Key Takeaways
- Some patients find that cannabis may help manage certain epilepsy symptoms.
- Clinical trials on the effects of cannabis on epilepsy reveal that certain cannabinoids may help reduce seizure activity and/or frequency.
- Always speak with your doctor before incorporating something like cannabis into your medication routine.
Epilepsy is a brain condition that results in seizures. According to the CDC, about 1% of adults in the US have active epilepsy.
The cannabis world has been evolving rapidly as more people than ever are recognizing the many different health and wellness benefits it can provide. If you have epilepsy and are wondering what treatment options may work well for you, you may be considering weed for epilepsy. But can weed help epilepsy?
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder that causes repeated abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, also known as seizures. It is possible to have a seizure without qualifying for an epilepsy diagnosis, as sometimes seizures can be unique, one-time events.
For a seizure to fall within the epilepsy category, it must be unprovoked. If a seizure is provoked, then it doesn’t qualify for an epilepsy categorization.
Certain risk factors can put someone at a higher risk of experiencing epilepsy symptoms. Some of these risk factors include:
- Febrile seizures
- Head trauma
- Brain tumors
- Issues with blood vessels in the brain
- Babies who are born small
- Family history of epilepsy
- Stroke
While falling into one of these categories doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll develop epilepsy, you may want to speak with your doctor if you have multiple risk factors or have experienced concerning symptoms.
Epilepsy is most commonly treated with medication. Some patients may find that medication is effective in helping them manage their symptoms, while others deal with symptoms daily, even while taking medication. When discussing epilepsy, it’s important to remember that everyone is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all experience.
Benefits of Using Weed for Epilepsy
If you’ve been diagnosed with epilepsy, it’s important to understand potential treatment options. But is medical marijuana for epilepsy a practical option?
Research has found that cannabis, particularly high-CBD, use may reduce seizure activity in some patients.1 This is certainly an exciting find that should be explored more, as there have been a few limitations to recent studies.
It’s important to note that many of the studies that have examined using weed for epilepsy consisted of study participants who were taking other seizure medications. While this is essential for participant safety, it does bring into question whether or not researchers can make direct claims about the benefits of cannabis alone.
High-CBD cannabis combined with THC could also be a possible solution for those with drug-resistant epilepsy.2 This diagnosis can be challenging to treat, so those patients need access to various treatment options. While it’s possible that medical cannabis could be one effective option, more research needs to be done before there are definitive claims.
Some researchers found that study participants experienced a 40.5% reduction in seizures after using CBDV.3 This points to the potential implications of using cannabis for epilepsy.
Anecdotal reports of choosing medical cannabis for epilepsy vary. Some report that cannabis is an important part of their symptom management routine, while others rely on stronger pharmaceutical options to manage their epilepsy.
If you’re not sure cannabis could be the right option, consider making an appointment with your doctor. It’s important to do this before making any changes to your epilepsy management routine. Your doctor can provide you with individualized advice and help you make sure that there aren’t any potential interactions that could occur between cannabis and any other medications you take.
Weed and Epilepsy: Are There Any Risks?
Those considering weed for epilepsy should be made aware of any potential risks ahead of time.
First, cannabis is considered generally safe when used responsibly. However, everyone has a unique reaction to cannabis.
One of the most significant risks is that there is a lack of research on the long-term effects of cannabis. While researchers believe they have an idea of the long-term effects, there haven’t been many long-term studies to examine this.1
There are some limitations to the studies that have been done. Many studies use participants who were taking other medications, which can make it difficult to rule out what effects are due to factors other than cannabis.
It is also possible that cannabis could interact with epilepsy medications or other medications that you’re taking. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to speak with your doctor and ensure that you get advice specific to your situation.
Likewise, it could be dangerous to stop all other epilepsy medications and continue with just cannabis. If you’re going to add cannabis to your symptom management routine, it’s essential to do it in a responsible, informed way (which means under the guidance of a qualified physician).
Weed as a Treatment for Epilepsy
If cannabis can potentially reduce epilepsy symptoms, can it be a substitute for other treatments?
If you have mild epilepsy symptoms or other health factors that impact your epilepsy, then cannabis may be enough to manage your symptoms. However, many patients may rely on other medications first, viewing cannabis as an additional option for support.
Tips for Using Weed for Epilepsy
There are several things to keep in mind while exploring the benefits of using cannabis for epilepsy.
It’s important to consider the right dosage. It’s generally recommended that you start low and go slow, which can mean starting with a 2.5-5mg dosage.4 If you don’t get the benefits you’re looking for from this amount, you can increase it gradually in the future.
Speak with a doctor before adding cannabis to your epilepsy routine. They’ll be able to help you make sure that cannabis will work well with your other medications and that there aren’t any risks specific to your situation.
Ask a Budtender: Which Weed Products are Best For Epilepsy?
Below are some of the most important things to keep in mind when shopping for weed for epilepsy.
When thinking about cannabis and epilepsy, it’s important to find a product that’s easy to dose. You’ll want to know exactly how much cannabis you’re consuming, so consider trying a gummy or other precise edible. While tinctures and other similar options can provide great results and certainly shouldn’t be avoided, these consumption methods can be slightly more difficult for beginners to dose.
Purchase cannabis products only from reputable sources you trust. Ensure you only buy from licensed dispensaries or brands that put their products through third-party lab testing. Finally, don’t hesitate to speak with your doctor about the best options for your health.
References
- Moreira GA, Moraes Neto R, Ribeiro RG, Crippa ACDS. Cannabidiol for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children: a critical review of the literature. Revista Paulista de Pediatria. 2022;41. doi:https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-0462/2023/41/2021197 ↩︎
- Nowicki M, Bourgeois-Tardif S, Diaz PL, et al. Potential Benefit of Add-on Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Pediatric Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: A Case Series. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2022;49(4):595-597. doi:10.1017/cjn.2021.151
↩︎ - Brodie MJ, Czapinski P, Pazdera L, et al. A Phase 2 Randomized Controlled Trial of the Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidivarin as Add-on Therapy in Participants with Inadequately Controlled Focal Seizures. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 2021;6(6):528-536. doi:https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2020.0075
↩︎ - MacCallum CA, Russo EB. Practical considerations in medical cannabis administration and dosing. European Journal of Internal Medicine. 2018;49(49):12-19. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2018.01.004
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The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.