CBD for epilepsy?

The most important points in brief

• Around 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy, a neurological disease.
• Those affected involuntarily twitch or even convulsed uncontrollably.
• These cramps can occur all over the body and, in very rare cases, can even lead to death.
• But there are studies that show that CBD can reduce epileptic seizures.

Epilepsy is a nervous disease that affects around 50 million people worldwide. During a seizure, nerve cells in the brain discharge and lead to unwanted disturbances in movement. There are drug treatments available that can help sick people have fewer seizures. Cannabidiol (CBD) can also help.

A drug based on CBD is already approved

Based on extremely positive studies in children, a CBD drug for epilepsy has already been approved for children. In other studies in children, a very high dose was given, namely 2 to 16 milligrams of CBD per kilogram of body weight. The results were so good (the number of seizures has decreased significantly) that the researchers were able to establish a connection between the administration of the active ingredient CBD and the improvement in health.

In addition, a study from Brazil shows that almost 70 percent of all epilepsy patients have reacted well to CBD. The frequency of epileptic seizures has therefore decreased noticeably. It is believed that synergistic effects between CBD and other phytocannabinoids could be responsible for this decline. The anticonvulsant properties of CBD are also believed to play a role. It was observed that not only the number of epileptic seizures decreases significantly, but also their intensity.

What does cannabidiol do in the organism?

Epilepsy is triggered neuronally, i.e. in the brain. This is exactly where the endocannabinoid receptors are located, which react positively when CBD is administered. These receptors are able to suppress the neural disturbances that ultimately trigger the seizure.

There is another big advantage with products that contain CBD: There are practically no side effects. However, since cannabidiol has a calming and relaxing effect, some patients may feel a little tired when taking CBD as capsules or oil. Perhaps the blood pressure also drops a little because CBD can lower blood pressure in some cases.

What about the dosage of CBD?

If you are an epileptic yourself, then you are already under medical care. This is important because - before taking CBD - you should definitely consult your doctor. Doctors can also easily assess which dose of CBD is advisable. It shouldn't be more than four drops a day (under the tongue). Why under the tongue? Because from there the active ingredient quickly gets into the bloodstream. In the case of capsules, it usually takes a little longer to take effect because the gastrointestinal tract has to be passed through first.

There is a whole body of evidence that suggests a positive association between CBD and the improvement of epilepsy. The fact that not all experiences with CBD make it into the reporting is as logical as it is a shame - but many patients with epileptic seizures would be helpful if they found out about it. With all of this, however, it is important that you as an epilepsy patient should always consult a doctor before acting on your own account.