Marijuana Extract May Help Some Cases Of Severe Epilepsy

Cannabidiol, a derivative of marijuana, may help some children with severe epilepsy, according to a recent study. The study specifically looked at the use of Epidiolex, a pharmaceutical liquid formulation of cannabidiol.

During the study, researchers gave 261 participants about the age of 11 the natural derivative over the course of three months. The findings revealed that seizures reduced by 45 percent, on average. 

"In the subsequent periods, which are very encouraging, 9 percent of all patients and 13 percent of those with Dravet Syndrome epilepsy were seizure-free. Many have never been seizure-free before," Dr. Orrin Devinsky, a neurologist at the New York University Langone Medical Center and lead author on the study, said in a news release. 

However, there were some side-effects reported in some patients. Five percent had changes in their liver enzymes or diarrhea and another 12 percent stopped taking the medication during the study because it didn't help.

Researchers then conducted a second study over the course of 12 months on 25 children with epilepsy who were about 9 years old, on average. By the end of the study, 10 of the children experienced a 50 percent reduction in their seizures. However, 12 of them stopped taking the medication because it didn't help or-in one case-it increased the frequency of the seizures, according to The Washington Post.

As results come from a small study sample, more testing will be needed to confirm the findings. 

The research will be presented at the American Epilepsy Society's annual meeting this week in Philadelphia. 

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