CBD Oil for Epilepsy Seizure Control

Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system in which abnormal brain activity leads to recurrent seizures. It is regarded as the fourth most common neurological condition and affects roughly 125,000 Americans every year.

There are drugs that can be used to control epilepsy and its seizures, but some patients do not respond well to them or cannot tolerate the symptoms. There are also other treatment options, the success rates of which vary. CBD oil is among the newer treatments – one that is generating considerable controversy.

CBD Oil for Epilepsy

CBD oil is a concentrated form of cannabidiol, a cannabinoid present in cannabis or hemp plants. This compound has become something of a “cure-all,” as more and more benefits keep on being attributed to it. CBD has been the subject of intense debate amongst medical experts and of conflicting regulations.

You have in cannabidiol one of the two main medicinal constituents of marijuana – the other being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabinoids, such as these ones, exert various effects on cells in the body, especially the brain.

While many benefits are attributed to CBD, only the use for epilepsy appears to be backed by “gold standard” clinical studies. There is enough convincing evidence on the efficacy that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just recently granted approval for Epidiolex, a drug containing cannabidiol.

This oil-based medicine by GW Pharmaceuticals in the first derived from the marijuana plant to have such approval. It will be used for treatment of two rare types of severe epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome.

Research Findings on Efficacy

Several clinical trials had been carried out in the years leading to the recent approval of the first marijuana-derived drug. It was mainly evidence from these studies that lead the FDA to approve CBD for the treatment of epilepsy.

689 patients with LGS and Dravet syndrome were treated with the newly approved drug for at least six months or longer than one year in controlled and uncontrolled trials. Another 161 patients also received the medicine in expanded access and compassionate use programs, with 109 receiving treatment for more than six months.

Study results published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in 2017 showed that there was a decrease in drug-resistant seizures in people with Dravet syndrome after receiving Epidiolex, compared to placebo. But CBD was linked higher risk of adverse effects.

Results from the latest of these clinical trials published in the month before the FDA approved Epidiolex showed that low-dose CBD can reduce seizures while producing fewer side effects. In the clinical trial reported in the NEJM, a 10mg dose led to a reduction in seizures almost the same as when 20 mg was used.

Researchers divided 225 patients with LGS into three groups. The first received 20mg of the drug daily; the second received 10 mg, and the last group were given a placebo. There was a 42 percent average reduction in seizures among the 20mg group and a 37 percent drop among subjects that received 10 mg. The placebo group saw a 17 percent reduction in seizures.

A number of other clinical trials are currently ongoing as researchers try to understand more about the benefits of cannabidiol for epilepsy and other conditions.

Safer Treatment

Evidence suggests that CBD oil may be a safer alternative to drugs for treating epilepsy seizures. In the most recent NEJM study, it was reported that only seven people could not complete the treatment due to side effects. Six of the patients were in the 20mg dose group.

Study lead researcher Dr. Orrin Devinsky said that Epidiolex boasts a more impressive safety profile than most of the available drugs for treatment of epilepsy.

And since the new drug is said to contain 99% pure CBD, it might be possible to get similar results from a product featuring content of comparable quality. You may not experience any significant side effects if you get the dosing right as well.

Some side effects that people can experience from taking CBD oil include:

Diarrhea
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Upset stomach
Signs of liver damage

According to Devinsky, the risk of these side effects was significantly reduced with the use of a low dose.

Interestingly, those who used placebo in the clinical trials also experienced some of the observed adverse effects, including upset stomach and diarrhea.

Should You Try CBD Oil for Epilepsy?

You may want to give CBD oil a try if your seizures have not improved from other more standard epilepsy treatments. It is well known that not all cases of this disorder respond to conventional treatments.

There may be more to gain than lose when you try CBD oil as the side effects are on the whole minor when compared to the possibility of stopping daily fits. Besides available research, there are many anecdotal reports of people experiencing improvement in their epilepsy after using CBD.

Remember to always consult a doctor before beginning to take any new medication, including CBD oil, especially if you have a condition like epilepsy where ensuring safety is paramount.

Author: Dr Shane Jackson MBChB MFSRH GMC Reg