A number of studies in recent years have shown the benefit of specific plant-based medical cannabis products in treating specific groups of people with epilepsy who have not responded to traditional therapies.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first CBD medication for seizure treatment in 2018 called Epidiolex.
The medication was authorized for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Medical cannabis has been found to be more tolerated than other antiepileptic drugs which have severe side effects.
Yes. Visit our Virginia page to know more about gaining access to a medical marijuana card.
Medical marijuana is a safe and effective alternative medicine for epilepsy patients. The number of people who are living with active epilepsy in the United States is an all-time high at about 3.4 million people or 1.2% of the US population.
Approximately three million people in the United States are diagnosed with epilepsy and over one third of them experience poorly controlled seizures. With the legalization of medical marijuana, there is now general interest in it as an alternative therapy.
Epilepsy patients can benefit from medical marijuana for treating the symptoms of epilepsy because the cannabidiol components of cannabis could potentially help control seizures.
Evidence shows that cannabinoids can help control the excitability in the nervous system that may otherwise lead to seizures and epilepsy.
In fact, Epidiolex, a brand name product containing cannabidiol (CBD), is FDA-approved to treat epilepsy subtypes .
This is the first FDA-approved medication that contains a purified chemical substance derived from marijuana.
Sometimes called a ‘seizure disorder’, epilepsy is characterized by unpredictable seizures and can cause other health problems. It’s the result of sudden, brief changes in the electrical balance of the brain, and it happens when there are too many electrical charges in the brain.
Seizures typically last a few seconds to a few minutes and affect awareness, physical movements, or speech.
The minority of the cases have determined clear causes, but the typical known cause of a seizure is some injury to the brain. Up to 70% of all cases of epilepsy have no discovered causes.
The main causes of epilepsy have been found to be:
Generally, patients suffering from epilepsy often experience changes in their quality of life as well as their relationships and performance in school or work.
Medication and surgery are the most common treatments of the condition. But more people have been seeking medical marijuana as an alternative treatment, thanks to studies and clinical tests that show great promise.
Cannabidiol-enriched medical marijuana induces fewer problems when it is used for epilepsy. It also provides benefits in mood, sleep, and alertness.
If you are considering including medical marijuana in your epilepsy treatment plan, apply for a medical card on our online platform. You can also visit our Virginia page to find out more about our application process.
Ready to start your medical marijuana journey? Apply for a medical marijuana card today at TeleLeaf RX. Contact us now!
