Seizures

Understand how medical marijuana helps with seizures.

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Medical marijuana can help prevent, and reduce the intensity of seizures. A seizure is a brief episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause a person to lose consciousness or shake uncontrollably. Seizures can be caused by a number of things, including brain injury, electrolyte imbalances, or toxins. 

Types of seizures

• Focal seizures: Begin on one side of the brain and can cause changes in awareness, behavior, or sensation.

• Generalized seizures: Affect both sides of the brain and can cause loss of consciousness. 

• Myoclonic seizures: Involve quick jerking or twitching of one or more muscles.

• Absence seizures: A type of generalized seizure that lasts 5–10 seconds and doesn't usually cause brain damage.

Causes of seizures 

• Provoked seizures
  Caused by a trigger, such as a head injury, electrolyte imbalance, or toxins.

• Unprovoked seizures
  Also known as epileptic seizures, these occur spontaneously and are the main symptom of epilepsy.

After a seizure 

• A person may feel tired, confused, angry, sad, or worried.

• Depending on the type of seizure, confusion can last for hours, days, or weeks.

Epilepsy

A neurological condition characterized by two or more unprovoked seizures.

Medical marijuana can help with Seizures.

Cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids in cannabis may help with seizures by reducing the release of excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain. CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis that has shown promise in treating seizures in children and adults. 

How CBD helps with seizures

• Blocks LPI
  CBD blocks signals from lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), a molecule that can amplify nerve signals and worsen seizures. 

• Regulates calcium levels
  CBD regulates cytosolic calcium levels, which can decrease convulsive activity. 

• Hyperpolarizes membranes
  CBD hyperpolarizes membranes by activating 5HT1A receptors. 

• Increases adenosine levels
  CBD increases endogenous adenosine levels, which can decrease convulsive activity. 

How other cannabinoids may help with seizures

• Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
  THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid that has anticonvulsant properties in animal models. 

• Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA)
  CBGA is a precursor molecule to CBD and THC that may be more potent than CBD in reducing seizures. 

Using CBD to treat seizures

• CBD can be taken as a pharmaceutical-grade preparation or as part of a cannabis herbal extract. 

• Patients taking Epidiolex or other medical cannabis products should have their liver enzymes monitored. 

• Epidiolex is a CBD-rich product found in cannabis that has been used to treat drug-resistant seizures.