Is Cannabidiol with Clobazam Available on the NHS?
Over the past few years, cannabidiol (CBD) combined with clobazam has emerged as a treatment option for some forms of epilepsy. But for many patients and families in the UK, a common question remains: can you get cannabidiol with clobazam on the NHS? This question involves untangling what the law says about prescribing cannabis-based products, the impact of the 2018 rescheduling, and how NHS funding decisions shape access.
In this article, we'll break down the key facts around cannabidiol clobazam, explain how NHS technology appraisals in the UK affect availability, and clear up common confusions about legal prescribing versus NHS funding. We'll also look at why specialist-only prescribing rules matter, and why the NHS remains cautious on unlicensed cannabis-based medicines.
What Is Cannabidiol with Clobazam?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis that has shown promise for some neurological conditions, especially certain childhood epilepsies.
Clobazam is a benzodiazepine medication widely used in epilepsy treatment. Some clinical trials have investigated how cannabidiol combined with clobazam affects seizure control.
Understanding this combination is critical because, as we'll see, the interaction of these two drugs—and the evidence around their combined use—influences whether and how they are prescribed and funded on the NHS.
The 2018 Rescheduling: What Changed?
Before 2018, all cannabis-based products were classified as Schedule 1 drugs under the UK Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. This meant they were considered to have no recognised medical use and so could not be prescribed legally on the NHS.
In November 2018, following https://vergemagazine.co.uk/can-you-get-medical-cannabis-on-the-nhs-a-guide-to-the-uk-system/ recommendations from medical experts and patient advocacy groups, cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) were rescheduled to Schedule 2. This change allowed specialist doctors to legally prescribe cannabis-based medicines, including cannabidiol, for certain conditions.
- What did this mean in practice? From that date, CBMPs were no longer automatically illegal to prescribe. Specialist doctors in the NHS could request and legally supply these products under strict conditions.
- However, not all cannabis-derived medicines are the same. Products like Epidyolex®, a licensed cannabidiol oral solution often prescribed alongside clobazam for Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, have undergone regulatory approval.
So the 2018 rescheduling changed the legal framework, making lawful prescribing possible but did not guarantee NHS funding or easy access.
Legal Prescribing vs NHS Funding: What’s the Difference?
It’s important to separate two concepts that are often confused:
- Legal prescribing: After rescheduling, cannabis-based medicines can be prescribed legally by NHS specialists where clinically appropriate.
- NHS funding: Even if a drug is legal to prescribe, the NHS trusts and commissioners decide whether to pay for it based on evidence of clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Not all legal medicines get routine NHS funding.
For cannabidiol plus clobazam, this split is significant. Just because a specialist doctor can prescribe it doesn't mean the NHS will routinely cover the cost for all patients.
Specialist-Only Prescribing and Why It Matters
Following the rescheduling, the UK government and NHS bodies made it clear that cannabis-based medicines must be prescribed only by specialists with relevant expertise. This aims to ensure patient safety, proper diagnosis, and clinical governance.
- General practitioners (GPs) cannot initiate cannabidiol or other cannabis-based medicines on the NHS.
- Specialists prescribing these medicines must do so under strict clinical guidelines and typically for conditions where other licensed treatments have failed.
This specialist-only pathway means patients can’t simply ask their GP for cannabidiol treatment with clobazam on the NHS. It also ensures access remains tightly controlled and clinically appropriate.
NHS Technology Appraisal in the UK: How Does It Shape Access?
For a medicine like cannabidiol with clobazam to be funded routinely on the NHS, it must usually go through a NICE technology appraisal. This process reviews:
- Clinical trial evidence for efficacy and safety.
- Cost-effectiveness compared to existing treatments.
- Expert and patient input.
In 2019, NICE completed and published a technology appraisal guidance (TA) for cannabidiol (Epidyolex®) for certain epilepsy conditions. This guidance supports funding of Epidyolex in combination with clobazam for Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, but only under specific criteria and specialist supervision.
So, for patients with Dravet or Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, cannabidiol clobazam prescribed within the NICE criteria is available on the NHS. For other types of epilepsy, access remains limited and typically private.
Unlicensed Cannabis-Based Medicines and NHS Caution
Many cannabis-derived products remain unlicensed medicines in the UK. This means they have not undergone the same rigorous clinical trials and regulatory review as Epidyolex.
- The NHS tends to be very cautious about funding and prescribing unlicensed cannabis medicines.
- Most NHS specialists will not routinely prescribe unlicensed cannabis-based medicines because of limited evidence and concerns about quality control.
- Some private clinics featured on medicalcannabis.co.uk may offer access to these unlicensed products, but this is outside NHS funding and makes patients responsible for the cost.
The website releaf.co.uk offers useful patient-friendly explanations about how cannabidiol treatments work and what to expect regarding NHS access and private prescriptions.
Costs: What About the Price of Cannabidiol with Clobazam on the NHS?
Currently, there are no publicly stated specific prices for cannabidiol with clobazam within NHS formularies available from official sources or through scraped data.
If price information becomes available from future sources, it will be quoted exactly and attributed to ensure transparency.
It's worth remembering that privately sourced cannabidiol products can vary hugely in price, quality, and legal status. Patients considering private prescriptions should ask for detailed cost breakdowns and check whether specialist support and monitoring are included.
Summary: Can You Get Cannabidiol with Clobazam on the NHS?
- Since the 2018 rescheduling, cannabidiol-based medicines including Epidyolex can be legally prescribed on the NHS but only by specialists.
- NICE technology appraisal TA619 supports NHS funding for Epidyolex combined with clobazam for Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes under strict criteria.
- For other epilepsy types, NHS funding of cannabidiol with clobazam is unlikely, and access typically requires private prescription.
- The NHS remains cautious about unlicensed cannabis-based medicines due to limited evidence and regulates prescribing tightly.
- Always check with your specialist epilepsy team about eligibility and options before pursuing cannabidiol treatment on the NHS.
For patients and families exploring cannabidiol treatments for epilepsy, being informed about the specialist prescribing rules, NHS funding pathways, and legal context helps set realistic expectations and identify safe, supported routes to access.
Further Resources
- MedicalCannabis.co.uk – Clinic directory and comparison site specialising in cannabis-based treatment options.
- Releaf.co.uk – Patient-friendly explainer website about cannabidiol and epilepsy treatment in the UK.
- NICE TA619 Guidance – Detailed technology appraisal for cannabidiol with clobazam.