CBS news reports a story of a boy who suffered from severe epilepsy that could not be controlled by medicines. He suffered about 25 seizures a day. Now, an extract from marijuana could show promise in treating severe epilepsy in children like Hank, according to a new study.
"One time, I thought he was playing in the other room. He was not playing in the other room, he was convulsing, turning blue. And that's when I thought I lost him," she told CBS News.
However, this summer, she was asked if her son could participate in a small trial to see if medical marijuana could aid in his condition. The marijuana liquid, Epidiolex, was given to Hank and is safe to use in kids because it does not contain THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that could lead to feelings of euphoria and anxiety. The changes in his condition amazed his parents.
"We instantly saw results. He was smiling again. We saw a decrease in seizures. At this point, he was finally able to gain cognitive skills with therapy," she said.
Science Daily reports that this potent liquid from marijuana could be used as a treatment for children with severe epilepsy. Their study was presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
Epidiolex was derived from cannabidiol or CBD which is a non-psychoactive compound extracted from the cannabis plant. Thus, it will not produce side effects commonly associated with pot. The study was done to 213 participants ranging from toddlers to adults. Their average age was 11 and all of them had severe epilepsy, Huffington Post reports.
They were given the drug and was advised to take the liquid daily per orem or by mouth. Then, the researchers measured how many times the participants had bouts of seizures throughout the day. For all the participants, throughout the 12-week study, they had fewer seizure attacks by 54%.
"What's exciting is that it's more evidence that this kind of medicine can be used to treat these conditions. But it's not proof -- that's what the scientific studies happening right now are looking at," Dr. Angus Wilfong, a pediatric neurologist leading the Epidiolex research at Texas Children's Hospital told Huffington Post.
