Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance contained in the cannabis plant that is commonly used to treat chronic pain and anxiety problems. CBD is not euphoric or intoxicating like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD oil may be useful in the treatment of some types of seizures.

What Is the Mechanism of Action of CBD Oil in The Treatment of Seizures?

CBD’s mechanism of action in preventing seizures is unknown. The endocannabinoid system is a system of neurotransmitters and receptors found in your body. This system is considered to aid in regulating bodily processes such as hunger, sleep, pain, and the immune system’s reaction.

CBD Oil is hypothesized to affect these activities via interacting with endocannabinoid system receptors. According to an animal study, CBD’s anti seizure benefits may be due to its decreasing neuron excitability by acting on two receptor groups termed GPR55 and TRPV1 receptors.

The Food and Medication Administration (FDA) has authorized a prescription drug called Epidiolex to treat Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes, two uncommon types of epilepsy. It’s also FDA-approved for treating seizures induced by tuberous sclerosis complex, a genetic disease.

CBD As a Treatment for Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

About 2% to 5% of children with epilepsy have Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Epidolex’s efficacy in treating seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome was studied in two 14-week clinical studies.

Study No. 1

The antiseizure efficacy of 20 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of Epidolex per day was compared to a placebo in the first trial.

They discovered:

• Epilolex reduced seizure frequency by 44% in half of the subjects.
• Half of the placebo group had 22% fewer seizures than the control group.

Study No. 2

The second trial evaluated the effects of daily Epidiolex dosages of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg against a placebo. Compared to the placebo group, both Epidiolex groups experienced considerably fewer seizures.

• Half of the subjects who took 20 mg/kg of Epidiolex daily had 42% fewer seizures.
• Half of the subjects who received 10 mg/kg per day had a 37% reduction in seizures.
• In the placebo group, half of the individuals had 17 percent fewer seizures.

Dravet Syndrome And CBD

A draft syndrome is an uncommon form of epilepsy characterized by seizures that are resistant to treatment.

When compared to the placebo group, those who took Epidolex reported a substantial reduction in seizure frequency (39 percent reduction) (17 percent decrease).

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) And CBD

Tuberous sclerosis complex is an uncommon disease that affects around one out of every 6,000 people. It’s a hereditary condition that causes noncancerous tumors to develop in different areas of the body. Some patients experience seizures as a result of brain tumors.

Researchers evaluated the effects of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of Epidiolex per day on a group of 148 individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex to a placebo in a clinical experiment. The Epidolex group had a median improvement of 48 percent, whereas the placebo group had a median improvement of 24 percent.

CBD Can Be Used to Treat A Variety of Factors.

More study is needed to see if CBD can be used to treat different types of seizures. However, preliminary research has yielded encouraging findings.

CBD appears to increase the efficacy of the epileptic drug clobazam (Onfi), according to research. There’s some evidence that CBD can help other antiepileptic medicines work better.

In a 2018 research, CBD was tested on 55 patients who had one of four forms of epilepsy syndromes:

• CDKL5 deficiency is a genetic disease.
• Aicardi syndrome is a condition that affects the heart.
• Doose syndrome is a condition that affects a person’s
• Duplication of the 15th chromosome (Dup15q)

The subjects experienced an average of 59.4 seizures per month at the start of the study. After 12 weeks, the monthly average had dropped to 22.5. Over the study’s 48 weeks, the improved rate remained stable.