Over the years, the use of medical cannabis (marijuana) has generated both a seemingly never-ending debate, and a growing interest from the public due to its medicinal properties. As of today, almost thirty states have allowed the use of medical marijuana as an alternative treatment method for debilitating diseases. One of the chronic illnesses for which the use of medical cannabis is allowed is epileptic seizures. This illness affects the life and health of millions of people around the world. But how does marijuana help alleviate the effects of this debilitating condition?
What is a Seizure?
In order to understand what a seizure is, we need to discuss epilepsy and what it entails. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that can cause seizures… Epilepsy can affect people in very different ways… because there are many causes and many different kinds of seizures. Some people may have multiple types of seizures or other medical conditions in addition to epilepsy. These factors play a major role in determining both the severity of the person’s condition and the impact it has on his or her life.”
As stated above, epilepsy can be caused due to different brain conditions that directly affect a person’s life. Although the specific underlying causes of epilepsy are unknown, the following are commonly associated with this debilitating illness:
- Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Strokes
- Brain Tumors
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
Types of Seizures Caused by Epilepsy
Seizures are generally divided into two main categories known as “Generalized” and “Partial” seizures. Generalized seizures happen as a response to electric impulses produced throughout the entire brain. Different from generalized seizures, partial seizures are caused by electrical impulses originating in a specific or focused part of the brain.
Both categories contain subcategories of seizures. For instance, examples of generalized seizures include:
- Absence: Also known as “petit mal,” this type of seizure causes a short period of blank staring, affecting a person’s awareness. During this moment or lapse of time, the person may not be aware of what is happening around him or her.
- Myoclonic: The myoclonic seizure can cause the sudden movement or jerking of a muscle or group of muscles. Many people suffering from this debilitating condition will suffer from sudden movements of muscles on both sides of their body.
- Clonic: This type of seizure involves the sudden movement of muscles, accompanied by muscle stiffness and rigidity.
Examples of partial seizures include:
- Focal Aware Seizures: This type of seizure begins on one side of the person’s brain and the individual experiencing the seizure episode has no loss of awareness.
- Focal Impaired Seizures: Also known as “complex partial seizures,” focal impaired seizures cause the person to be unaware of what is happening, as opposed to focal aware seizures.
Common Epileptic Seizure Medications
Medications available to treat epilepsy are known as “Anti Epileptic Drugs,” or AEDs. AEDs are divided into two categories depending on the type and severity of the epilepsy. These categories are:
- Narrow-Spectrum AEDs: This type of medication is exclusively designed to treat epilepsy that originates in a specific part of the brain, and is not meant to treat every kind of epilepsy. It is always wise to consult a physician who can properly diagnose your type of epilepsy and if narrow-spectrum AEDs are best for you. Some common AEDs include:
- Clobazam
- Diazepam
- Gabapentin
- Pregabalin
- Vigabatrin
- Broad Spectrum AEDs: Different from Narrow-Spectrum AEDs, Broad-Spectrum AEDs are designed to treat epilepsy that surfaces in multiple parts of the brain, hence the term “broad.” As stated before, in order to know what type of medication is more appropriate for you, consulting your physician is of utmost importance. Examples of Broad-Spectrum AEDs include:
- Clonazepam
- Clorazepate
- Lorazepam
- Topiramate
- Valproic Acid
Medical Marijuana as a Treatment for Seizures
As shown above, epilepsy is commonly treated with prescription medications. However, many people may wonder if there is an alternative method that can help to reduce the symptoms commonly associated with this debilitating illness – particularly patients whose epilepsy does not respond to, or is not significantly improved by, conventional treatment methods.
Recent studies suggest that the use of cannabis can help to alleviate epileptic symptoms. For instance, a study published by the Journal of Epilepsy Research, which analyzed the results of three therapy trials involving purified CBD (one of the most researched components in cannabis), found the following of patients with different epileptic syndromes: “For the first time, there is now class 1 evidence that adjunctive use of CBD improves seizure control in patients with specific epilepsy syndromes.”
How Does Medical Marijuana Treat Seizures?
In order to understand how medical marijuana works, it’s important to understand cannabis itself. It’s also important to understand that medical cannabis is not a “miracle cure,” and it has not been proven to cure epilepsy. However, medical cannabis has some properties that can help – alongside your treating physician’s recommended medication – to alleviate symptoms associated with this disease.
Cannabis has more than one hundred components. The most researched are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which was used in the aforementioned study. THC is the psychoactive component found in cannabis that is most associated with the commonly-known “high.” CBD, on the other hand, has no psychoactive effects. While many of marijuana’s medical benefits are strongly attributed to THC, CBD can also act as anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety agent.
It is precisely the latter which has the potential to treat epileptic seizures. This is because our nervous system contains what is known as the “endocannabinoid system.” Our body produces its own set of natural cannabinoid receptors, which is why components found in cannabis affect our feelings, sensations, and functioning. When cannabis “activates” the endocannabinoid system, it disrupts the abnormal brain signaling that causes seizures. As another study published in the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology notes, “[E]ndocannabinoid signaling limits abnormal network activity as a central component of the synaptic circuit-breaker system…”
One of the staple cases that showed medical cannabis can help treat seizures is the Charlotte Figi case. Figi, a resident of Colorado, suffered from continuous seizures. After many attempts at treating the girl’s condition, her parents decided to give her medicinal cannabis high in CBD. To their surprise, the girl’s seizures were reduced from 300 grand mal seizures per week to only two or three seizures per month.
While this case can illustrate medical cannabis’ ability to help treat seizures, it cannot be taken as the one and only case to follow if you suffer from this condition. Always make sure to talk to your physician and receive the appropriate guidance to see if cannabis can help you alleviate your illness’ symptoms.
Medical Marijuana Doctor Serving Massachusetts
There are many people in the United States who suffer from epileptic seizures. While using medical cannabis will not cure this illness, it might provide assistance in alleviating its symptoms. You should always – we cannot stress this enough – consult with your treating physician to see how medical marijuana can help you.
If you wish to learn more about the benefits of medical marijuana, contact Inhale MD online, or call us at (617) 477-8886. We are conveniently located in Brookline and Cambridge, serving residents from the Boston area and beyond. We also offer confidential online sessions.