CBD and Epilepsy, Houston

Research on possible benefits of CBD and Epilepsy by OilWell CBD of Houston, TX

Cannabinol has made a huge impact in recent years in medicine due largely in part to groundbreaking research showing it to be effective in treating seizures and some forms of epilepsy. In fact, the first FDA approved CBD medication is Epidolax, used to treat the rare, hard to treat forms of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, in patients two years of age and older. Seizures caused by Dravet syndrome previously had no approved medication for treatment. 

Many people associate CBD treatment of seizures with Charlotte Figi, a five-year-old girl suffering from hundreds of grand mal seizures a week who made national news when she began taking drops of homemade CBD oil, dubbed “Charlotte’s Web,” twice a day with her meals. Soon the number of seizures dropped to only two or three times a month, mostly in her sleep. Previously, she had trouble doing the most basic tasks, including walking and eating. When she was 6, she was not only walking, but also talking and riding a bicycle. If you’ve ever witnessed someone experiencing a seizure, you know how terrifying it can be, not only for the person experiencing the seizure but onlookers as well. 

Doctors typically place seizures into two different classifications: focal seizures and general seizures (these are typically what people recognize as a typical seizure)

Sub-Types of Focal Seizures

Focal seizure (impaired awareness) This type of seizure may cause a change or complete loss of consciousness. Those experiencing the seizure may seem disconnected from their environment and perform repetitive movements.

Focal Seizure (with consciousness) This type of seizure may cause sudden changes in the five senses and may also include sudden jerking movements. Other symptoms may include seeing flashing lights, a tingling sensation in the body, and dizziness.

Sub-types of General Seizures:

• Myoclonic seizures. This type of seizure usually causes jerks sudden, brief twitches in limbs.
• Tonic seizures Muscle stiffening that typically occurs in the back and limbs, possibly causing collapse.  
• Tonic-clonic seizures Previously called “grand mal” seizures, these are what most people associate with a typical seizure. May cause loss of bladder control, tongue biting, loss of consciousness, collapse, and repeated jerking movements.  
• Atonic seizures Loss of muscle control which may cause a total collapse.
• Clonic seizures Jerking muscle movements that affect face, neck, and arms
• Myoclonic seizures This type of seizure usually causes jerks sudden, brief twitches in limbs.
• Absence seizures May cause a brief loss of awareness and may involve eye-fluttering, minor movements, and staring into space, causing an “absent” look in the eyes. 

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., seemed to be enthusiastic about continuing to create new and effective medications derived from CBD, saying “Controlled clinical trials testing the safety and efficacy of a drug, along with careful review through the FDA’s drug approval process, is the most appropriate way to bring legal traditional “Cannabis: treatments to patients. Because of the adequate and well-controlled clinical studies that supported this approval, prescribers can have confidence in the drug’s uniform strength and consistent delivery that supports the appropriate dosing needed for treating patients with these complex and serious epilepsy syndromes. We’ll continue to support rigorous scientific research on the potential medical uses of legal hemp-derived Cabbanis products and work with product developers who are interested in bringing patients safe and effective, high-quality products.”

FDA approval of the medication Epidolax paved the way for the legalization of CBD, and the impressive results helped remove some of the stigmas that surround medications and treatments derived from cannabis. Research is still in the early stages, delayed by legal and financial hurdles, but the early scientific evidence and anecdotal reports are very promising. 

The Epilepsy Foundation is hopeful as well, saying CBD “could potentially be helpful in controlling seizures.” Epilepsy and seizures are notoriously difficult to treat, with 30 percent of patients unable to control their condition with existing, approved medications. The foundation, which is an advocacy group for those with Epilepsy, has implored the federal government to ease restrictions that make it extremely difficult for researchers to study potential medical uses of cannabis.

If you suffer from any type of seizures or epilepsy, especially if it is difficult to treat, discuss CBD with your doctor as a potential supplement. 

This information on this page, including OilWell CBD product, is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always speak with your doctor before starting a new health program, including the addition of CBD oil or any other supplement, into your treatment plan.