The case for assessing cannabidiol in epilepsy.

Posted on May 24, 2014 by David

“Intractable epilepsies have an extraordinary impact on cognitive and behavioral function and quality of life, and the treatment of seizures represents a challenge and a unique opportunity. Over the past few years, considerable attention has focused on cannabidiol (CBD), the major nonpsychotropic compound of Cannabis sativa.

Basic research studies have provided strong evidence for safety and anticonvulsant properties of CBD. However, the lack of pure, pharmacologically active compounds and legal restrictions have prevented clinical research and confined data on efficacy and safety to anecdotal reports.

Pure CBD appears to be an ideal candidate among phytocannabinoids as a therapy for treatment-resistant epilepsy.

A first step in this direction is to systematically investigate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and interactions of CBD with other antiepileptic drugs and obtain an initial signal regarding efficacy at different dosages. These data can then be used to plan double-blinded placebo-controlled efficacy trials.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24854434

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

Cannabidiol: Pharmacology and potential therapeutic role in epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Posted on May 24, 2014 by David

“Cannabis has been used to treat disease since ancient times. Δ9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9 -THC) is the major psychoactive ingredient and CBD is the major nonpsychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

Cannabis and Δ9 -THC are anticonvulsant in most animal models but can be proconvulsant in some healthy animals. The psychotropic effects of Δ9 -THC limit tolerability.

CBD is anticonvulsant in many acute animal models, but there are limited data in chronic models.

The antiepileptic mechanisms of CBD are not known, but may include effects on the equilibrative nucleoside transporter; the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor GPR55; the transient receptor potential of vanilloid type-1 channel; the 5-HT1a receptor; and the α3 and α1 glycine receptors.

CBD has neuroprotective and antiinflammatory effects, and it appears to be well tolerated in humans, but small and methodologically limited studies of CBD in human epilepsy have been inconclusive.

More recent anecdotal reports of high-ratio CBD:Δ9 -THC medical marijuana have claimed efficacy, but studies were not controlled.

CBD bears investigation in epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety, schizophrenia, addiction, and neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24854329

The case for medical marijuana in epilepsy.

Posted on May 24, 2014 by David

“Charlotte, a little girl with SCN1A-confirmed Dravet syndrome, was recently featured in a special that aired on CNN. Through exhaustive personal research and assistance from a Colorado-based medical marijuana group (Realm of Caring), Charlotte’s mother started adjunctive therapy with a high concentration cannabidiol/Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (CBD:THC) strain of cannabis, now known as Charlotte’s Web. This extract, slowly titrated over weeks and given in conjunction with her existing antiepileptic drug regimen, reduced Charlotte’s seizure frequency from nearly 50 convulsive seizures per day to now 2-3 nocturnal convulsions per month. This effect has persisted for the last 20 months, and Charlotte has been successfully weaned from her other antiepileptic drugs. We briefly review some of the history, preclinical and clinical data, and controversies surrounding the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of epilepsy, and make a case that the desire to isolate and treat with pharmaceutical grade compounds from cannabis (specifically CBD) may be inferior to therapy with whole plant extracts. Much more needs to be learned about the mechanisms of antiepileptic activity of the phytocannabinoids and other constituents of Cannabis sativa.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24854149

“Marijuana stops child’s severe seizures” http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/health/charlotte-child-medical-marijuana/

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/dravet-syndome/

Potential Cure for Epilepsy: Cannabis Vastly Reduces Seizures in Boy with Dravet Syndrome

Posted on May 23, 2014 by David

A judge checks on a marijuana sample during a judging session at Uruguay's second

“Scientists are looking at the potential use of cannabis to treat and potentially cure severe forms of epilepsy.

The medical benefits of medical marijuana for neurological conditions like epilepsy are highly debated.

Examining the potential use of the drug, a series of articles in the journal Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy, looks at its potential use for treating the syndrome.

Edward Maa, from the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Denver Health in Denver, Colorado, looks at a case study of a child with Dravet syndrome – a very severe form of epilepsy.

In the case, a mother provided her child with a strain of medical marijuana high in Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) known as Charlotte’s Web.

When used with the child’s normal drug regime, seizures dropped from 50 convulsions per day to just two or three per month.”

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/potential-cure-epilepsy-cannabis-vastly-reduces-seizures-boy-dravet-syndrome-1449505

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/dravet-syndome/

Toddler’s seizures stopped after consuming cannabis oil, parents say

Posted on May 23, 2014 by David

Two-year-old Kyla Williams hasn‘t learned to walk or talk, her development has stopped as she suffered as many as 200 seizures daily and no medication helped. Now the girl’s family say she hasn’t had a seizure in a week, ever since they began giving her cannabis oil extracted from hemp. (handout from family)

“Two-year-old Kyla Williams hasn’t learned to walk or talk, her development has stopped as she suffered as many as 200 seizures daily and no medication helped. Now the girl’s family says she hasn’t had a seizure in a week, ever since they began giving her cannabis oil extracted from hemp.

The oil being used by the toddler has high amounts of cannabidiol, known as CBD, the main ingredient in medical marijuana, and almost no psychoactive ingredients.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/toddlers-seizures-stopped-after-consuming-cannabis-oil-parents-say/article18769814/

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

Marijuana Effectively Reduces Seizures in Epilepsy Patients

Posted on May 23, 2014 by David

marijuanas

“Medicinal uses of marijuana have been a matter for heated debate for quite some time now. A review by American Academy of neurology collated all available information on marijuana use for brain disease treatment and concluded that except for treating symptoms of multiple sclerosis, there is no hard evidence in favor of medical usage of marijuana.

But now some articles have been published in the journal Epilepsia that contradicts the earlier review. One of these articles is a case study of a family living in Denver, CO. The child in the family suffers from a severe form of epilepsy known as Dravet Syndrome and used to have frequent seizures, as many as 50 convulsions a day. But the child was given “Charlotte’s Web”- a marijuana strain with high levels of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Reportedly, the seizures decreased considerably and now the child suffers from only 2 or 3 seizures each month.

According to the author of the article, Dr. Edward Maa, “As medical professionals it is important that we further the evidence of whether CBD in cannabis is an effective antiepileptic therapy.””

http://www.newsonwellness.com/2014/05/marijuana-effectively-reduces-seizures-epilepsy-patients/

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

Study examines potential use of medical marijuana, CBD in treating epilepsy

Posted on May 23, 2014 by David

“…cannabis has been used to treat epilepsy for centuries… The therapeutic potential of medical marijuana and pure cannabidiol (CBD), an active substance in the cannabis plant, for neurologic conditions is highly debated. A series of articles published in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), examine the potential use of medical marijuana and CBD in treating severe forms of epilepsy…”

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20140523/Study-examines-potential-use-of-medical-marijuana-CBD-in-treating-epilepsy.aspx

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

Miracle Drug: Medical Marijuana Cures Child of Terminal Epilepsy

Posted on May 1, 2014 by David

Mia Wilkinson

“Only until recently has medical marijuana received its deserved accolades by the mainstream media as a miracle drug; however, many in the medical industry are still leaving pot on the back-burner….until NOW.

A Canadian mother named Sarah Wilkinson has tangible claims about how cannabis has saved her disabled and once terminally ill daughter’s life.”

During an interview with the Toronto Sun, Wilkinson said “I assumed people who wanted it just wanted to get high” prior to her daughter’s marijuana use. However, once administering marijuana to her daughter with no other options from the pharmaceutical industry, Mia’s seizures went from 100 a day to 8 at most, changing her stance about the drug overnight. Results upon using the herb were immediate. Mia’s seizures ended within 24 hours of using the herb and now the Wilkinson’s don’t hesitate to call the drug a miracle.”

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/05/prweb11808330.htm

“Medical marijuana gives epileptic child new lease on life” http://www.torontosun.com/2014/04/26/medical-marijuana-gives-epileptic-child-new-lease-on-life

“Medical Marijuana Helps Epileptic Child Suffering 100 Seizures a Day” http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/medical-marijuana-helps-epileptic-child-suffering-100-seizures-day-1446463

“Marijuana Miracle: Epileptic Child Who Suffered 100 Seizures Daily ‘Gets Cured’ After Using the Herb” http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/549768/20140428/marijuana-miracle-health-benefits-epilepsy-child-seizure.htm#.U2JQLehX-uY

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

Marijuana Accessible to Children as a Cure for Epileptic Seizures

Posted on February 26, 2014 by David

marijuana

“Recently a 5-year-old child was administered a medical marijuana card, the youngest person to ever receive one. Her parents are nothing less than ecstatic, as this drug has worked wonders to reduce the amount and severity of her chronic, life-threatening epileptic seizures. This new found use for the highly controversial drug has been the reason for much debate, as well as hundreds of families deciding to relocate to Colorado, where marijuana is accessible to children to cure epileptic seizures…”

More: http://guardianlv.com/2014/02/marijuana-accessible-to-children-as-a-cure-for-epileptic-siezures/

Effects of WIN 55,212-2 (a non-selective cannabinoid CB1 and CB 2 receptor agonist) on the protective action of various classical antiepileptic drugs in the mouse 6 Hz psychomotor seizure model.

Posted on February 21, 2014 by David

“The aim of this study was to characterize the influence of WIN 55,212-2 (WIN-a non-selective cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor agonist) on the anticonvulsant effects of various classical antiepileptic drugs (clobazam, clonazepam, phenobarbital and valproate) in the mouse 6 Hz-induced psychomotor seizure model…

These preclinical data would suggest that WIN in combination with clonazepam, phenobarbital and valproate is associated with beneficial anticonvulsant pharmacodynamic interactions in the mouse 6 Hz-induced psychomotor seizure test.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24549572