How Can Medical Marijuana Be Effective For Epilepsy ?

Epilepsy is a common neurological disease, and almost one-third of the patients with epilepsy have seizures.

The clinical trials and research focus on various drug treatments to handle the health conditions the right way.

Abnormal electrical activity in the brain leads to seizures. A seizure disorder refers to a sudden and unrestrained electrical disturbance in a patient’s brain that leads to consciousness levels and behavioral changes. Episodes are challenging to diagnose in some patients due to their hidden symptoms.

Medical cannabis treatment to deal with the debilitating health condition has been used since ancient times and is considered an effective way to handle hard-to-treat seizures. The marijuana plant’s active ingredients are delta-p-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), deemed safer and adequate in treating the seizures with less adversely psychotropic effects.

Can Medical Marijuana help with Seizure Disorders?

Though medical Marijuana has received a lot of attention in the past few years and still the research on the remedial plant is growing. The plant’s therapeutic properties have been used since ancient times; the query remains on the top of whether the curative plant can help treat the health condition right from the researcher’s point of view.

Though, the research is still ongoing on analyzing the real factors. Recently FDA has approved the drug, namely Epidiolex comprising CBD, as an effective treatment for patients with hard-to-treat seizures. So, here comes the direct link between the both. As we all know, the Marijuana plant is rich in CBD, and with the CBD intake, the patients had a significant drop in seizures after taking the drugs.

Wondering how the Medical Cannabis word on the health condition? Let us dive into the concept to get an answer to it.

How does Medical Cannabis work on Seizure Disorders or Epilepsy?

THC and CBD lie under the same substance group known as cannabinoids which bind to receptors within the brain and are helpful against the pains concerning several debilitating health conditions. CBD also works on several other signaling systems within the brain and has protective and anti-inflammatory properties. As per the research studies, CBD is found an effective way of treating seizures.

The marijuana plant and its constituents are getting so much attention, and the idea of using it to treat Epilepsy is indeed at the peak. Even the researchers are confirming the effectiveness of medical Marijuana.

In Washington DC, as per the research presented at the 67th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, patients with Epilepsy were given Medical Cannabis and reported the Medical Cannabis treatment’s effectiveness for their seizures and mood disorders.

A few researchers examined 18 patients with Epilepsy, who had a recommendation for Medical Cannabis. The authors reviewed the charts about the patient’s Medical Cannabis consumption pattern. And the results were shocking to see; all the patients reported that the Medical Cannabis consumption improved their seizure frequency but affected their mood disorder.

Additionally, 16 patients reported enhanced sleep quality and appetite, and all the patients reported an enhancement in their general well-being. Dr. Ladino said that because of the simultaneous use of other anti-seizure medicines, it is hard to calculate approximately the real effect of Medical Cannabis on epilepsy patients.

The marijuana plant and its constituents can be the effective key to relieve seizures in numerous patients. A few modern medications also are acquainted with Marijuana’s potential and its efficiency in treating seizures. Epidiolex is a modern medicine containing CBD to treat Epilepsy and seizures. The research studies on associating Medical Marijuana with seizures or Epilepsy come up with the benefits of CBD and its effectiveness over the psychoactive THC constituent. However, In several studies, CBD was consumed alongside the conventional anti-seizure medications, with the combination ensuing in the improvement of seizures.

Cannabinoids can also help treat Epilepsy by binding to specific brain receptors known as CB1 and CB2. These receptors slow down the release of neurotransmitters such as glutamate that stimulate the central nervous system and may result in seizures. Some research experts also suggest that cannabinoids may make the anti-seizure medications more effective and boost the concentration of some anti-seizure drugs such as clobazam in a patient’s body.

However, a patient must not self-medicate seizure disorder with Medical Marijuana. Consuming Medical Marijuana with some other psychoactive drugs may raise the seizure risk. Therefore, it is highly recommended to count on medical marijuana treatment with a medical doctor’s recommendation only.

Things to consider!

Despite the advantages of Medical Marijuana on seizures, there are some risk factors that a patient needs to consider. A patient must consume Medical Marijuana with a medical doctor’s recommendation only. Self-medicating Marijuana can be a significant point of risk for the patient and put their lives in real danger. Several factors need to be taken care of that includes:

• Incompatible dosage and ingredients composition: Self-medicating the Medical Cannabis bought from the street vendors can cause some severe health issues as there is no reliability of the dosage and ingredients. Also, the THC content of Marijuana is very high that may cause an augmented feeling in the patient, and CBD is believed to be an effective and safer treatment for seizures. But again, the medical marijuana strain needs to be of a consistent composition and appropriate dosage.
• Drug Interactions: Medical Cannabis can have interactions with some other doctor-prescribed medicines for Epilepsy, including benzodiazepines. The drug interactions can be responsible for the deterioration of the side effects like sedation.
• Legal Issues: Medical Cannabis has a contentious status that may put you in some legal issues. And consuming Medical Marijuana without obtaining a valid Medical Marijuana Card is illegal and can put the patients in some legal problems. So, this undoubtedly points to the consumption of Medical Cannabis with medical doctor’s recommendation only.
  

  Final thoughts!

  The increasing health benefits of Medical Marijuana have raised the overall demand for the plant. Though the research is still in its progressive phase and researchers are working more on this, it is good to say that Medical Marijuana can be an effective treatment. After the approval of CBD-rich drugs as a therapy for hard-to-treat seizures, the demand has gone to a peak.With the increasing demand and health benefits, it is also essential to take care of the legal uses of the same. It has a conflict-ridden status and requires legal permissions for consumption and possession. Obtaining the legal right can save you from getting into trouble. A Medical Marijuana Card is the standalone document that provides legal access to Medical Marijuana treatment. Obtain a Medical Marijuana Card online with My MMJ Doctor and stay protected from getting trapped into legal issues.