Medical cannabis for severe treatment resistant epilepsy
Medical cannabis for severe treatment resistant epilepsy in children: a case-series of 10 patients
Authors: Rayyan Zafar, Anne Schlag, Lawrence Phillips, David J Nutt
Journal: BMJ Paediatrics Open
Publication Date: October 31, 2023
Abstract
This study investigated the feasibility of using whole-plant cannabis medicines to treat seizures in children with severe treatment resistant epilepsy. Ten children were recruited from two charities and treated with a range of whole-plant medical cannabis oils. Seizure frequency reduced by 86% across all 10 participants, with no significant adverse events. Participants also reduced their use of antiepileptic drugs from an average of seven to one following treatment with medical cannabis. The study authors concluded that whole-plant medical cannabis is a feasible, effective, and well-tolerated treatment for reducing seizure frequency in children with severe treatment resistant epilepsy.
Discussion
This study provides further evidence of the potential benefits of medical cannabis for children with severe treatment resistant epilepsy. The findings are particularly significant given that the study participants had all failed on multiple traditional antiepileptic drugs and many had also failed on the licensed CBD preparation Epidyolex.
The study authors note that their findings justify the potential value of further research into the reported therapeutic benefit of whole-plant medicinal cannabis products. This is especially important given that medical cannabis is currently only available to a very small number of children in the UK through private prescriptions.
The results of this study are also encouraging for families of children with severe treatment resistant epilepsy, who may be looking for alternative treatment options. However, it is important to note that this study was a case-series, which is a type of observational study that cannot definitively prove that medical cannabis is effective for this condition. More rigorous research, such as randomized controlled trials, is needed to confirm the findings of this study and to better understand the long-term safety and efficacy of medical cannabis for children with severe treatment resistant epilepsy.
Sources
This study published in the BMJ Paediatrics Open journal on October 31, 2023, investigated the feasibility of using whole-plant cannabis medicines to treat seizures in children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy. The study recruited ten children from two charities and treated them with a range of whole-plant medical cannabis oils. The study found that seizure frequency reduced by 86% across all 10 participants, with no significant adverse events. Participants also reduced their use of antiepileptic drugs from an average of seven to one following treatment with medical cannabis. The study authors concluded that whole-plant medical cannabis is a feasible, effective, and well-tolerated treatment for reducing seizure frequency in children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy1.
The study authors note that their findings justify the potential value of further research into the reported therapeutic benefit of whole-plant medicinal cannabis products. This is especially important given that medical cannabis is currently only available to a very small number of children in the UK through private prescriptions1.
It is important to note that this study was a case-series, which is a type of observational study that cannot definitively prove that medical cannabis is effective for this condition. However, the results are encouraging for families of children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy who may be looking for alternative treatment options1.
Learn more:
1. bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com2. leafwell.com3. frontiersin.org4. epilepsy.org.uk5. bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com6. orcid.org7. creativecommons.org— see less
Explore
Medical cannabis contains hundreds of natural chemicals, including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD does not have the mood-altering effects often associated with cannabis. THC is the part of the cannabis plant that makes people feel ‘high’. Research has shown that CBD, a chemical component of marijuana, may help control seizures in patients with epilepsy. Cannabinoids can also help in treating epilepsy by binding to specific brain receptors called CB1 and CB2. These receptors, in turn, slow down the release of neurotransmitters such as glutamate that stimulate the central nervous system and may result in seizures 1234.
The study published in the BMJ Paediatrics Open journal on October 31, 2023, investigated the feasibility of using whole-plant cannabis medicines to treat seizures in children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy. The study found that seizure frequency reduced by 86% across all 10 participants, with no significant adverse events. Participants also reduced their use of antiepileptic drugs from an average of seven to one following treatment with medical cannabis. The study authors concluded that whole-plant medical cannabis is a feasible, effective, and well-tolerated treatment for reducing seizure frequency in children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy 1.
The study authors note that their findings justify the potential value of further research into the reported therapeutic benefit of whole-plant medicinal cannabis products. This is especially important given that medical cannabis is currently only available to a very small number of children in the UK through private prescriptions 1.
It is important to note that this study was a case-series, which is a type of observational study that cannot definitively prove that medical cannabis is effective for this condition. However, the results are encouraging for families of children with severe treatment-resistant epilepsy who may be looking for alternative treatment options 1.
Learn more:
1. epilepsy.org.uk2. mymmjdoctor.com3. choumd.com4. healthnews.com5. theherbalclinicmd.com6. epilepsy.com7. epilepsy.org.au8. nhs.uk9. gettyimages.com