Research concerning the optimal use of the oil CBD for the management of epilepsy evolves day by day, from cell line analysis to clinical trials with minor patients. New discoveries renew the hope of both patients and families for the management of this disorder, especially in pediatric cases.
Side Effects of Conventional Treatments
The earliest descriptions of the symptom picture of epilepsy as a disorder date back to around 400 BC documented by the father of medicine, Hippocrates. This disorder is caused by sudden electrical activity in the brain, which in turn is reflected in abnormal activation of the neurons involved—resulting in what is known as Epileptic Seizures.
This disorder seems to be very resistant to conventional treatments and even ketone diets (high in fat, low in carbohydrates).
Drugs categorized as antiepileptics are designed to reduce electrical activity within the brain, which is why they tend to produce a cascade of adverse effects and toxicity, and these may be as or even worse than the discomfort caused by the seizures themselves.
Common side effects of medications like Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, and Oxcarbazepine include:
- Confusion Lethargy
- Dizziness loss of concentration
- Nightmares Suicidal Thoughts
- Aggression Skin reactions
- Headaches Menstrual disorders
- Visual abnormalities Hair loss
This is why, despite years of research and development on these drugs, family members and those affected by this disorder resort to slightly less conventional options.
Possible Explanation of the Effectiveness of CBD in the Management of Epilepsy
New hypotheses based on clinical evidence suggest that the pharmacological effects of this group of cannabinoids could be explained thanks to its mechanism of action on Cannabinoid Receptors: CB1 and CB2 within our Endocannabinoid System. To emphasize these receptors, it has been suggested that the structural difference between the molecules, CBD and THC, are what make the difference at the time of stimulation and activation of these.
Present and Future of CBD in the Management of Epilepsy
On the one hand, the promise coming from the use of this cannabinoid is significant, today there are many parameters that must be studied with greater scientific rigidity and, on the other hand, patients, family members, and doctors must be educated about the properties, as well as the limitations of using CBD oil.
Unfortunately, this progress is not accelerated enough to be able to help the large number of children and adults who suffer from this disorder, which leads parents and family members to take less conventional outings in order to avoid irreversible adverse effects and symptom management. Studies on efficacy and safety at high doses can take years to come to light, so CBD tends to be seen as a possible compassionate medication.
In conclusion, there is an increasing number of interest in the use of CBD oil and other forms of cannabinoids within the area of clinical studies. These assays are expected to be enhanced with the corresponding stringency in the near future, due to the potential antiepileptic effect of this molecule.