The nervous system is affected by a disorder known as epilepsy which is recurrent and presented in form of convulsions which vary in their scope and intensity. A seizure is due to a disturbance of the normal electrical system in the brain and signifies great distress for those who get epileptic fits. The common anti seizure drugs are usually administered in the control of such seizures. Unfortunately, these do not work for everyone, especially the refractory epileptic population, which means drug resistant. In the past few years, the Cannabidiol which is a derivative from the marijuana plant is becoming one of those that help in treating epilepsy but mostly when all the other options seem to fail.
Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid, which is not psychoactive, and has also been successful in the treatment of pediatric patients with severe intractable seizures. And with drugs like Epidiolex which contain highly concentrated forms of cannabis-derived CBD, which received FDA approval, has marked a turning point within the treatment of seizures for these conditions.
Understanding Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders
It's approximated that 50 million people world-wide are afflicted by the illness in all its manifestations including structural focal epilepsy, 'benign' childhood epilepsy, and seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex LOs. Antiseizure therapy remains the principal management of the disease, although, one third of patients suffering from epilepsy have intractable seizures, which denotes that this ailment cannot be fully treated with available pharmacological interventions. Considering other measures in overcoming these individuals’ problems is extremely important in helping these persons live a better life.
The term is generally understood as the presence of abnormal brain activity that can lead to diverse present action interjection and from occasional action to a profound convulsive state and often varies from one individual to another in terms of its complexity and occurrence. Epilepsy and convulsive disorders usually comprehension the presence of many as wanting a treatment plan that is specific for the condition as some types of epilepsy will respond to antiepileptic drugs while others will not. In extreme conditions such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, patients might have drop seizures as well as other life devastating conditions that result in extreme barriers against normal endeavors.
CBD in the Cure for Seizures Lowers the Incidence of Seizure Attacks
Yet, it is also widely recognized that Cannabidiol (CBD) plays an important role in treating epileptic seizures most especially in patients suffering from intractable epilepsy. Treatment with CBD involves taking the receptors, compounds, and metabolic enzymes that constitute the endocannabinoid system which is in charge of regulating many functions including the control of neuronal activity. Since the Endocannabinoid system varies the excitability of particular neurons, then, CBD may help control seizures and decrease their incidence in affected persons.
There have been multiple reviews of population and clinical data in published systematic reviews that have supported a claim that CBD was effective in reducing the seizure episodes in patients who are either adults or children. For example, such studies involved a trial of cannabidiol for drug-resistant epilepsy with Dravet syndrome patients and such patients showed improvements. This study showed that where there were participants more than half of them reduced the number of times they experienced seizures by about 51%. Also, there were a few studies on Lennox-Gastaut syndrome where CBD was found to help significantly in managing eleven drop seizures which are one of most debilitating and dangerous type of seizures experienced with the syndrome.
Epidiolex: A Breakthrough in the Fight against Epilepsy
Epidiolex is the only FDA-approved medication that contains CBD. It has managed to change the way seizures due to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome are managed. It contains highly purified CBD for the treatment of intractable epilepsy which will be ideal for patients who failed on standard therapies before. It was the first time that the FDA approved such substance for treatment of severe kinds of epilepsy thereby recognizing the role of CBD.
It is well-established that clinical studies and systematic reviews study with Epidiolex show that seizure activity is lowered with the help of CBD therapy. CBD treatment via Epidiolex has also proved effective and safe in chronic treatment resistant epilepsy, with patients showing a significant decrease in the number of seizures, with the majority close to complete seizure relief. As for children with seizures in Dravet syndrome, Epidiolex became a miracle drug, significantly increasing the number of good seizure days and the overall quality of life.
Seizures Control with CBD
The thing that CBD manages or exerts the so-called therapeutic effects is the effects on the neurotransmitters and the ion channels which are responsible for the neuronal excitability. When compared to THC compound which gets users high once consumed, CBD is void of such stupor and therefore more attractive to such type of patients. There is Keivananat which has been working on discussing seizure activities in children by referring to different parts of the brain. The primary target for cannabidiol therapy that is always sought after is inflammation.
One such basic fact about these substances is that CBD oil is anti-infective. People also understand that epilepsy and its correspondent disorders of the same wave can be in some cases caused or accompanied by neuroinflammation, which may lead to seizures in some epileptic patients. With CBD oil, inflammation in the brain has been relieved to some degree which may explain the seizure reducing ability of the oil. And several different mechanisms make up the CBD so that on the one hand it suppresses the hyperactivity of the neurons and on the other hand it suppresses the inflammation present that leads to seizures in people with epilepsy.
Evidence Supporting Medical Use of CBD
There is clear empirical evidence to support the notion that CBD is indeed worth it when it comes to controlling seizure frequencies in different types of epilepsy, particularly in patients with focal epilepsy, patients with lennox-gastaut syndrome, and patients with dravet syndrome. In one notable pediatric study on cannabidiol in dravet syndrome, the seizure-cluster experienced a zucchini-type of a 39% reduction in seizures in the dravet syndrome group. Likewise, a study on seizures associated with lennox gastaut syndrome also revealed that the application of cbd treatment decreased the occurrence of ‘drop seizures’ in the patients, enhancing their general quality of life.
Another research study confirmed the above hypothesis that 5286353 cannabidiol for drug resistant seizures in the dravet group resulted in significant decrease in the frequency of dravet seizures. These results, however, have a profound significance for such patients with form of epilepsy that does not respond to medications, as they offer a belief in potential improvement in seizure control with no adverse effects of the conventional antis seizure drugs.
Literature search demonstrated that scientific studies suffer from the facts, that adults and children with highly purified cannabidiol for treatment of refractory epilepsy virtually all experienced a decrease in the frequency of seizures. This systematic review concluded that cannabidiol for treatment-refractory epilepsy is a reasonable and effective treatment strategy for drug-resistant seizures.
Classifications of Epilepsy and Use of CBD Treatment
The effectiveness of CBD, as a treatment for epilepsy, is relative to the type of epilepsy that is affected. It has been most extensively studied in severe forms of epilepsy, especially Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which have the greatest potential drug intervention. CBD products may also be of benefit to patients suffering from other kinds of epilepsy , such as focal epilepsy and childhood epilepsy. For these cases, in most cases, CBD is used as an add on to the patient already existing medications for seizures whereby some drugs may already be controlling the condition.
Patients taking the UAB CBD program and other epilepsy centers have alternatives where they do not have to take anti-seizure drugs to manage… rather they have been provided with treatment options containing CBD formulations. Most patients would frequently respond to a better therapeutic option when other drugs are added with CBD use as anticancer treatment than when use only standard medications.
Potential benefits and Adverse Effects of CBD Considerations in Managing Epilepsy
Effective as it may be in the reduction of seizure, it is useful to also point out that side effects may be experienced. Patients suffering from seizures using CBD will complain of drowsiness, diarrhea, appetite changes and even interacting with other drugs. The amount of cbd that is safe for use by a patient should only be given by a health care professional for safety and efficacy purposes.
It is equally important to note the distinction between prescription drugs such as Epidiolex, which contains highly purified CBD, and cbd products that are not controlled by the government. Case in point are natural hemp-derived products since the onset of their popularity a good number of these have been made obtainable at various health outlets. There might be efficient ways of getting effective and safe cbd therapy from epilepsy centers and programs like UAB CBD program.
Future of CBD in Epilepsy Treatment
Both the Epilepsy Foundation and other advocacy organizations are enthusiastic about the future of CBD for epilepsy. The investigation of the therapeutic application of CBD on various kinds of epilepsy and epileptic patients continues. As more study returns have been published concerning the administration of cbd to alleviate seizures on epileptic patients, further advancement in new innovation for meds that contain CBD and an oral CBD oil will be used for more types of seizures disorders. Certain CBD gummies may also be helpful in treating epilepsy.
Conclusion
Cannabidiol for treatment-refractory epilepsy has brought a ray of hope to patients suffering from drug-resistant seizures and drug-resistant epilepsy syndromes like Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. Efficacious reduction of seizure episodes is now achievable among patients with epilepsy who are treated with hemp extract, which is an open-label CBD oral solution derived from Hemp approved by the FDA. Through fda vision and other clinical and research studies, further safety and efficacy standard studies may probably remain the only available weapon for curing or at least controlling epilepsy in patients with frequent episodes of seizures.
Cannabidiol therapy remains the potential better option compared to other anti-seizure medications for those patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy and equally enhances quality of life outcomes for the patients living with epilepsy.