Does marijuana help epilepsy? Two studies have recently surfaced suggesting that THC, the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana, might be an effective treatment for epilepsy. This news follows the latest news that another cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD) may also help seizure disorders.
Canadian Study Shows Seizure Reduction
The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto held a study recently that treated 20 children currently suffering from seizure disorders. The researchers gave the children an experimental cannabis oil that contained CBD and THC at a ratio of 50:1.
All of the children in the study have a form of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). This form of epilepsy is also known as Dravet Syndrome and can cause up to 1,000 seizures a month.
Initially, the children were given small doses of the oil, and the amounts were increased over the span of several weeks. Eight of the 20 children actually reached the target dose that was specified by the study.
One of the main researchers on the study, Dr. Blathnaid McCoy, said:
"We observed promising clinically beneficial effects including a reduction in seizure frequency and improvements in certain aspects of adaptive functioning and quality of life measures. In the participants who reached the target treatment dose we saw a statistically significant reduction in motor seizures, and an increase in seizure-free days compared to those who did not reach the target dose."
The medicine was most effective when the child was able to reach the target dose. The higher the dose, the more effective the oil became.
Progress All Over
Many of the caregivers on staff noted that the quality of life of the child began to rise as they continued the doses of cannabis oil. Although most of the children experienced side effects such as diarrhea, loss of appetite, and sleepiness, these faded over time.
In Australia, there is an ongoing study testing the effects of cannabis medications on children with other forms of seizures. The cannabis oil used is not approved by Australia's medical board but parents have become desperate, and 75% of them using the oil showed improvement.
So, does marijuana help epilepsy? The results so far are encouraging, but more studies must be done.
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