Epilepsy and cannabis

Cannabidiol (CBD), an active ingredient found in hemp plants, has been used to treat epilepsy with varying levels of effectiveness, according to several research studies and multiple personal experiences. Here's what you need to know about using CBD for epilepsy.

Epilepsy in brief

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that causes recurrent seizures. Seizures are marked by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. There is no definitive cure for epilepsy, but there are several ways to manage it.

Can CBD relieve epilepsy?

Recent research suggests that CBD can help people with epilepsy, although some people may experience side effects.

Epidyolex and epilepsy

Epidyolex, a CBD-based epilepsy treatment with a temporary authorization for use, is available in France.

Epidiolex is a pharmaceutical CBD oil containing 100mg of CBD per mL of oil. It can be prescribed in France to treat two rare forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, in people aged 2 and over. Other countries have also approved the use of Epidiolex to treat tuberous sclerosis complex, another rare epileptic disorder.

Since these seizures generally affect children and adolescents, Epidyolex is generally prescribed for children with epilepsy.

Epidiolex passed randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials in the USA before being approved for prescription in Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The studies suggest that Epidiolex reduces seizure frequency. However, they also noted that there are potential side effects of Epidiolex.

CBD and epilepsy

Although CBD is the basis of the drug Epidiolex, the use of CBD wellness cannot be compared to that of a drug. Epidiolex is subject to higher manufacturing standards than commercial CBD, and a pharmaceutical production and distribution circuit. In France, CBD bien-être cannot be equated with a drug.

A recent study compared the effects of artisanal or store-bought CBD to pharmaceutical-grade CBD on people with epilepsy, and highlighted the potential risks of choosing store-bought CBD over Epidiolex.

Epidiolex: pharmaceutical CBD isolate and seizure reduction

A study 2018 published in the New England Journal of Medicine focused on Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a type of severe epilepsy that first appears in childhood, and patients whose seizures had not responded to prescribed anti-epileptic drugs.

When treated with 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight with Epidiolex, a CBD isolate approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nearly 42% of patients experienced a reduction in seizures, while 10 milligrams of Epidiolex per kilogram of body weight led to a reduction in seizures in 37% of study participants.

Doses in milligrams per kilogram (mg / kg) are based on body weight, making it more accurate for dosing infants and young children most often affected by the severe forms of epilepsy that Epidiolex treats. Most clinical trials on CBD for seizures have been carried out on paediatric patients, although results are similar in adults.

Is CBD oil safe for epilepsy?

Are there any risks to taking CBD for epilepsy?

Yes. There is a chance that CBD can cause side effects. In some studies, a few subjects actually experienced an increase in seizures after using CBD.

CBD isolate and CBD-rich whole plant extracts, more commonly known as CBD oil, However, they now have a clinical history showing potential for seizure reduction.

Animal models showing reduced seizure activity with CBD

A study of 2017 published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences tested the ability of isolated CBD to reduce seizures in mouse models of Dravet syndrome. After administering 100 milligrams of CBD per kilogram of body weight to the mouse models in several tests, the study concluded that CBD was effective in reducing the seizure symptoms of Dravet syndrome.

Full-spectrum vegetable CBD oil

L’full-spectrum CBD oil or whole-plant oil is a blend of cannabidiol (CBD), minor cannabinoids, terpenes and up to traces of THC. Researchers have found that whole-plant CBD oil can treat seizures more effectively than CBD as an isolated compound.

A study of 2018 published in Brain Development revealed that an average dose of 11 mg / kg of’CBD broad spectrum oil was effective in treating children and adolescents with drug-resistant epilepsy. About half of the patients in the study reported adverse effects, while more than half saw a reduction in the frequency of their seizures. In addition, the researchers observed that starting CBD oil at a younger age generally led to better patient outcomes.

Other prospects

Epilepsy isn't the only seizure-inducing condition that CBD oil can help relieve. A Texas family has participated to a clinical trial in 2017 to treat their 7-year-old daughter's tuberous sclerosis, which was triggering daily seizures and could eventually lead to epilepsy. At Cook Children's Medical Center of Fort Worth, Dr. M. Scott Perry led the trial and worked with several families, drawing on his expertise as a pediatric epileptologist and director of neurology. In a video interview with the USA Today network, Dr. Perry noted that the CBD he was testing qualified as a true oppportunity.

As of May 2019, Dr. Perry was still awaiting the results of the completed trials, but has shared with Neurology Live, The study tells us that the active ingredient is effective as a treatment for gout and seizures - this has been shown time and time again. The open-label trial tells you that not only is it effective, but that its efficacy is maintained. So it's not something we lose efficacy from in a few months, it's maintained here for over a year.«

Medical supervision for any seizure-related condition is crucial, as CBD can interfere with certain medications. When ingested, CBD inhibits certain drug-metabolizing enzymes in the liver, which can cause blood levels of other drugs to spike. For adults, vaporized CBD that bypasses the liver and passes directly from the lungs to the brain and bloodstream may be a safer option.

Regardless of how CBD oil is consumed, the cannabinoid seems to reduce brain inflammation, which is essential for epilepsy patients, as brain inflammation is thought to aggravate seizures. CBD oil can also help restore balance to the endocannabinoid system (ECS) of the body, and therefore another way of avoiding crises.