One of the most controversial topics about cannabis is its efficacy in treating symptoms and handling seizures of epilepsy. But can cannabis really manage epilepsy? What does med experts say about it? Read on for more details.
An Overview of Medical Cannabis
The most popular term for cannabis is marijuana. For botanists and pharmaceutical firms, cannabis is commonly known as cannabinoid linnaea. The cannabis plant’s female flowers and leaves are referred to as marijuana when the word is used. Medical marijuana can be either the complete plant or specific compounds in the plant.
Cannabis contains compounds known as cannabinoids, which work on cells in the body to produce a variety of effects. THC and CBD are two crucial components. THC is the main ingredient in marijuana that gives users a “high,” whereas CBD does not produce any euphoric effects but has shown some promise in treating a variety of ailments. This is the component that has helped some patients with epilepsy by lowering their seizure count.
Cannabis for Seizures
Anecdotal accounts, laboratory data, and limited clinical studies conducted over several years show that cannabidiol (CBD) may help reduce seizures. CBD research has been hampered by federal laws and a lack of widespread availability of cannabidiol. There are also several time and budget restrictions.
Numerous studies conducted in the last few years have demonstrated the effectiveness of CBD products derived from plants in treating particular types of epileptic patients who do not respond to conventional treatments.
Findings on Cannabis for Epilepsy
Epidiolex, a CBD formulation derived from plants, research has been going on in the United States for a while. These trials’ findings contributed to the FDA’s June 25, 2018, approval of this medicine.
Cannabis-derived Epidiolex (CBD Oil) is a highly refined (>98% oil-based) CBD supplement. Greenwich Biosciences manufactures it so that each dose has the same quantity of the active ingredient.
Clinical studies involving human subjects were conducted by the researchers to learn more about this medication. These trials utilized a placebo-controlled control group, with some participants receiving only a placebo while others received varying concentrations of CBD. The researchers had no idea who was receiving a placebo and who was receiving CBD when they conducted the study.
Possible Side Effects
While patients with epilepsy increasingly agree that medicinal marijuana is beneficial, experts stress that adverse effects need to be better studied. Another unknown is how CBD may interact with other drugs. Marijuana, like the majority of anti-seizure medicines, has been found to have an impact on memory. Missed doses may result, and seizures may recur as a result.
According to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, youngsters who use cannabis show a significant decline in cognitive ability. The way a medication is administered might have an influence on side effects as well. Eating it poses no health danger, but smoking it would.
Conclusion
Cannabis for epilepsy showed good results in managing symptoms and seizures. However, just like what cannabis experts always tell the public, it’s best to consult a doctor before using cannabis for various types of illnesses.
