A small study in the UK shows that whole-plant medical cannabis oils can reduce the frequency of severe monthly epileptic seizures by an average of 86%.
Treatment with whole-plant medicinal cannabis led to large reductions in monthly epileptic seizures in a small group of children with severe intractable childhood- onset epilepsies, a new study found.
The study, published in the journal BMJ Paediatrics Open, employed oils from whole-plant medicinal cannabis, which contain tetrahydocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), other neuroactive cannabinoids, and molecules such as terpenes.
The study involved 10 children, who ranged in age from 1 to 13 years, who received whole-plant cannabis extracts, such as Bedrolite, Bedica, Celixir 20, Sweet Pink CBD and Althea 100. On average participants received 5.15 mg THC and 171.8 mg CBD every day, during the length of the study.
After completing the study, most children experienced reductions in epileptic seizures over 80%, with one child experiencing 100% reduction in monthly seizures.
“This study shows the effectiveness of whole- plant medical cannabis in a group of patients suffering with severe intractable childhood-onset epilepsies. The reduction in monthly seizure frequency in our group demonstrates the feasibility for this medication in such patients,”
The findings, while based only on 10 children, provide evidence of the potential of using whole-plant medicinal cannabis for therapeutic applications.
In Australia, only one cannabis-based medicine, is currently approved for supply: the drug nabiximols, used for the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis. However, unapproved cannabis-based products may be accessed for certain patients through special pathways, such as the Special Access Scheme (SAS).
Cannabis-based medicines are currently being tested for different conditions, like chronic non-cancer pain, muscle spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis and to relieve nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.
So far, the strongest evidence of the benefits of cannabis-based medicine is for the treatment of some childhood epilepsies. In these cases, cannabis is used as an add-on treatment to improve quality of life for children and young adults under 25.
However, little research has so far focused on the use of whole-plant cannabis medicines. The findings of this new study are among the first to show promising data to back the use of whole-plant cannabis products as therapeutic agents.