Marijuana has been a controversial topic around the world
over the last few years. It has been an issue that people are trying to
legalize in many different states and countries, and is still on its way to
being more legalized. Medical marijuana is also something that has been used in
the past to treat “terminal illnesses” like cancer.
It has been assumed in the past that medicinal marijuana can
treat epilepsy. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder – people experience sudden
seizures. They can also experience a loss of consciousness and convulsions.
Epilepsy is associated with abnormal electrical activity found in the brain.
There are different levels of epilepsy. Some are so severe
that it even affects a person’s intellectual ability. People generally experience
a series of seizures. There are individuals who are not responsive to
conventional treatment. Or there are people who cannot tolerate it.
There have not been many ways to prove that medicinal
marijuana can help treat epilepsy, especially in children. But there were
researchers who wanted to study the connection between the two. A new clinical
trial has proved that medicinal marijuana really can be effective in some
individuals.
The study shows that a liquid form of medicinal marijuana is
able to try and prevent seizures in children. This has been proven with
children who have not been responding to other treatments.
If medicinal marijuana really does have a positive impact on
people who suffer from epilepsy then it will benefit a lot of people who do not
respond to other treatments.
During the trial or study scientist recruited a total of 213
people. Their age ranges from young children to adults. The individuals also
have twelve different types of severe epilepsy. The people were given an active
compound found in cannabis, cannabidiol. His is known to have medical effects
on people without getting people high.
The main goal of the trial was to study safety and
tolerance. Because of this there was no placebo control. All of the people who
participated in the trial were aware of what they were given, and what they
were trying.
Throughout the analysis, there were individuals that dropped
out. Because of this their results were not included in the overall analysis.
Of the 213 selected individuals, 137 people completed the investigation or
trial. It lasted twelve weeks. On average the people experienced a 54% decrease
in the total number of seizures that they would experience.
People with a certain type of epilepsy – Dravet Syndrome,
also saw a reduction in the total number of seizures that they would have.
Part of the reason why people dropped out is because of the
side effects that they would experience. Side effects were found in 10% of all
of the original trial participants. The side effects include sleepiness,
drowsiness, and diarrhea.
The overall results of the trial are encouraging. This is
especially because there have not been many trials in the past that test out
the connection between medicinal marijuana and a possible treatment for
epilepsy. It is not clear how marijuana is able to cause the reduction of
seizures, but it is well tolerated by the users.
People can also be assured that the consumers do not have to
experience a “drug high” when taking the drug. This is especially conventional
for children with epilepsy. It allows people to confidently give their children
the drug without actually “drugging them”.
The results of the trial will be presented at the 67th
annual American academy of neurology meeting.
It is hoped that this trial will lead to more studies on the
link between medicinal marijuana and a treatment for epilepsy.
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