How Marijuana Treatment For Seizures Work?

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy and seizures affect around 3 million people of all age groups in the United States. It’s the 4th most common neurological condition. Common symptoms include loss of consciousness, fear, anxiety, nausea, headaches, and spasms.

Some studies say cannabis can help in controlling seizures. Its cannabinoids contain therapeutic properties and are effective in boosting overall wellness. Since marijuana doesn’t cause any side-effects, more patients are opting for it and getting online 420 evaluations Chino Hills.

What Causes Seizures?

The causes of seizures are often unknown. Medical researchers say that there are many reasons for the development of seizures. These include brain infection, brain injury, tumor, abnormal blood sugar levels, drug abuse, and electric shock. Additionally, genetics may play a role in the development of epilepsy and seizures.
Seizures are divided into three categories—generalized onset, focal onset, and unknown onset. They generate electric impulses in the brain, which can lead to a wide range of symptoms. So, for treating seizures, it’s important to learn about the symptoms and the major reasons behind them.

Medications For Seizures

For treating seizures, the majority of the patients go for medications. The common medications are Phenytoin, Oxcarbazepine, Lamotrigine, Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Valproic acid, Topiramate, and Phenobarbital.
The Epilepsy Foundation says that medications don’t work for all. In fact, prescription medications help only 70 percent of the patients to control their seizures.
Moreover, medications come with various side-effects. The list includes acne, headaches, hair loss, depression, diarrhea, hepatitis, lack of focus, mood swings, sedation, sleep disturbances, change in appetite, etc. Moreover, some patients may experience a drop in white blood cells and liver failure.
However, over time, patients may develop a tolerance by taking some medications such as Clobazam and Clonazepam.

How Marijuana Stop Seizures?

Cannabis for seizures works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system. The herb contains more than 100 cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD. Different cannabinoids contain different medicinal properties.

Medical studies have found that the endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in controlling the brain’s response to seizures. Cannabinoid receptors in the hippocampus region of the brain control storing and retrieving memories and also emotions. Abnormal changes in this region may lead to the development of seizures. And, cannabinoids in marijuana can help in correcting it.

How does marijuana work in the body? When you consume the herb through any method, its cannabinoids bind to receptors, thus altering various bodily functions. These include memory, mood, appetite, sleep, etc.

Some clinical trials have found that cannabinoids can help decrease glutamate synthesis in the central nervous system. Glutamate is a major neurotransmitter, which can initiate and spread seizure activity in the brain.

Recent research on cannabis oil says that THC and CBD can help in reducing seizure frequency significantly in children suffering from Dravet syndrome. Researchers evaluated participants after 20 weeks and noted a reduction in seizure frequency by 70 percent. Moreover, patients experienced some side-effects, such as fatigue, diarrhea, etc. So, controlling the dose is very important when using cannabis as a treatment for epilepsy and seizures.

According to a study conducted by the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutic, medical researchers found that 75 percent of parents of children with epilepsy agreed that unapproved cannabis medications work for controlling seizures. Additionally, the participants reported an improvement in cognitive and language abilities.

Moreover, marijuana has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, which can accelerate the recovery process. The herb can replace pain medications and antidepressants.

Cannabis Reduces Anxiety

There’s some evidence that anxiety and stress can trigger seizures. Marijuana’s therapeutic properties can deliver anti-anxiety effects by boosting the serotonin levels in the brain.

There has been a wide range of researches conducted on marijuana treatment for anxiety and depression. A recent study found that 2-arachidonoylglycerol helped in reducing anxiety between the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the prelimbic prefrontal cortex (pIPFC). 2-arachidonoylglycerol is an endogenous cannabinoid, which works with anandamide to interact with CB receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system. Cannabis compounds in marijuana function the same way as 2-AG i.e. interacting with the CB receptors.

Does CBD Work?

CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, which can help stop seizure activity and improve overall health. On June 25, 2018, the FDA approved the first cannabidiol-based drug named Epidiolex for the treatment of seizures. The medicine is helpful for managing two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome in children aged 2 years and more.

However, multiple placebo-controlled studies reported that CBD performed better than a placebo for reducing the frequency of convulsive seizures. Moreover, researchers have found that using cannabinoids as adjunctive epilepsy treatment has shown a significant reduction in seizure activity. Some high-CBD strains, such as Charlotte’s Web have shown promising results in managing some forms of epilepsy.

According to an analysis published in Epilepsia in 2018, cannabinoids reported promising results in pediatric epilepsy. The research suggests that CBD may help in reducing the seizure numbers by 50 percent.

Conclusion

Anti-seizure medications can help improve symptoms, but they can cause certain side-effects. Marijuana is effective in reducing seizure activity naturally. Its cannabinoids are similar to certain neurotransmitters, which play a key role in regulating memory, mood, appetite, etc. Medical studies show that cannabis can help boost mental health by increasing the serotonin levels in the brain.

Talk to your doctor to discuss your condition and seek advice for strains, dosage, consumption method, drug interactions, etc. Get an MMJ card to access state-licensed dispensaries legally. 

Apply for online 420 evaluations Chino Hills today.