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Cannabis To Be Used To Treat Epilepsy
Tuesday 30th May 2017 | Christian
According to new research, cannabis could be used to treat epilepsy in children.
The first full-scale clinical trial of its kind has found positive medical effects from cannabidiol (CPD), a compound in the cannabis plant that doesn’t contain the psychoactive properties (in other words, it doesn’t get you high).
CPD was found to cut the frequency of seizures by 39 percent in those with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy.
The study came from the Langone Medical Centre at New York University. Lead investigator Professor Orrin Devinsky stated, “for patients with especially severe forms who have not responded to numerous medications, these results provide hope that we may soon have another treatment option… this new trial provides more evidence than we have ever had of cannabidiol's effectiveness as a medication for treatment-resistant epilepsy”
Indeed, three patients who took part in the study had their seizures stop entirely. However, over 90% of those treated by CPD also received side effects such as vomiting and fever.
Future research will look into whether lower dosages of CPD can be used and whether tolerability can be improved.
