Perceived efficacy of cannabidiol-enriched cannabis extracts for treatment of pediatric epilepsy: A potential role for infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Posted on May 6, 2015 by David

“There is a great need for safe and effective therapies for treatment of infantile spasms (IS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Based on anecdotal reports and limited experience in an open-label trial, cannabidiol (CBD) has received tremendous attention as a potential treatment for pediatric epilepsy, especially Dravet syndrome.

We sought to document the experiences of children with IS and/or LGS who have been treated with CBD-enriched cannabis preparations.

Perceived efficacy and tolerability were similar across etiologic subgroups.

Eighty-five percent of all parents reported a reduction in seizure frequency, and 14% reported complete seizure freedom.

Reported side effects were far less common during CBD exposure, with the exception of increased appetite (30%).

A high proportion of respondents reported improvement in sleep (53%), alertness (71%), and mood (63%) during CBD therapy… this study suggests a potential role for CBD in the treatment of refractory childhood epilepsy including IS and LGS…”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25935511

“Safety and side effects of cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22129319

“Cannabidiol, a safe and non-psychotropic ingredient of the marijuana plant Cannabis sativa…” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19690824

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/

Long-term disease-modifying effect of the endocannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 in a rat model of audiogenic epilepsy.

Posted on May 3, 2015 by David

Modulation of the endocannabinoid (eCB) transmission is a promising approach to treating epilepsy.

Animal models can be used to investigate this approach. Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rats have, genetically, audiogenic epilepsy. Moreover, in these animals, repeated induction of audiogenic seizures results in a progressive prolongation of the seizures, known as audiogenic kindling.

Administration of the single dose of WIN55,212-2 one hour before the 4th seizure delayed the kindling process by two weeks, without any acute effect on the audiogenic seizures.

CONCLUSIONS:

This result suggests that short-term potentiation of the eCB system might modify the epileptogenic disease process in patients with a progressive course of epilepsy.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25933961

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/

Cannabidiol in medicine: a review of its therapeutic potential in CNS disorders.

Posted on April 27, 2015 by David

“Cannabidiol (CBD) is the main non-psychotropic component of the glandular hairs of Cannabis sativa.

It displays a plethora of actions including anticonvulsive, sedative, hypnotic, antipsychotic, antiinflammatory and neuroprotective properties.

However, it is well established that CBD produces its biological effects without exerting significant intrinsic activity upon cannabinoid receptors.

For this reason, CBD lacks the unwanted psychotropic effects characteristic of marijuana derivatives, so representing one of the bioactive constituents of Cannabis sativa with the highest potential for therapeutic use.

The present review reports the pharmacological profile of CBD and summarizes results from preclinical and clinical studies utilizing CBD, alone or in combination with other phytocannabinoids, for the treatment of a number of CNS disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18844286

Medicinal Marijuana May Help Cure Children With Severe Epilepsy

Posted on April 22, 2015 by David

A marijuana plant

“Recent research found that a liquid form of therapeutic marijuana can provide cure to children with treatment-resistant epilepsy.

The said study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC in late April.”

http://au.ibtimes.com/medicinal-marijuana-may-help-cure-children-severe-epilepsy-1440398

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/

Weeding out bad waves: towards selective cannabinoid circuit control in epilepsy.

Posted on April 22, 2015 by David

“Endocannabinoids are lipid-derived messengers, and both their synthesis and breakdown are under tight spatiotemporal regulation. As retrograde signalling molecules, endocannabinoids are synthesized postsynaptically but activate presynaptic cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) receptors to inhibit neurotransmitter release. In turn, CB1-expressing inhibitory and excitatory synapses act as strategically placed control points for activity-dependent regulation of dynamically changing normal and pathological oscillatory network activity. Here, we highlight emerging principles of cannabinoid circuit control and plasticity, and discuss their relevance for epilepsy and related comorbidities. New insights into cannabinoid signalling may facilitate the translation of the recent interest in cannabis-related substances as antiseizure medications to evidence-based treatment strategies.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25891509

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/

Pure cannabidiol in the treatment of malignant migrating partial seizures in infancy: a case report.

Posted on April 18, 2015 by David

“Malignant migrating partial seizures in infancy is a devastating pharmacoresistent epileptic encephalopathy of unknown etiology characterized by onset in the first 6 months of life, continuous migrating focal seizures with corresponding multifocal electroencephalographic discharges, developmental deterioration, and early mortality.

Recent widespread interest in the nonpsychoactive component of the cannabis plant, cannabidiol, as a potential treatment for refractory devastating epilepsies has led to individual trials initiated by families or physicians in states that have legalized medical marijuana with anecdotal success.

We describe a now 10-month-old boy with malignant migrating partial seizures in infancy who made developmental gains and demonstrated sustained seizure reduction with the addition of cannabidiol to his antiepileptic regimen.

This report supports a role for cannabidiol in the treatment of malignant migrating partial seizures in infancy.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25882081

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/

The role of cannabinoids and leptin in neurological diseases.

Posted on April 17, 2015 by David

“Cannabinoids exert a neuroprotective influence on some neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists/antagonists or compounds can provide symptom relief or control the progression of neurological diseases. However, the molecular mechanism and the effectiveness of these agents in controlling the progression of most of these diseases remain unclear.

Cannabinoids may exert effects via a number of mechanisms and interactions with neurotransmitters, neurotropic factors and neuropeptides.

Leptin is a peptide hormone involved in the regulation of food intake and energy balance via its actions on specific hypothalamic nuclei. Leptin receptors are widely expressed throughout the brain, especially in the hippocampus, basal ganglia, cortex and cerebellum. Leptin has also shown neuroprotective properties in a number of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Therefore, cannabinoid and leptin hold therapeutic potential for neurological diseases.

Further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects on these agents may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neurological disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25880465

Parental reporting of response to oral cannabis extracts for treatment of refractory epilepsy.

Posted on April 9, 2015 by David

“Oral cannabis extracts (OCEs) have been used in the treatment of epilepsy; however, no studies demonstrate clear efficacy. We report on a cohort of pediatric patients with epilepsy who were given OCE and followed in a single tertiary epilepsy center…

Seventy-five patients were identified of which 57% reported any improvement in seizure control and 33% reported a >50% reduction in seizures (responders).

Our retrospective study of OCE use in pediatric patients with epilepsy demonstrates that some families reported patient improvement with treatment;

We strongly support the need for controlled, blinded studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OCE for treatment of pediatric epilepsies using accurate seizure counts, formal neurocognitive assessments, as well as EEG as a biomarker.

This study provides Class III evidence that OCE is well tolerated by children and adolescents with epilepsy.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25845492

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/

Antiepileptic potential of cannabidiol analogs.

Posted on April 3, 2015 by David

“In audiogenic seizure (AGS) susceptible rats, the acute (intraperitoneal and intravenous) dose-response effects of (–)-cannabidiol (CBD) for preventing AGS and for causing rototod neurotoxicity (ROT) were determined.

Also, the anti-AGS and ROT effects of 10 CBD analogs, given in intravenous doses equivalent to the AGS-ED50 (15 mg/kg) and ROT-ID50 (31 mg/kg) of CBD, were ascertained.

Compared to CBD, (–)-CBD diacetate and (–)-4-(2′-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene were equally effective whereas (–)-CBD monomethyl ether, (–)-CBD dimethyl ether, (–)-3′-acetyl-CBD monoacetate, (+)-4-(2′-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene, (–)-and (+)-4-(6′-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene, (+/-)-AF-11, and olivetol were less effective anticonvulsants. Except for (–)- and (+)-4-(2′-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene and olivetol, all analogs showed less ROT than CBD.

Also, CBD and all analogs were not active in tetrahydrocannabinol seizure-susceptible rabbits, the latter a putative model of cannabinoid psychoactivity in humans.

These data suggest anticonvulsant requirements of 2 free phenolic hydroxyl groups, exact positioning of the terpinoid moiety in the resorcinol system and correct stereochemistry.

Moreover, findings of separation of anticonvulsant from neurotoxic and psychoactive activities, notably with CBD diacetate, suggest that additional structural modifications of CBD may yield novel antiepileptic drugs.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7298873

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/

Inhibition of monoacylglycerol lipase mediates a cannabinoid 1-receptor dependent delay of kindling progression in mice.

Posted on March 24, 2015 by David

“Endocannabinoids, including 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), activate presynaptic cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1R) on inhibitory and excitatory neurons, resulting in a decreased release of neurotransmitters.

Event-specific activation of the endocannabinoid system by inhibition of the endocannabinoid degrading enzymes may offer a promising strategy to selectively activate CB1Rs at the site of excessive neuronal activation with the overall goal to prevent the development epilepsy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibition on the development and progression of epileptic seizures in the kindling model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

In conclusion, the data demonstrate that indirect CB1R agonism delays the development of generalized epileptic seizures, but has no relevant acute anticonvulsive effects.

Furthermore, we confirmed that the effects of JZL184 on kindling progression are CB1R mediated.

Thus, the data indicate that the endocannabinoid 2-AG might be a promising target for an anti-epileptogenic approach.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25796567

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/