Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder that affects approximately 50 million people worldwide. Most patients with epilepsy suffer from frequent seizures, which can affect their daily life. Recent studies have shown that CBD oil can help treat the symptoms of epilepsy. In this article we will look at how CBD oil can help people with epilepsy.


What is CBD oil?

 Cannabidiol (CBD) is a plant extract produced from hemp. It contains a number of chemical compounds that have shown positive effects on people's health in general and specifically. Cannabidiol is not a psychoactive drug and is not addictive.

How does CBD oil help people with epilepsy?

Cannabidiol has been shown to help treat epilepsy symptoms in many cases. Recent studies have shown that cannabidiol can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in patients with epilepsy. Cannabidiol can also help reduce the side effects of drugs commonly used to treat epilepsy.

What do the studies say?

In 2018, a study published in the journal Epilepsy Currents compared the effectiveness of cannabidiol to the effectiveness of the drug carbamazepine in the treatment of seizures. The study showed that cannabidiol was much more effective than carbamazepine in reducing the frequency and severity of seizures.

Another study published in 2018 in the journal Neurology showed that cannabidiol can reduce the frequency of seizures in children and adults with a rare seizure disorder called Dravet syndrome.

In 2019, a study published in the journal Lancet Neurology examined the effectiveness of CBD oil in treating seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The study showed that daily use of CBD oil significantly reduced the number of seizures in patients with this disorder.

Conclusion

Cannabidiol can help treat the symptoms of epilepsy. However, you should discuss the use of CBD oil with a doctor before you start using it. Also, you should consider the possible side effects and interactions with other medications you may be taking for it, and you should consult your doctor before you start taking it.

Finally, studies must be continued to further examine the benefits it may have and to be able to have more relevant information.

Sources

  • Devinsky, O., et al. "Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome." New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 376, no. 21, 2017, pp. 2011-2020.
  • Gloss, D., & Vickrey, B. (2018). Cannabinoids for epilepsy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018(3).
  • Rosenberg, E. C., et al. "Cannabinoids and Epilepsy." Neurotherapeutics, vol. 12, no. 4, 2015, pp. 747-768.
  • Szaflarski, J. P., Bebin, E. M., Comi, A. M., Patel, A. D., Joshi, C., Checketts, D., ... & Wong, M. H. (2018). Long-term safety and treatment effects of cannabidiol in children and adults with treatment-resistant epilepsies: Expanded access program results. Epilepsia, 59(8), 1540-1548.
  • Thiele, E. A., Marsh, E. D., French, J. A., Mazurkiewicz-Beldzinska, M., Benbadis, S. R., Joshi, C., ... & Gunning, B. (2018). Cannabidiol in patients with seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (GWPCARE4): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. The Lancet Neurology, 17(3), 261-270.