When we talk about treatments for epilepsy we realize that it is an extensive and specific list of the different types that exist, but knowing the benefits that CBD brings for this new era, leads us to think that perhaps this cannabis compound can be useful in the treatment of epilepsy.
Currently, there are numerous studies being carried out to discover the benefits of cannabis compounds, specifically CBD, which has been shown to have a high percentage of effectiveness in Many sicknesses whose conventional treatments did not give the desired result.
And apparently there is a connection between cannabidiol and epilepsy, in this article we will discover what that interaction is, what it consists of, what the experts say about this, if there are enough studies and if the consideration of a treatment for epilepsy is positive or negative.
A disease that affects the central nervous system
That's right, epilepsy is a very important disease which is characterized by being a central nervous system disorder, where brain activity becomes abnormal and causes seizures, abnormal sensations or periods of specific behaviors and sometimes patients lose consciousness, is a chronic disease and not transmitted.
According to the WHO, 80% of those affected live in low- and middle-income countries and they estimate that 70% of people with this disease could live without having seizures if diagnosed and treated correctly.
Epilepsy is recognized by the presentation in the patient of two or more non-induced seizures, these being short episodes of involuntary movements, it can be classified into two types, those that occur in a specific part of the body called partial seizures or those that occur in a specific part of the body. They affect the entire body in general called generalized seizures.
The mortality rate of this disease is generally produced by the external damage that the patient may have when faced with a seizure episode, since these due to the involuntary movements They may be accompanied by fainting or falls due to temporary loss of consciousness, the patient is prone to fractures and bruises, which in turn could cause drowning, burns, and long-lasting seizures.
The most common causes of this disease are serious head trauma, brain infections, genetic syndromes, brain tumors, brain damage during or after birth.
Scientific studies on CBD in epilepsy
Although in recent years many forms of CBD treatment for various diseases have been investigated, in the case of epilepsy the studies began many years ago when some benefits of cannabis on patients with epilepsy were discovered.
A study published in 1975 by the Journal of the American Medical Association discovered that cannabis in combination with traditional medications regulated seizures in a 24-year-old epileptic, while with only traditional medications, in this case phenobarbital and phenytoin, did not show a complete reduction in seizures.
In 2003, Dr. Robert DeLorenzo, principal investigator, and his team conducted a study at Virginia Commonwealth University that was published by the journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapy; For decades the effects of cannabis as a therapeutic in epilepsy and other diseases have been a novelty for science, at the time of the study the researchers analyzed these effects.
It is when the Doctor and his team demonstrate as pioneers that cannabinoids could reduce seizures through the activation of CB1 receptors in the brain, located mainly in the area of the brain linked to memory.
Dr. DeLorenzo said, “This study indicates that cannabinoids may provide unique benefits in treating seizures compared to other medications. "Not only does it show the anticonvulsant activity of exogenously applied cannabinoids, but it also suggests that the brain cannabinoid system functions to limit the duration of seizures by activating the CB1 receptor," says DeLorenzo. He also noted that, “The cannabinoid receptor protein produced naturally by the body to regulate the central nervous system and other functions plays a critical role in the control of spontaneous epileptic seizures.”
A latest study conducted on mice by the American Chemical Society or ACS, showed that cannabidiol may help deliver medications to the brain through something called blood-brain (BBB), in order to treat epilepsy and anxiety.
This barrier is usually a conglomerate of cells linked to the capital lines of the brain, preventing certain substances from leaving the body, in turn allowing the passage of certain molecules such as neurotransmitters such as endocannabinoids, which can bind to certain substances. helping them pass to the brain.
The researchers verified through fluorescent nanomolecules introduced into CBD capsules that this cannabis compound, thanks to its similarity to endocannabinoids, could carry the fluorescent molecule to the brain, this was traced in mice.
Studies in children
A study was carried out at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada and published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology, which has found that cannabis oil can significantly reduce seizures in children with severe epilepsies that resist conventional medications or treatments. During the study, only the effects of cannabis oil with 95% CBD content and THC in only 5%, experts comment, “These results open up a treatment option for children who have not responded to traditional medications.”
Another study was carried out by scientists from the Garrahan Hospital in Buenos Aires, where 49 children between 7 months and 17 years of age participated, who suffered from neurological pathologies such as refractory epilepsy, which could clearly indicate the inefficiency of conventional treatments in these patients, where after a respective medical evaluation, the administration of CBD-rich cannabis oil which was dosed at 10 mg/Kg/day. After a while the results were extremely incredible, at least that is what the head of neurology and main investigator of the trial, Roberto Caraballo, assured.
Simply put, the results were evaluated in only 39 pediatric patients since the remaining 10 did not continue with the study, this was due to an increase in seizures, this in turn does not surprise doctors since this reaction is known. because it occurs in other drugs and is called a paradoxical effect, which in these cases causes the suspension of treatment. However, 30% of these 39 children obtained a 90% decrease in seizures while another 20% achieved it. between 80% and 90%; These results lasted for 3 months.
Another case was that of a girl named April, barely 11 years old, whose mother, in search of a solution for her daughter's problem, began treatment with cannabis oil, obtaining very optimal results in the quality of life of your daughterIt is worth mentioning that April's problem was quite complicated, since she had up to 120 seizures a month, this occurred due to a syndrome called Miller-dieker, which complicates the proper development of the central nervous system and severely alters the functions of the neurons.
April's mother was very happy that her daughter's health status had improved satisfactorily and she is grateful to the components of cannabis, "We are happy. For many, the fact that she connects with her gaze is a small achievement. For us it is something great”
A study of great importance was carried out at the Langone Medical Center of New York University, which included 120 children and adolescents with one of the most severe forms of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome. The patients were aged between 2 and 18 years old, to whom 20 mg/Kg were administered for 14 weeks of a pharmaceutical medication whose active ingredient is cannabidiol, called Epidiolex, with its conventional treatment.
A group of patients was also administered a placebo to have the line that allows the results of the cannabis compound to be compared; The results obtained showed that the frequency with which seizures occurred decreased by 39% in the group treated with CBD, in addition to this, in three patients the epileptic seizures disappeared completely.
On the other hand, the group to which the placebo was administered obtained a 13% reduction in seizures, this caused an alert on the part of the doctors who were able to appreciate the optimal and notable results of CBD in this study.
As for side effects, it is said that they were mild and moderate, in addition to being experienced by the majority of patients in both groups, emphasizing the most common ones such as vomiting, fever, and abnormal fatigue.
A latest study published in 2013 in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior focused on examining the effects of CBD in children who suffered from epilepsy and were resistant to conventional treatments. In total, 19 patients were included, of which 13 suffered from epilepsy. Davret syndrome, 4 suffered from Doose syndrome and the last two, one suffered from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and the other from epilepsy of unknown or idiopathic origin.
The results showed the following, 16 patients, that is, 84%, obtained a reasonable reduction in seizures, there were even some in whom the seizure was completely eradicated, in turn improved quality of life, mood and sleep quality, the latter of high importance in Dosse syndrome.
A moving testimony
An American girl named Charlotte Figi, diagnosed with a severe case of Dravet syndrome and whose parents when she was just 6 years old decided to sign a “do not resuscitate” order due to the severity of her condition, demonstrated that CBD treatment could be the hope of many.
And when Charlotte's parents discovered information about the use of CBD in the treatment of epilepsy, they decided to try it with their daughter in 2011, out of desperation to save her and promise her a more comforting lifestyle.
As if by magic, the seizures in a matter of months had diminished Very notably, they went from almost 1200 seizures per month to only 3 that were less serious. This revolutionized the world of health, encouraging scientists to investigate this result, since from what was apparent, CBD had been the responsible for healing Charlotte.
This allowed both Charlotte and her parents an indisputable improvement in everyone's quality of life, in addition to allowing her to enjoy her childhood, play and live completely normally.
How CBD works in epilepsy
Currently, the exact mechanism by which CBD considerably reduces seizures in epilepsy is not known, however, many ideas have been put forward about this mechanism of action.
Hypotheses over the years have described the cannabis compound called cannabidiol as an anticonvulsant and currently its possible action in the body has been described, with some research saying that the endocannabinoid system is involved in regulating the duration and frequency of epileptic seizures.
In studies carried out, it is said that the activation of the presynaptic CB1 receptor causes epileptiform activity and therefore evidence of the anticonvulsant effects of the agonist was observed.
This suggests and perhaps affirms that the effect produced by CBD in the body to reduce seizures is directly mediated through an interaction with endocannabinoid receptors.
On the other hand, there is another theory that says that this effect is mediated by the activity with the vanilloid receptor, since there is evidence that the TRPV1 receptor is associated with the direct contribution to the appearance and progression of some epilepsies, some cannabinoids such as CBDV and CBD exert anticonvulsant activity. This was investigated and studied by associating cannabidiol as an agonist of TRPV1 and other receptors of this family, deducing that this action can act to reduce seizures.
There is still a lack of research that describes the action of cannabidiol on epilepsy accurately, in the meantime we have some general notions of what could be happening within the body.
Benefits of using CBD as a treatment for epilepsy
Among the wonderful benefits that CBD or cannabidiol produces in the treatment of epilepsy we can find, mainly, the reduction of seizures, which is the key to improving epilepsy.
These anticonvulsant properties have been known for centuries, however, it was in 1947 when researchers analyzed these properties. In a first study at the University of Sydney in 1974, a decrease in seizures was demonstrated by THC in mice in which electric shocks were induced to cause seizures, in conjunction with the CBD and THC had an increased anticonvulsant effect.
This evolved until research revealed that CBD alone can have anticonvulsant effects; In another study in 2001, it was found that THC and its synthetic analogue produce an effect by agonizing the CB1 receptors, which, in the case of CBD, also occurs, but not in the same way, since it acts as a weak antagonist.
We can also find the neuroprotective effect, this leads us to a study carried out in 2008 and published in the journal Nature which focused on patients suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy, who seemed to have a dysfunctional endocannabinoid system; This condition in the temporal lobe of the brain produced seizures without seizures that involve some degree of sensory disturbance, however, it could produce tonic-clonic seizures in some cases.
Endogenous endocannabinoids such as CB1 play an important role in regulating the level of neuronal excitability, thus decreasing the possibility of a seizure occurring, which is why patients suffering from a dysfunctional endocannabinoid system, the components of cannabis could work by helping reduce seizures and in turn create a neuroprotective effect that would reduce symptoms and their severity.
As well as, they would be helping to take care of our neurons from possible damage that epileptic episodes may cause, consequently helping to improve the patient at a cognitive and motor level, allowing an improvement in their quality of life and socialization.
In turn, CBD can reduce neuroinflammation, thanks to its anti-inflammatory capacity, as well. Cannabidiol can improve GABA activity in the brain, responsible for the decrease in electrical activity.
Correct dosage in adults of CBD for epilepsy
La dosage It will depend on your level of severity in the disease, as well as your weight, age and lifestyle habits, however, there are those who recommend a high dose to start dosing yourself.
After having the base dose, you only have to follow the staggering method recommended by the book CBD: A patient's guide to Medical Cannabis by Leinow & Birnbaum” which consists of starting from a base CBD administration, in this case high, such as 60 mg if you weigh 50kg and from there increase the dose according to the response you obtain until you achieve the desired results.
It is recommended to do it hand in hand with your doctor to avoid errors and possible consequences.
What is Epidiolex?
Due to 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials in which there were 516 patients who had Lennox-Gastaut or Dravet syndrome, on the effect of CBD in the treatment of epilepsy, the FDA or the Administration of Food and Drug Administration of the United States announced on April 19, 2018 the approval of the first medicine with CBD content, this drug recognized by the name Epidiolex is manufactured by the British pharmaceutical company GW Pharmaceuticals.
The FDA recommended its approval as a treatment for two specific types of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, since these are two types of epilepsy that are very serious and difficult to treat.
Epidiolex is also being used in the study of Sturge-Weber syndrome, a hemangioma or lymphagioma.
Finally we can say that. . .
CBD is a great option in the treatment of epilepsy and research has supported it, although like all innovating medications it needs more and more research, there is enough to say that this interaction does have very positive results for the health of patients with epilepsy, especially patients with severe types of the disease.
The use of this cannabinoid in the pediatric treatment of epilepsy has taken on a very important role, so it is good to keep in mind that the purpose of this administration is purely medical and is done in order to cure or reduce the effects that it may cause. produce the disease and are harmful to the child's health.
In childhood, improving the quality of life is very important, since this is the stage in which people enjoy their lives, learn and make decisions.
As we always recommend assistance to your doctor if you want to use CBD for the treatment of this disease, he will be able to help in the correct dosage, as well as the prevention of side effects or treatment thereof, he will allow the exhaustive evaluation of the progress. of the disease while under treatment and will combine it correctly with other conventional treatments as a complement, this can allow for a much greater scope of effectiveness.