Minneapolis, MN: Patients suffering from seizure-related disorders, such as epilepsy, report decreases in their seizure frequency following their use of state-authorized medical cannabis products, according to data published in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior.
Investigators with the University of Minnesota assessed the efficacy of state-approved medical cannabis products in patients with seizure disorders enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis access program. Over 1,900 patients participated in the study. Most patients consumed cannabis products containing higher percentages of CBD than THC.
Sixty-eight percent of study participants experienced overall improvements in their seizure frequency following their use of cannabis, with approximately half reporting decreases in weekly seizure frequency. The most frequently reported adverse events were dry mouth, fatigue, and insomnia. Several participants cited the high cost of state-authorized cannabis products as a “notable barrier to ongoing treatment.”
Epidiolex, a plant-derived prescription drug containing CBD, is FDA-approved in the United States for treating various seizure-related conditions, including tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), Dravet syndrome, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Full text of the study, “Utilization, tolerability, and perception of medical cannabis use in patients with seizures,” appears in Epilepsy & Behavior. Additional information is available from NORML’s publication Clinical Application for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.