Patient Condition Guide: Cannabis and Seizure Disorders (Epileptic & Non-Epileptic)
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Imagine walking down the aisle of your local grocery store comparing cereal boxes when you suddenly see bright, flashing lights everywhere. You try to look away but feel like you’re spinning in circles, causing a sour stomach. As you come to, you’re surrounded by bystanders who watch an EMT race you to the ambulance parked outside.
This frightening experience is all too familiar for the 2% of adults worldwide who experience seizures. They’re frequently associated with whole-body convulsions, but not every seizure takes this highly visible form. Those susceptible to seizures need to make drastic lifestyle changes to remain safe if and when another occurs.
What you'll learn in this article:
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What Are Seizures?
A seizure is the body’s physical response to abnormal electrical activity that takes place in one or more regions of the brain. But not everyone who has a seizure is an epileptic.
In fact, many people who suffer from a seizure do not experience repeat occurrences. There are focal seizures, which occur in one specific part of the brain, and generalized seizures, which seem to affect multiple regions. Not all seizures result in convulsions or lack of consciousness, though some do.
The following list details the most common generalized seizures:
- Absence seizures: common in children, they’re defined by a blank stare and/or small, uncontrollable body movements.
- Clonic seizures: characterized by repetitive muscle movements, especially the arms and face.
- Myoclonic seizures: defined by the rapid onset of minor twitches or jerking of the limbs.
- Tonic seizures: characterized by stiffened muscles, especially in the back and limbs. Because this type can affect the legs and back, there’s an increased risk of falling.
- Atonic seizures: also know as “drop seizures,” they’re marked by a sudden loss of muscle control, which also boosts the chances of falling.
- Tonic-clonic seizures: previously known as grand mal seizures, they’re associated with loss of consciousness and convulsing that can cause a bitten tongue. They typically consist of a tonic phase, which lasts for less than 30 seconds, and a clonic phase, which can last up to two minutes.
What About Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a seizure disorder that affects the central nervous system. Epileptic seizures are still caused by abnormal electrical brain activity, yet individuals with epilepsy are at risk of having recurring seizures because that abnormal brain activity is an ongoing condition.
In order to be diagnosed with epilepsy, you must have at least two or more unprovoked seizures, meaning it wasn’t triggered by external factors like low blood sugar, drug use or alcohol withdrawal.
What Causes a Seizure?
Because there are numerous types, there is no single cause. The three major are:
- Nonepileptic seizures mimic the symptoms of a seizure without the abnormal electrical activity in the brain that characterizes a “true” seizure. Can be caused by muscle disorders, certain psychological conditions or fainting.
- Epileptic seizures may be caused by brain injury, a brain tumor, or genetic predisposition. Not every case of epilepsy has a clearly defined cause.
- Provoked seizures are true seizures caused by abnormal brain activity, though not caused by continuous or recurring brain abnormalities and therefore aren’t related to epilepsy. Some factors that can prompt one include illicit drug abuse, substance withdrawal, or sudden internal variations in equilibrium (a drop in blood sugar).
These are the primary reasons for seizures, but the cause is different from a trigger. A seizure trigger is any event or occurrence that sets off abnormal electrical activity in the brain of an epileptic, which, in turn, activates a seizure.
Common triggers for epileptic seizures include (but aren’t limited to):
- Failing to take medication (or taking it improperly)
- Lack of sleep
- Alcohol (this includes dehydration or hangover the day after drinking)
- Illicit drugs
- Flashing or flickering lights
- Music
How Are Seizures Treated?
The way your doctor treats a seizure will depend on the underlying cause of that seizure. First, he or she will perform a variety of tests to determine why you experienced a seizure.
These may include a review of your family’s medical history, a panel of blood tests, an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure brain activity, and imaging tests like a CT scan or an MRI. In cases where an infection is the suspected cause, the doc might order a lumbar puncture to test your cerebrospinal fluid.
If you experienced a provoked seizure or a nonepileptic seizure, the doctor will need to treat the underlying condition or circumstances that caused it. This may include medications, lifestyle changes, or detoxing/rehabilitation (in cases where seizures were caused by illicit drug use or alcohol withdrawal).
If your doctor diagnoses you with epilepsy, he or she may recommend certain medications to help control your seizures. Some people benefit from nerve stimulation treatments while, in extreme cases, doctors recommend surgery.
However, the majority of epileptics can control their seizures with prescription medication and lifestyle changes.
While cannabis probably won’t help individuals who’ve experienced a provoked seizure, some who live with epilepsy use it to help manage their symptoms.
Which States Allow Cannabis for Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders?
Cannabis laws significantly vary from state-to-state. However, the majority that allow medical cannabis recognize that citizens with seizure disorders may find relief by using cannabis.
Some states allow marijuana use for a variety of seizure disorders while others only authorize it for epileptics. Many states allow qualified patients to use a variety of cannabis products, including smokable flower, but some only permit patients to use non-psychotropic CBD oil that won’t make you feel “high.”
Check your state’s laws to better understand what, if any, forms of cannabis you may be permitted to consume for your condition.
The following states allow doctors to recommend the use of cannabis to treat epilepsy and other seizure disorders:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (low-THC oil only)
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana (CBD oil only)
- Iowa (low-THC oil only, restricted to patients with epilepsy)
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi (CBD oil only)
- Missouri (CBD oil only, restricted to patients with epilepsy)
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico (restricted to patients with epilepsy)
- New York
- North Carolina (restricted to patients with epilepsy)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma (CBD oil only)
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina (CBD oil only)
- Tennessee (CBD oil only)
- Texas (CBD oil only, restricted to epileptic patients)
- Utah (CBD oil only, restricted to epileptic patients)
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia (effective September 15, 2018)
- Wisconsin (CBD oil only)
- Wyoming (CBD oil only, restricted to epileptic patients)
Current Research on Cannabis and Seizure Disorders
A number of studies have examined whether cannabinoids like THC and CBD can help manage seizure disorder symptoms. Some researchers point out the fact that cannabis has reportedly been used to treat epilepsy and seizure disorders for hundreds of years.
While many studies and anecdotal reports produce positive results, further research is needed. Among cannabis treatment options, studies suggest that strains and oils high in CBD may offer promising results for some individuals.
This is why a number of states permit CBD oil but not smokable cannabis or extracts high in THC. Some researchers found that whole plant extracts may be more effective than synthetic pharmaceutical CBD.
How Do I Find the Best Cannabis for My Needs?
The first thing you’ll need to do is work with your doctor. He or she will know your medical history and is the only person who can safely determine whether cannabis is right for you. If you’re diagnosed with epilepsy or any seizure disorder and live in a MMJ state, your doctor may recommend cannabis if he or she believes it can help.
When it comes to medical cannabis, there’s a lot to consider. Once your doctor has written an MMJ recommendation, Nugg’s Cannabis Concierge team will help you get started! We have knowledgeable experts who’ll provide information on different cannabis products, recommend some to suit your condition, and show you where to get them. Reach out to Nugg’s free concierge service today and learn more about the wonders of medical cannabis.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only. While the content is accurate and true to the best of our knowledge, the author is not a medical professional. There may be omissions, errors, and mistakes. Therefore, never solely rely on the information in this, or any other post on our site or affiliated sites, for medical advice. This post does not create a physician/patient relationship with any of Nugg or NuggMD’s affiliated staff or physicians.
The Wonder Drug: Medical and Health Benefits of Marijuana
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“What, if any, are the medical and health benefits of marijuana?”
It’s a frequently asked question, and rightfully so.
23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of medical marijuana. Spurred on by the increasing information made available from research studies and trials from around the globe, many ‘experts’ are beginning to see cannabis for what it is:
- A potent medicinal drug with the potential to improve overall quality of life; and
- Medicine with limited-to-no side effects (consider all of those pharmaceutical TV advertisements and their list of side-effects a mile long, like Belviq could soon become a thing of the past).
There’s a reason medical marijuana has come to the forefront of America’s attention in recent years. It’s quite literally a miracle plant, a natural ‘wonder drug,’ And for millions, it is a literal life-saver, providing countless health benefits and treatments for ailments. But it isn’t for everyone, and with all the noise surrounding the plant, it can sometimes be difficult to comprehend what the actual health benefits of cannabis are, and how to determine if it’s the right medication for you.
Here you’ll learn about ten ways medicinal cannabis can benefit you and your health.
What you'll learn in this post:
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- Cannabis 101
- Cannabis Can Protect Your Vision
- Cannabis Provides Relief for Cancer & AIDS Patients
- Cannabis for Pain Relief
- Cannabis Decreases Anxiety, Combats PTSD
- Cannabis Counteracts Autoimmune Disorders like Lupus & Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Cannabis Helps Manage Epilepsy & Other Seizure Disorders
- Cannabis Slows Progression of Alzheimer's
- Cannabis Benefits Cancer Treatment
- Cannabis Lessons Side: Effects in Hepatitis C Treatments, Increases Overall Treatment Effectiveness
- Cannabis Calms Parkinson’s Tremors
- Conclusion
Cannabis 101
To start on the right foot, let’s cover some of the basics, or Cannabis 101 as I call it.
What is it? Cannabis is the scientific name for a “tall plant with a stiff upright stem, divided serrated leaves, and glandular hairs,” called the for the marijuana plant.
The cannabis plant produces several naturally occurring compounds called cannabinoids, which react with the human body in different ways. The most famous of these cannabinoids is the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinoid, commonly dubbed “THC.” It’s the psychoactive cannabinoid that gives you that notable “high” feeling when smoked, ingested, vaporized, or applied (sublingually or topically).
In recent years, another cannabinoid called cannabidiol, or “CBD” has become the focal point of significant scientific research. Numerous studies have shown that CBD has medicinal value without the psychoactive characteristics of THC. In other words, it has specific, medical benefits and applications and won’t get you high.
There are several other compounds found in the cannabis plant, but these are still little understood. Hopefully with the reclassification of cannabis (down from its current Schedule I drug ranking), we’ll see increased funding for medical research of cannabis.
For now, as far as science and medicine are concerned, the entire value of cannabis is extracted from its THC and CBD compounds. What’s noteworthy is that the method by which these compounds are delivered to the body hasn’t been a focal point of scientific research. In fact, scientists tend to conduct studies with cannabinoids that have been extracted from the plant or synthesized in a lab. That means there’s little information available as to whether the effects of THC & CBD differ when applied via new cannabis forms like concentrates, waxes and hash. This also poses the question of whether cannabis maintains the same health benefits to users when consumed in different forms.
And that’s important to bear in mind when comparing scientific studies to the experience of the typical user.
Now that you’ve mastered the basics of cannabis let’s explore what else it can do.
Cannabis Can Protect Your Vision
Whether you know someone personally or just watched Zach Galifianakis & Robert Downey Jr. in the film, Due Date, you’re likely aware that cannabis has been shown to improve the lives of glaucoma patients.
Glaucoma is actually a group of eye diseases that cause abnormally high pressure in they eye, damaging the optic nerve, causing significant pain. It’s one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S., can occur at any age (but is most common in adults), offers no warning signs, and causes irreversible vision loss.
The good news is that medical marijuana eases the symptoms of glaucoma, by reducing stress on the optic nerve. In fact, glaucoma was the first condition to be approved for treatment with marijuana, since cannabis prohibition in the 1930’s.
“No adverse effects from the smoking of marijuana have been demonstrated.” Federal Judge James Washington, 1976
Fast forward to the 1970’s, when a man named Robert C. Randall sued the government for the right to treat his glaucoma with marijuana. In 1976, federal Judge James Washington ruled for Randall. He found that “while blindness was shown by competent medical testimony to be the otherwise inevitable result of the defendant’s disease, no adverse effects from the smoking of marijuana have been demonstrated.”
Since then, other, less controversial, treatments have become available, leading the American Glaucoma Society to remove THC from its list of approved treatments. But that doesn’t change the undeniable impact Randall’s case has had in the fight for medical marijuana use.
Cannabis Provides Relief for Cannabis & AIDS Patients
The most widely recognized benefit of cannabis for medical use (and the only one currently accepted by the Food and Drug Administration) is its effectiveness in relieving nausea and loss of appetite. Both conditions are common side-effects experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and as well as AIDs patients experiencing its associative “wasting syndrome.”
Researchers found that THC was undeniably effective in reducing nausea and increasing appetite in clinical trials. They also figured out a way to synthesize THC in a lab, thereby avoiding cannabis plant restrictions imposed by the federal government.
Synthetic THC is currently available under the brand names Marinol and Cesamet. Dr. Douglas Throckmorton, Deputy Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the Food and Drug Administration, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives that “These products have undergone FDA’s rigorous approval process and have been determined to be safe and effective for their respective indications.”
The U.S. government cites the availability of synthetic THC as a key reason for their opposition of widespread medical marijuana legalization. By that standard, the availability of synthetic THC should immediately call for the reclassification of cannabis from it’s current status as a Schedule I drug, which effectively claims that there are zero medical benefits of marijuana. But alas, hypocrisy is rampant this day in age.
What the government fails to recognize is the vast accumulation of anecdotal evidence by many cancer and AIDS patients showing synthetic THC is inferior, and unpleasant, when compared to other consumption methods — like smoking the plant itself, which means these patients might not be receiving the full effects and benefits of cannabis.
In fact, it was the great outcry from those same cancer and AIDS patients, seeking relief from their symptoms, which supplied the biggest push for the medical marijuana movement in California. That drive resulted in the first compassionate use law in the U.S., enacted by California voters in 1996.
Cannabis for Pain Relief
Did you know that if someone say they’re “feeling no pain” when using marijuana, studies are suggesting that what they’re saying is literally true? THC and CBD are being closely studied to examine their effectiveness in treating chronic pain. The hope is that these studies will validate the existing anecdotal evidence: that THC, CBD, or similar cannabis compounds are more effective than current opioid pain medications for a variety of conditions including arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, muscular sclerosis, cancer and other neurological conditions.
And even if the cannabinoids are found only to be equally as effective as existing pharmaceuticals, it would still be a landslide victory. Why? Because cannabis doesn’t come with the scary list of nasty side effects that opioids carry. The benefits of marijuana far outweigh any associated side effects, which are very limited and minor in nature.
One case study gave the following insight into the effectiveness of THC vs. CBD in treating his pain.
The patient, a chronic pain sufferer, who regularly uses medical marijuana to alleviate his daily struggles with chronic pain said that the pain (due to arthritis and a rare degenerative condition in the spine) can render him relatively immobile on certain days.
Initially, the patient experimented with virtually every type of cannabis consumption I’ve ever heard of: smoking flower, vaporizing flower, dabbing concentrates, vaporizing concentrates, ingesting edibles, drinking THC-infused beverages (like Sprig soda), applying topical rubs and ointments, etc. to little or no success.
He stated that he had found relief in certain high-THC and high-CBD strains like Blackberry Kush and ACDC (strains high in both THC & CBD tend to make the best pain medicines), but that it wasn’t until trying high-CBD products in the form of sublingual drops that he found his real medicine.
Based on personal experience, the patient advised that sublingual drops were preferred as they don’t imbue users with the typical “high” or “baked” feeling. He, instead, noticed significant pain relief without the psychoactive effects. He reported feeling more comfortable in daily activities, remarking that that the drops had the additional benefit of reducing his smoking consumption to nearly half.
Cannabis Decreases Anxiety, Combats PTSD
A 2010 study by Harvard Medical found that in small doses cannabis reduced anxiety, improving the user’s overall mood and providing a generalized sedative effect, similar to over the counter medications but without the side effects.
It has been approved for treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD across the country, and in New Mexico is the primary reason patients get a license for medical marijuana use.
And the Department of Health and Human Services even signed off on a government proposal aimed at further study into the benefits of marijuana for veterans living with PTSD – the only time the U.S. government has every authorized a proposal that includes either vaporized or smoked marijuana – a classified drug with no “accepted” medical applications!
Naturally occurring cannabinoids, similar to THC, assist the body in controlling the system that causes anxiety and fear in both the brain and the body.
John, a two-tour veteran of the Iraq conflict “swears by it,” as treatment. “It gives me relief from the anxiety but doesn’t leave me fuzzy-minded.” Adding that it, “helps me sleep with no nightmares.”
Because marijuana disrupts the typical sleep cycle by interrupting some of the later stages of REM sleep — the dream state — many sufferers of PTSD find relief from night-time terrors when using cannabis. When REM state is disrupted, the nightmares often are as well, aiding veterans in achieving restorative sleep.
Cannabis Counteracts Autoimmune Disorders like Lupus & Rheumatoid Arthitis
Lupus, the common name for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, is an autoimmune disease characterized by swelling and inflammation of joints in the body, kidney, lung, and heart damage, among other symptoms. With autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, and Rheumatoid Arthritis, the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks the healthy tissues in the body.
In 2014 the Journal of Biological Chemistry published research that illustrated how THC can “suppress the body’s immune functions,” and that’s good news for people living with autoimmune diseases like Lupus.
Additional benefits of cannabis use like relief of associated nausea and body pain, make it a desired choice among some patients.
Emma V., a recently diagnosed Lupus patient in the UK, said that cannabis “was really the only choice.” Adding, “I can take one drug [cannabis] and get relief from multiple symptoms and feel well enough to get on with my day, or I can take a handful of tablets [OTC medications] and be useless.”
Cannabis Helps Manage Epilepsy & Other Seizure Disorders
Approximately 1% of the world’s population suffers from some form of epilepsy. And of those nearly 72 million people (more than twice the population of Canada!) it is estimated that between 20-30% of all individuals with epilepsy are not “adequately controlled with conventional drugs.”
In 2003, a study performed by Virginia Commonwealth University found that “cannabinoids work at controlling seizures.” The cannabinoids activate a protein, commonly known as the CB1 receptor, that is responsible for “controlling excitability and regulating relaxation.”
And it’s not just epilepsy.
Patients suffering the symptoms of Dravet’s Syndrome, a severe disorder that causes seizures and developmental delays, are also finding some relief thanks to cannabis use.
Parents of five-year-old Colorado native Charlotte Figi had found little benefit in conventional medications for treating their daughter’s condition. They did, however, see a drop in the frequency and intensity of her seizures – from 300 per week, to just one approximately every seven days – once they began treating her with CBD, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid.
Cannabis Slows Progression of Alzheimer’s
It doesn’t get much scarier than Alzheimer’s Disease. A debilitating, progressive disease with no known cure, stealing memories and experiences from lives around the world. But that could all be changing. A 2006 study done by Kim Janda, of the Scripps Institute in California, found that THC blocks the accumulation of amyloid plaque, the primary marker for Alzheimer’s, better than anything currently used. It does so by blocking the enzyme that makes the plaques. The plaques kill brain cells, causing Alzheimer’s.
“These findings offer convincing evidence that THC possesses remarkable inhibitory qualities,” said Janda in conversation with MSNBC, “especially when compared to AChE inhibitors currently available to patients.”
More recently, a 2014 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, reported similar findings to support the effectiveness of THC in “prohibiting the growth of toxic amyloid plagues.”
Cannabis Benefits Cancer Treatment
We’ve all heard that cannabis is beneficial for cancer patients. The FDA has approved its use (in the form of Nabilone) when prescribed by a doctor anywhere in the U.S., and tens of thousands of cancer patients already use the medicine for relief from harsh chemotherapy, but what if it did something more? What if cannabis could stop cancer? Recent studies say it very possibly can. The mounting evidence supports the potential for THC actually to prevent the spread of the disease.
Researchers at the San Francisco-based California Pacific Medical Center reported that CBD may help to prevent cancer cells from spreading.
The study focuses on ID-1, the gene that has one job: it causes cancer to spread. Pierre Desprez, one of the scientists responsible for the groundbreaking research has spent ‘decades’ studying the gene. Desprez joined forces with fellow scientist Sean McAllister, who was working with the effects of CBD. The pairing resulted in research that shows, “Cannabidiol could essentially ‘turn off’ the ID-1.”
The American Association for Cancer Research also reports that marijuana can impede tumor growth in lungs, breast and brain cancers.
Cannabis Lessons: Side-Effects in Hepatitis C Treatments, Increases Overall Treatment Effectiveness
The treatment for Hepatitis C, a potentially deadly viral infection affecting nearly 4 million Americans, is long, costly and painful to endure. Consisting of months-long therapy of two heavy hitting pharmaceuticals, ribavirin and interferon – the side effects of which include intense fatigue, severe muscle aches, nausea, depression and loss of appetite – causes many patients actually to stop taking the treatment, despite resulting permanent liver damage.
But a 2006 study, published in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology reported that 86% of patients who used cannabis, completed their Hepatitis C therapy when compared to 29% of those who did not use cannabis. The study also reported that the effectiveness of the treatment appeared to be enhanced. They said that 54% of patients who used cannabis kept their viral levels low, compared to only 8% of non-users.
Cannabis Calm Parkinson’s Tremors
Israeli researchers recently discovered the benefits of marijuana on Parkinson’s disease tremors and associated pain.
Ruth Djaldetti, MD, of Tel Aviv University Israel, presented the findings of her report at the International Congress on Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. She explained how people living with the debilitating disease ranked their disease on a standardized “Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale.” The UPDRS rating helps medical professionals understand the scope of a patient’s personal difficulties. Before using cannabis, patients reported an average rank of 33. Approximately thirty minutes after using cannabis, these same patients reported a drop to an average rank of 24.
In conversation with Ed Susman of MedPage Today, Dr. Djaldetti said, “We not only saw improvement in tremor in these patients, but also in rigidity and in bradykinesia.” Dr. Djaldetti said she “would recommend use of marijuana to my patients.”
Cannabis has also been reported to be a good sleep aid for many people living with Parkinson’s. But perhaps the most interesting findings were the reports of increased fine motor skills among patients who used cannabis.
Conclusion
The benefits of marijuana are real. With mounting evidence supporting the wide and varied uses of cannabis as a life-enhancing medication, we can only hope it will soon receive the widespread recognition it so readily deserves.