Seizures are a type of neurological condition that affects all kinds of people around the world. This condition can occur for several causes, such as epilepsy, sleep deprivation, electrolyte imbalance, traumatic brain injuries, drug overdose, or brain infections.
There are many different types of medications to treat seizures, depending on their causes. But, although it usually serves as a tool to treat pain and anxiety symptoms, CBD has been attracting attention because it may present qualities that make this cannabinoid a viable option to treat or prevent certain types of seizures.
This article will explain why you can use CBD oil for seizures and its mechanisms of action within our brains.
How Does CBD Help With Seizures?
There is a system in our body called the endocannabinoid system. This system helps regulate certain bodily functions such as sleep, appetite, the response of our immune system, and pain. CBD, like other cannabinoids, interacts directly with this system by modifying some of its functions.
Research on exactly how CBD interacts with our brain to prevent seizures is still ongoing. However, evidence suggests that the anticonvulsant qualities of CBD may be because CBD shows to reduce the neuronal excitability of two groups of receptors called GPR55 and TRPV receptors.
This evidence led to the development of a prescription drug made from CBD called Epidolex that is now approved in the UK. Epidolex proves to be an effective treatment for seizures caused by the genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis complex and two rare forms of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes.
CBD Oil Stop Seizures?
CBD oil shows overall effectiveness in reducing seizures generated by different causes. Depending on the condition causing the seizure, the medicine made from CBD oil, Epidolex, shows that it can reduce seizures by 40% to 60%. Nonetheless, we cannot say that CBD oil stops seizures, though it can be a great help to reduce them.
This cannabinoid is still under study by the medical and scientific community due to its potential therapeutic applications to treat and prevent seizures. Nevertheless, we always recommend consulting with your doctor to include CBD oil in its pure form or some other form in treating seizures.
In rare cases, cannabis products can increase the frequency of seizures rather than mitigate them. This is why we always recommend being cautious and having the advice of a professional in the area.
How To Use CBD Oil For Seizures?
Thanks to the tremendous growth of the cannabis industry and the popularisation of CBD and its therapeutic properties, you can get CBD in a wide variety of forms and presentations. This wide availability of CBD products may seem like an advantage, but it can get a bit confusing for some people when it comes to finding or choosing which of these forms of CBD is ideal for treating certain conditions.
When we talk about CBD oil for seizures, we must remember that we are talking about a delicate medical condition and that it is vital to be careful with the type of medication to use. To use CBD as a natural alternative to deal with seizures, you need to ensure that your CBD oil is entirely pure. The ideal way to check this is to verify that third-party laboratories have tested the CBD oil you want to use to verify its purity and reliability.
Another way to use CBD as an anticonvulsant treatment is with Epidolex. This drug is licensed for use in the UK and allows you to precisely control the dosage, which is essential to treat any type of seizure.
CBD Oil Dosage For Seizures
The recommended starting dose of Epidolex is 2.5 mg/kg twice a day. The dose can increase after a week to 5 mg/kg twice a day. Still, this dosage will depend significantly on the condition you’re dealing with and how severe it is.
The dosage with pure CBD oil is somewhat difficult to calculate, so the oil’s purity is essential. A study showed that children and adults with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome significantly reduced seizures when combining their antiepileptic treatment with 10mg to 20 mg/kg of CBD oil.
Treatments with CBD oil or medicines derived from it show that they can significantly reduce seizures. However, CBD can react and interact with other anti-seizure medications. Thus, it is always necessary to consult your doctor before including CBD as part of your treatment so that he can determine if it is feasible to use CBD oil for seizures and the dose you must use. Remember that it is ideal to find the minimum effective dose to avoid overuse and unwanted effects.
Best CBD Oil for Seizures
If you and your doctor have decided to complement your treatment with CBD oil, it is important to choose the right product. Therefore, we want to give you some recommendations of the best CBD oil for seizures.
Dutch Natural Healing CBD Oil
This highly concentrated CBD oil is a 1:1 mixture of hemp oil with Dutch Natural Healing CBD extract with 16.5% CBD. A 20 ml bottle contains 1650 mg of CBD. In addition to high CBD content, this CBD oil also contains CBG, CBN, CBC, terpenes, and terpenoids.
Columbia Care PLATINUM Full Spectrum CBD Oil
This full-spectrum CBD oil has a high strength and premium quality. THC-free, vegan and non-GMO, you can use this CBD oil for seizures thanks to its great potency and 10% CBD content, which comes from organic US hemp.