis complex, the starting dosage is 2.5 mg/kg twice per day. Every week, your doctor can increase the dosage by 5 mg/kg per day, or 2.5 mg/kg per dose. If the increased dosage of Epidiolex continues to be tolerable with few side effects, your doctor will eventually prescribe the recommended maintenance dosage of 12.5 mg/kg twice per day.
What’s the dosage of Epidiolex for children?
Doctors can prescribe Epidiolex to children 1 year and older. The dosage of Epidiolex for children is the same as the dosage for adults. The dosage depends on a person’s body weight and not their age.
Is Epidiolex used long term?
Yes, Epidiolex is usually used as a long-term treatment. If it’s safe and effective for treating the seizures, it’ll likely be continued long term.
Dosage adjustments
If someone has moderate or severe liver disease, the doctor may need to lower the maintenance dosage of Epidiolex. And when the doctor first prescribes the medication, they may need to increase the dosage more slowly.
Also, certain medications can affect how quickly the liver breaks down Epidiolex. If you or your child take one of these medications, the doctor may need to adjust the dosage of Epidiolex.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Epidiolex’s dosage.
Does Epidiolex have a dosing calculator?
Yes, Epidiolex has a dosing calculator on the drug manufacturer’s website. The calculator uses body weight and the recommended daily dosage to calculate each dose in milliliters (mL) and milligrams (mg). Using this calculator, your doctor will determine the correct dosage.
If you have more questions about calculating the dosage, talk with your doctor.
Is the dosage of Epidiolex similar to the dosage of CBD oil?
Epidiolex and CBD oil have the same active ingredient,* cannabidiol. And although doctors may prescribe Epidiolex and CBD oil to treat certain forms of epilepsy, only Epidiolex has approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose. Because of this, only Epidiolex has FDA-approved dosage recommendations.
The FDA doesn’t regulate CBD oil as a prescription product. Some forms of CBD oil may contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the component in marijuana products that causes psychological effects.
If you’re interested in using CBD oil for seizures, you should talk with your doctor about choosing an appropriate product and dosage.
To learn more about how Epidiolex and CBD oil dosages compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.
The dosage of Epidiolex your doctor prescribes for you or your child may depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the seizures
- how well the treatment works at the current dosage
- body weight
- other prescribed medications*
- if you or your child have liver disease *
* See “Dosage adjustments” above.
Epidiolex comes as a liquid solution that you swallow. It can also be given through a feeding tube. Take it consistently with or without food. This means that if you usually take Epidiolex with a meal, it’s best to always take it with a meal. And if you usually take Epidiolex without food, it’s best to always take it without food.
Each bottle of Epidiolex comes with a syringe with volume markers. To measure the amount of Epidiolex you need, you’ll use the provided syringe to draw up the volume of liquid solution your doctor prescribed.
For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Epidiolex, see this article.
Accessible drug containers and labels
Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:
- have large print or use braille
- feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio
Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.
If you have trouble opening medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to supply Epidiolex in an easy-open container. They may also have tips to help make it simpler to open the drug’s container.
If you miss a dose of Epidiolex, talk with your pharmacist or doctor. They may recommend taking the dose immediately, followed by the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. But if it’s almost time to take the next dose, your doctor or pharmacist may tell you to skip the missed dose. You should not double the dose to make up for a missed dose.
If you need help remembering when it’s time for the next dose of Epidiolex, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.
Be sure to follow the Epidiolex prescription as written by your doctor. Too much Epidiolex can lead to harmful effects.
What to do in case you take too much Epidiolex
If you think you’ve taken too much Epidiolex, call your doctor right away. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if there are severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.
The sections above describe the usual dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Epidiolex for you or your child, they’ll prescribe the proper dosage.
Remember, you should not change the dosage of Epidiolex without your doctor’s recommendation. You should only take Epidiolex exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about the current dosage prescribed.
Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- If Epidiolex causes sleepiness, can the doctor lower the dosage?
- If my child loses weight while taking Epidiolex, will their doctor adjust their dosage?
- When starting Epidiolex treatment, is it always necessary to wait a full week before the doctor increases the dosage?
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
