When it comes to seizures, there are often no easy answers. They have an array of causes, and symptoms can differ widely from person to person. Even if they occur infrequently, seizures can be scary or even painful, and worrying when or if another one will occur becomes exhausting. Luckily, medicinal cannabis has been shown to help alleviate the symptoms of seizures, as Dr. Frankel and Dr. Kurzman at GreenBridge Medical have witnessed since using dosed cannabis to treat the people of Santa Monica, California. Call or make an appointment online to learn more.
A seizure is an intense and uncontrolled burst of brain activity that can last between 30 seconds and two minutes and range in severity. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes should be treated as a medical emergency. If you have a seizure, you may experience:
Epilepsy — the condition of having multiple or recurring seizures — is a common condition caused by a central nervous system disorder, but people can have seizures for other reasons. Seizures are actually quite common and can be brought on by head trauma, a stroke, or some serious infections.
Traditional treatment for seizures is built on anticonvulsant medications, taken alone or in combination, which can help you avoid recurring seizures. While these can be effective, they’re not an option for everyone and may have some side effects, including:
If medications are not effective, other treatment options may include:
Medical cannabis will not cure epilepsy or many of the root causes of seizures, but it can greatly improve a person’s life through two main compounds it contains.
Cannabis contains over 85 chemical compounds that are known as cannabinoids, the most famous of which is known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC can help mitigate the onset of seizures and limit their severity, but its psychoactive attributes mean that it’s not an option for everyone. A variant, THC-A, does not possess these psychoactive traits but is similarly effective for treating seizures.
Cannabidiol (CBD) does not have the psychoactive properties of THC, but may be even more effective as a treatment for seizures. Especially when taken daily, cannabidiol can make seizures much more manageable.
People who suffer from seizures can benefit from whole plant cannabis. Patients often experience a reduction in seizure episodes and are able to discontinue, or significantly reduce, their other seizure medications. If traditional cannabis therapies are ineffective, multiple cannabinoids can be safely used in combination.
Whether you’re interested in learning more about your options or you’ve tried everything to treat your seizures, a consultation with the staff at GreenBridge Medical can help you decide if dosed cannabis has a place in your treatment plan.
Call Greenbridge Medical or schedule a consultation online to learn how dosed cannabis can help you.
