Can Medical Marijuana Help Seizures
Reports reveal that more healthcare providers are likely to recommend marijuana treatment plans to patients having seizures. The move comes as medics continue to discover the health benefits of marijuana. Seizures and epilepsy are some of the debilitating medical conditions, as they've got symptoms that can interfere with the well-being of an individual. Thus, exploring alternative treatment options to enhance relief will be vital. Currently, most patients and doctors prefer medical marijuana as the appropriate treatment to enhance overall well-being and reduce the impact of seizures on the body.
Medical Cannabis for Seizures
The Epilepsy Foundation reveals that approximately three million Americans have different types of seizures and epilepsy. These patients use an average of $15.5 billion on the indirect and direct costs of treating these conditions. While there is no proven cure for epilepsy or seizures, taking some medication regularly can prevent epileptic episodes and seizures.
Most patients are ditching the available prescription treatment due to their adverse effects and numerous health risks to older patients and women. Some treatments may also be ineffective. The use of medical cannabis for seizures is gradually gaining interest among pharmaceutical companies. Some companies or groups have started clinical trials using medical marijuana to treat seizures.
Besides pharmaceutical companies, the topic has gained popularity in various organizations like the Epilepsy Foundation, the American Epilepsy Society, etc. These organizations view medical marijuana as safe and effective in treating seizures after successful testing trials and research.
Understanding this condition and the available treatment is basic to see why it’s a better alternative to prescription medications. This option provides patients with much-needed relief without any side effects.
How is Medical Cannabis Effective in Treating Seizure Disorders?
Studies show that most patients with epilepsy and seizure consider medical marijuana to provide great relief. You can take marijuana alone or with other traditional medication for these disorders. Some patients who can't stand using anti-seizure medication have considered medical marijuana to control seizures.
Unlike the traditional alternatives, medical marijuana for seizures doesn’t have adverse effects. Most of these effects are usually mild and low-risk. Recent studies prove that marijuana has fewer to no side effects when you use it with or without other medications to treat seizures and epilepsy.
Some common side effects of marijuana use for seizures include:
● Diarrhea in 17% of the patients
● A compromised appetite occurs in 16% of the patients
● Drowsiness occurs in 21% of the patients
● Fatigue occurs in 17% of the patients
Remember, the current patient’s medication can also interact, leading to another side effect. Participants in a study to check the side of medical marijuana use also revealed that medical marijuana usually causes moderate or mild effects.
The study finding showed that there was a 54% seizure cases decrease in the open-label study among participants aged two to 26 years. The research focuses on participants who hadn’t responded to traditional medications. The findings also showed that approximately 89% of children got alleviation after using medical marijuana.
The two gold-standard studies also revealed a more than 40% drop in the number of seizure cases. In contrast, only 20% of patients who opted for placebo treatment reported positive results. The overall results show that seven of every eight participants report positive responses to medical marijuana for treating seizures.
In another study, researchers focused on epileptic children. The finding showed that using medical marijuana reduces seizure frequency by 47%, improving to 50% after a 20-week treatment. Furthermore, after using the medication, approximately 9% of the participants became seizure-free
Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University carried out an earlier study in 2003 on medical marijuana and seizures. The researchers found similar results, as marijuana compounds and the body’s cannabinoid receptors were integral in controlling spontaneous seizures and epilepsy.
These findings from various studies are encouraging and provide a viable option for individuals or children with epilepsy and seizures. In the earlier years, limited studies made it hard to get the right answer on the relationship between medical marijuana and epilepsy or seizures.
With governments accepting marijuana as a medical treatment option, there are increasing studies on the link between medical marijuana use and seizure treatment. Besides the treatments, many individuals have started finding the right marijuana strains for treating seizures and developing treatment plans.
Seizure Symptoms that Medical Cannabis Can Alleviate
Most medical professionals are considering medical marijuana as a game-changer in the medical industry due to its ability to alleviate multiple conditions. Besides alleviating these conditions, the medication causes little to zero adverse effects. Marijuana has become a viable treatment option targeting and controlling unwanted symptoms in seizure or epilepsy patients.
Despite the variation in the symptoms and side effects of seizures in patients, most have reported positive results after enrolling in an appropriate medical cannabis treatment plan. The treatment helps to alleviate the following symptoms:
● Headaches
● Sudden anxiety feelings
● Vomiting, nausea, or gastrointestinal discomfort
● Uncontrollable spasms, bodily movements, or jerking
Marijuana has pain reduction and anti-inflammatory properties, which are important in helping seizure patients in the recovery phase. Furthermore, marijuana can be vital in boosting serotonin levels to foster better psychological and emotional health.
How Can You Get Medical Cannabis for Seizures
Before opting for medical marijuana treatment, it’ll be wise to consult a certified cannabis physician. Each state has its laws and regulations governing medical cannabis use. You can schedule your evaluations at HappyMD to explore if medical cannabis will help you alleviate the condition.
If your state allows medical marijuana use, the 420 medical physicians will evaluate the condition before approving the treatment. Most states require that you enroll as a certified MMJ patient and have a valid MMJ card to access these medications and products.
Ways to Use Medical Cannabis to Alleviate Seizures
Unlike traditional prescription drugs with limited intake forms, we’ve got multiple ways you can use medical marijuana for seizures. Experts reveal that most patients will find it effective and beneficial to take medical marijuana in the following approaches:
● Vaporizing
● Smoking
● Pills and supplements
● Infused and edibles beverages
● Tinctures
Seizures usually provoke or cause sudden symptoms, which make vaporizing and smoking the ideal ways to get immediate relief. Studies show that inhaled marijuana methods cause instant effects to help users manage the symptoms of seizure episodes.
Nevertheless, with the varying medical marijuana use laws among the states, access to various marijuana strains and the allowed intake method may vary.
Best Marijuana Strain to Control Seizures
GW Pharmaceutical is the biggest movement that started manufacturing MMJ products for seizures. The company produced and tested Epidiolex as the first 99% CBD-extracted medication to alleviate seizures.
Marijuana has more than 85 cannabinoids, with CBD being the most popular one, alongside THC. This cannabinoid is vital for providing therapeutic relief to discomfort and eliminating seizures. CBD functions in the body by binding with ECS receptors. Besides CBD, we’ve got the second most popular cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC works by binding with the brain’s receptors leading to psychoactive effects.
Studies show that certain cannabinoids, including CBD, help alleviate epileptic seizures. Thus, parents and families with epileptic patients can consider this alternative treatment to alleviate the symptoms. Below are cannabinoids that may target seizures and epilepsy:
● CBD
● Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA)
● Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
● Cannabinol (CBN)
Marijuana cultivators across the United States produce approximately 80 cannabis strains to help alleviate seizures. The Charlotte Web is common, as medical experts used to treat Charlotte Figi’s conditions.
After using the medical marijuana strains, Charlotte reported a decrease in seizures from 1200 monthly to one or two in a month. Research and medical studies on this case demonstrated the strain's effectiveness in alleviating seizures. In 2016, researchers conducted a study in Colorado. The findings revealed that the strain treated the symptom in 10% of the patients while helping more than 60% reduce epileptic episodes by 50%.
Other effective marijuana strains you can use to treat epilepsy and seizures include
● O.A.T
● Bedford Glue
● Black Bubba
● Larry Bird Kuch
● Kushberry
● Athabasca.
Remember, some variations, like the GI001, have low THC amounts, while Bedford Gluestrain has more than 20% THC and doesn’t have adverse effects. Athabasca has THC vital in creating moderate psychoactive effects to help epileptic patients. The main drawback of using medical cannabis for seizures is the fact that epilepsy has various forms. Epilepsy has three categories, meaning you must try various strains and dosages to find the suitable one to suit your needs.
While various pharmaceutical companies and brands have had the opportunity to test and get various drugs to alleviate seizures, there has been a limitation on the development of medical marijuana treatment. Despite 29 states in the country legalizing medical marijuana use, the federal government still considers cannabis an illegal substance.
Nevertheless, the countrywide support for the legalization of medical marijuana use helps many individuals and doctors to view the herb as medicine. Thus, there has been a development of various marijuana strains to alleviate various conditions like epilepsy. Nonetheless, this treatment considers a broader option of various trains to alleviate the symptoms and get the patient back to normalcy.
Additional Information About Medical Cannabis and Seizures
Before opting for medical marijuana treatment for seizures, it’ll be vital to understand the different seizures to choose the appropriate treatment or strains for the condition. Experts advise that you understand more about your condition to choose an effective and successful treatment.
What are Seizures?
It’s a body condition resulting from the abnormal neurons overactivation in the brain, commonly in the motor areas, causing the other body parts to start jerking involuntarily. Seizures may lead to an individual seeing colorful flashing lights if it happens in the brain’s visual part. The condition may also cause abnormal nerve activity to spread to the whole brain leading to jerking on both body sides and unconsciousness.
Medics classify seizures as epileptic or non-epileptic. Epileptic seizures usually occur more than two times. They are usually unprovoked by other body system issues,
such as blood clots, and the seizures should be spaced an average of 24 hours apart.
Statistics show that one percent of the United States population has epilepsy. Furthermore, one in 26 individuals will develop this disease, with children and the elderly most likely developing the condition.
Types of Seizures
The medical community classified seizures into three categories: unknown onset, focal onset, and generalized. Seizures in these categories usually cause brain impulses. Nevertheless, generalized and focal onset seizures have different impulses and seizures.
Below are the main forms of generalized onset seizures
● Generalized tonic-clonic or Grand-Mal - these seizures may lead to unconsciousness and making collapse. A Tonic phase (where the body stiffens for approximately 30 - 60 seconds) follows the loss of consciousness before jerking movements for an additional 30 -60 seconds. Afterward, the body will go into deep and undisturbed sleep. This type accounts for approximately 25% of seizures in patients.
● Absence - these brief and short seizure episodes usually last for seconds multiple times a day. You can hardly spot or notice these seizures, as the main symptom is usually a stare. You can only notice this seizure after realizing you’re missing time from the day. Statistics reveal that this seizure only accounts for 5% of epileptic patients.
● Myoclonic - these seizures cause sporadic jerkings. When having these seizures, you can confuse the electric shock.
● Clonic - these seizures result in rhythmic and repetitive jerks all over your body, which is common in infants. Many patients with clonic seizures usually get hurt as they fall. While falling, these patients usually bang their heads and bite their tongues.
● Tonic seizures - like grand-mal seizures, cause the body's muscles to get stiff.
● Atonic - these seizures make you lose your leg and arm muscle tone, causing you to fall off your standing position, causing various injuries. Studies show that less than 1% of epileptic patients have atonic seizures.
Let’s look at the three common focal onset seizures:
● Focal onset aware - it’s a common focal onset seizure affecting approximately 14% of epileptic patients. Depending on the symptoms, medical classifies them into the psychological, motor, sensory, and automatic. The motor symptoms cause the body to get stiff and jerk, while sensory symptoms result in unusual or odd sensations that relate to various senses, like weird tastes and strange sounds.
Autonomic symptoms affect the different functions that the body automates, including the intestines and bladder. These symptoms can make you lose your bladder control while it takes place. Lastly, the psychological symptoms cause intense emotions of pleasure or fear.
● Focal onset impaired - this seizure disorder affects approximately 36% of epileptic patients. These seizures make you lose awareness, and the body engages in multiple coordinated and repetitive movements, including walking, chewing, or smacking your lips.
● Partial - these seizures begin as complex or simple before transitioning into a violent Grand-Mal seizures. In some cases, medical experts recommend surgery to treat these cases.
The unknown onset seizures are those that you or individuals near you can’t realize. The symptoms may be invisible, as losing consciousness is usually rare. With the violent nature and adverse effects of seizures, epilepsy accounts for 34% of mortality in kids in the United States. Therefore, it’s vital for patients and parents to access the appropriate and effective medication to prevent or treat and prevent future cases.
What are the Main Causes of Seizures?
There is no specific answer on the cause of seizures, as more than 60- 70% of the cases are unknown. Stroke, head trauma, brain infection, or tumor are the main causes of seizures. Remember, genetics can also lead or contribute to the development of different forms of epilepsy.
Medics categorize epilepsy into numerous syndromes based on various factors. These factors include the severity of the cause, the part of the brain the disease affects, and seizure types. Despite being one of the rarest forms, patients with Dravet Syndrome can find relief by using medical marijuana.
Statistics reveal that this syndrome affects 1 in 16000 infants. The disorder begins the first year after birth and results in prolonged or frequent seizures, making the patient susceptible to injuries, accidents, and death. Reports reveal that this condition's traditional or prescription medication has been ineffective.
In the study, Charlotte Figi’s family encountered challenges, as their daughter had more than 300 seizures weekly, even after taking the traditional treatment. Thus, the family opted to turn to medical marijuana to alleviate the seizure symptoms in their daughter.
Side Effects and Symptoms of Seizures
Depending on the part of the brain the seizures affect, the condition has numerous potential side effects. Nevertheless, most seizures cause body shaking, twitching, and loss of awareness. Most of the common symptoms come suddenly over a few minutes or seconds. Below are the common symptoms:
● Muscle tightening/tension leading to the head, arms, legs, and body twisting
● Muscle movement, including twitching
● Hallucinations
● Speech impairment
● Loss of muscle control or falling
● Loss of awareness
Current Medical Treatment Options and their Side Effects
Statistics show that only 60% of the patients will find the appropriate medication to control their seizures in the first two options they choose. Remember, as physicians try more drugs, the chances of the medication working usually decrease.
It’s the main reason why the Epilepsy Foundation states that prescription medication can only help to alleviate 70% of epileptic patients. Thus, the medications leave the other 30% of patients with no medication or relief.
Reports reveal that there are approximately 31 generic drugs that alleviate epilepsy. These drugs come in various brand names, like Epanutim, Topamax, and Lyrica. Like other prescription medications, these drugs come with multiple side effects, which can cause adverse health risks. These side effects may include:
● Depression
● Acne
● Diarrhea
● Double vision
● Hepatitis
● Gum dysplasia
● Hair loss
● Depression
● Irritability
● Impaired concentration
● Hyperactivity in children
● Weight gain
● Nausea
● Mood shifts
● slurred speech
● Sleep disturbances
These medications can result in life-threatening effects like
● Liver failure
● Drop in the body’s platelet count
● Allergic or rash reaction
● Reduced white blood cell count
Some drugs, like Clonazepam and Clobazam, usually become inactive and ineffective over time. The condition makes the body develop tolerance to the medications. Thus, you have to change the drug or increase the dosage, leading to an adverse reaction.
Some studies, like anti-seizure medications, increase the loss of bone, causing osteoporosis, especially in women. For instance, a study shows that patients who take anti-seizure medication have a 29% risk of having fractures after using the drug for five or more years. These drugs usually interfere with the ability of the body to absorb vital vitamins like Vitamin D and Calcium.
Besides these side effects, women usually face additional challenges while using these medicines. For instance, most contraceptives (implants or oral) become less effective when using anti-seizure medication. Besides affecting birth control methods' effectiveness, the drugs also increase the risks for pregnant ladies.
Studies show an increase in congenital disabilities by 6.1 % when the mother is on epileptic medications. The statistics represent more than 3.9% of the average congenital disabilities. Remember, without the medication, women with pregnancies are at risk of congenital disabilities while pregnant.
Physicians try to incorporate natural medication to combat these adverse effects. Besides natural medication, you can also get relief by modifying your lifestyle. Avoiding stress, having enough sleep, and monitoring your hormone level will help suppress the triggers.
Below are some of the self-management tactics:
● Adopting a ketogenic diet or eating a well-balanced diet
● Having enough sleep, approximately eight hours
● Exercise regularly
● Limit alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine use
● Use earplugs in noisy places
● Avoid flashing bulbs, strobe, or discos lights
With the numerous adverse side effects of traditional medication and the ineffectiveness of some drugs, the medical community is increasing the search for appropriate and safe ways to control these symptoms. While the self-management tip can help, it won’t provide a lasting remedy.
The search for natural and effective remedies led the physicians and patients like Charlotte to discover the effectiveness and impact of using medical marijuana to alleviate seizures or epilepsy.
Get Relief for Seizures Using Medical Cannabis
Most states with an MMJ program allow patients with seizures or epilepsy to use medical marijuana. You can visit HappyMD for a medical marijuana 420 evaluation to check your qualification condition and help you get your medical marijuana card. The platform will connect you to a wide range of certified medical marijuana physicians to evaluate your condition and provide a recommendation to apply for your medical marijuana card. Book with us today to get your MMJ card, access medical marijuana products for seizures, and improve your quality of life.
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