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Seizures are caused by uncontrolled, sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain. They typically last between 30 seconds and two minutes and are commonly associated with epilepsy, however, head injuries, infections and other illnesses can also cause seizures to occur. Most of the time, seizures can be effectively managed using conventional medicines, however, unfortunately these options don’t work for everyone. Now in the UK, medical cannabis has emerged as a new and promising option for those who have yet to find relief with conventional approaches.
Am I eligible?In England, during 2020, 2.8% of all ambulance service incidents were due to suspected seizures, and 61% of these calls resulted in a rapid-response ambulance.
According to representative research, 68% of adults in the UK would consider trying cannabis-derived treatments if their doctor recommended them for their condition.
In a small scale British study, children with epilepsy experienced an 86% average reduction in seizure frequency when treated with whole-plant medical cannabis oil.
A review of patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy found convulsive seizures decreased by 51% and total seizures fell by 48% after 12 weeks of CBD treatment.
“Having a medical cannabis card makes me feel better - and that counts“
Daisy, Releaf Patient
October 2023
Articles on Seizure management
View all12. 07. 2023
When applied as part of a tailored and managed treatment plan, medical cannabis has been shown to improve the overall control of epileptic seizures. In fact, it is the only non-pharmaceutical treatment option that has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England for two exceedingly rare forms of epilepsy.
12. 07. 2023
13. 02. 2024
With International Epilepsy Day just passing us by (on the 12th of February), we decided to take a look back at how medical cannabis treatment has added to epilepsy treatment options, the role epilepsy played in essentially forcing medical cannabis to become a legal reality here in the UK, and a look forward to what the future may hold for medical cannabis and epilepsy treatment in the UK.
13. 02. 2024
14. 07. 2023
Neurological disorders. Varied, potentially devastating, and hard to group into one easy-to-digest category. They are essentially diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system conditions and include epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, ALS, Bell's palsy, and a huge range of separate neuromuscular disorders.
14. 07. 2023
‘Rising’ feeling in the tummy
Becoming stiff or rigid
Collapsing
Experiencing ‘fits’ or uncontrollable shaking/jerking
Experiencing unusual tastes or smells
Loosing awareness of surroundings
Tingling sensation in arms or legs
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms. Please speak with your GP to find out more.
Typically, when a person experiences seizures, they are prescribed anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) or anti-seizure medication (ASM) to help them manage their symptoms. In some cases, if they are not experiencing sufficient relief with these options, surgery may be considered to remove a small section of the brain, or insert an electrical device that can help control seizures.
Brivaracetam
Carbamazepine
Clobazam
Clonazepam
Lamotrigine
Levetiracetam
Clinic Director
In the UK, medical cannabis is considered an appropriate adjunctive treatment for many patients who have been struggling to manage their seizures with conventional, traditional approaches.
This is because the chemical compounds, or cannabinoids, contained within medical cannabis are able to interact with some of the densely packed receptors in our brains and central nervous system that influence seizure onset.
It's believed that both THC and CBD, the two most prominent cannabinoids found in cannabis, can both play a supporting role in seizure management because of the biological responses they initiate after interacting with these receptors.
However, while research in this area continues, it is important that the medicinal or therapeutic application of cannabis-derived treatments is overseen and monitored by qualified healthcare professionals like those that work for Releaf for safety and efficacy reasons.
To find out if you may be considered eligible for these new options, assess your suitability for cannabis-derived seizure management treatments online now.
