How Does CBD Oil Can Stop Seizures?
Enny SoyinkaFollow us on 
The anxiolytic properties of CBD could potentially help treat seizures. Helping regulate the body’s neurotransmitters could be the key to reducing the frequency of these episodes.
What are Seizures?
Seizures are inconsistencies in brain activity that occur when the connection between the brain’s electrical activity is interrupted. It may or may not cause symptoms like convulsions, stiffness, limpness, and more.
The medication used to treat seizures may take a toll on the body when used for a long time. In such cases, natural products like CBD oil can be a helpful companion to doctor-prescribed medication.
Since CBD is known to help relax the body, it could be of potential use in treating seizures. However, they should be used as a companion, not as an alternative treatment to prescribed medication. All CBD oil usage should be under a doctor’s consultation for the safest results.
What are the Different Types of Seizures?
There are three major types of seizures.
1. Focal Onset Seizures
- Occur in a single brain area
- People may or may not be able to remember the onset of the seizure.
2. Generalized Onset Seizures
- Occur on both sides of the brain at the same time
- May cause convulsions, muscle stiffening, spasms, limpness
3. Unknown Onset Seizures
- On which there is currently insufficient data available.
Is There a Natural Way to Control Seizures?
Incorporating CBD oil into your daily lifestyle may help reduce the frequency and occurrence of seizures.
CBD oil is rich in the compound cannabidiol, known for its relaxing properties. This substance helps calm nerves and relax the body's muscles.
The excitability of certain neurotransmitters in the body greatly increases the chances of seizures. CBD counters this by helping the body relax, possibly reducing the probability of these episodes.
Aside from CBD oil, diet modification may also help control seizures. Studies show that a modified ketogenic diet with low-carb and low-protein intake could help reduce the frequency of seizures.
Though these measures may not seem very effective on their own, they may have a greater overall impact when used in conjunction with antiepileptic medication.
How Does CBD Oil Work for Seizures?
Seizures happen when the normal connection between the brain's nerve cells is interrupted. Any activity that changes the brain's electrical functioning gets termed a seizure.
CBD oil is said to help control these episodes by helping the body relax. Though the science on this subject is still inconclusive, experts generally believe that CBD works by helping regulate the body’s neurotransmitters.
Is CBD Oil Effective for Seizures?
The relaxing, anxiolytic properties of CBD oil are well known. As a cannabis extract, it provides all of the benefits of marijuana without giving a euphoric high. CBD helps regulate several bodily functions like stress, sleep, pain, and more by interacting with the system’s receptors.
Researchers theorize that CBD helps treat epileptic seizures by performing a similar function. The main component of CBD oil is cannabidiol, and this compound interacts with the body’s cannabinoid receptors.
The natural anxiolytic properties of CBD stop these receptors from becoming agitated, helping control the frequency and occurrence of seizures.
Can CBD Oil Make Seizures Worse?
The type of CBD oil you use can determine the outcome of your treatment. Using products with no Certificate of Analysis (COA) can result in a worsening of symptoms.
Commercial CBD is not FDA-regulated, so a lot of the responsibility of finding quality CBD falls on your hands. Opting for Certified Organic products recognized by the USDA and choosing CBD made from high CBD strains are some measures you can take to ensure your product’s quality.
The dose and the type of CBD oil you use vastly contribute to the effectiveness of this treatment. A doctor who knows your medical history is more likely to suggest a dose and drug that will benefit you more. But you must consult a medical professional if you plan to use CBD oil to treat seizures.
Studies show that people taking prescribed CBD experienced a 39% reduction in seizures.
Side Effects of CBD Oil
If taken without proper consultation from a medical professional, CBD can cause many health complications. Most of these effects usually result from the high daily dosage required to treat seizures rather than the side effects of the substance itself.
Doctors recommend a minimum of 2.5 mg per kilo twice a day in the case of the antiepileptic drug Epidiolex. The same dosage followed without a doctor’s prescription can result in compilations like
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Weight fluctuations
What CBD Product is Best for Seizures?
Epidiolex is the only CBD-based drug the US Food and Drug Administration has cleared for medical use. It is administered to patients suffering from two rare forms of epilepsy- Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome.
As with all CBD products, dosage and product effectiveness get interlinked in the case of Epidiolex. Patients get recommended to start with a low dose and then gradually increase it as per their symptoms.
For best results, Epidiolex must be taken as per the prescribed dosage, starting with 2.5 mg/kg twice daily for the first week. This amount can then get altered starting the following if required. The highest prescribed dose of Epidiolex is 10 mg per kg twice a day and should get exceeded.
Can CBD Replace Seizure Medication?
No, CBD oil cannot replace seizure medication for several reasons. Firstly, there is not enough conclusive data to prove that CBD can perform the functions of seizure medication.
Even Epidiolex, the only CBD-based drug approved by the FDA, works best when administered alongside existing medication.
It would be best to start using CBD oil to treat seizures only after your doctor agrees to supervise its usage. When using it alongside your antiepileptic medication, you should first start with a low dosage.
Not all bodies are the same, and your system may react unexpectedly to this foreign substance. Therefore, start with a drop and observe its effect on your body and symptoms. After this, you may increase the dosage per your needs.
This idea of gradual, not abrupt, change is helpful even when the opposite is true. A medical consultation is still necessary if you have been taking CBD for some time and feel like you no longer require it.
The professional will most likely ask you to wane off the substance by lowering the dosage a few drops at a time. Doing the opposite and abruptly quitting CBD may cause the seizures and other symptoms to return in full force.
Conclusion-Contacting a Doctor
If you suffer from seizures, you should always consult your doctor before taking CBD oil. Remember that this product is not an alternative to medication but rather an aid.
Another crucial aspect is the compatibility between existing medication and CBD oil. Since the CBD market is still unregulated, your oil may contain substances that react badly with antiepileptic medication.
Even uncontaminated CBD reacts with medications like valproic acid, stiripentol, clobazam, and more. You could endanger your health if you blindly combine your pills with CBD oil without seeking professional supervision.
Moreover, studies show that CBD can increase the occurrence of seizures instead of lowering them in some people. In cases like this, you may cause your symptoms to worsen instead of subduing them.
Reasons like this are why a consultation with a medical professional is of the utmost importance when taking CBD oil for seizures.
Sources
- https://www.epidiolex.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/1020/EPX-03633-1020_EPIDIOLEX_(cannabidiol)_USPI_v8.0.pdf
- https://www.usda.gov/topics/organic
- https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-drug-comprised-active-ingredient-derived-marijuana-treat-rare-severe-forms
- https://n.neurology.org/content/94/15_Supplement/710.abstract
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