TODAY'S VIDEO
The Dravet syndrome is a complex childhood epilepsy disorder that is associated with drug-resistant seizures and a high mortality rate. We studied cannabidiol for the treatment of drug-resistant seizures in the Dravet syndrome. – Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome
Overview
Epilepsy is characterized by unprovoked seizures. The diagnosis of epilepsy follows the experience of two unprovoked seizures that cannot be related to another medical condition, alcohol withdraw or very low blood sugar. The cause is often completely unknown but there is a higher occurrence among those with brain injury or a hereditary link.
The role of CBD in management of epilepsy has been investigated in six randomized trials, totaling 555 patients. In one particular study 120 children and young adults with Dravet syndrome were studied. Dravets syndrome is also referred to as Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy. It’s a rare and catastrophic form of seizure disorder where patients have seizures that begin in infancy and persist over their lifetime. Very difficult to treat drug resistant seizures. These patients, 120 of them, were studied over a 14 week treatment period. The median frequency of convulsive seizures reduced from 12.4 to 5.9 per month. That’s a reduction in frequency of seizures of 50% with the addition of CBD, compared to placebo.
Although anti epileptic drugs are the mainstay of therapy, they are often ineffective at reducing seizures in 30% of patients. There’s also multiple adverse effects including blurred vision, tremor, dizziness, nausea, headache, vomiting and fatigue.
For the approximately one third of patients with epilepsy who are still experiencing seizures despite therapies, new adjudicative therapeutic options can be considered.
TRANSCRIPTION
Seizures & Epilepsy | Dravet Syndrome
The role of CBD in management of epilepsy has been investigated in six randomized trials, totaling 555 patients. In one particular study 120 children and young adults with Dravet syndrome were studied. Dravet’s syndrome is also referred to as Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy. It’s a rare and catastrophic form of seizure disorder where patients have seizures that begin in infancy and persist over their lifetime. Very difficult to treat drug resistant seizures. These patients, 120 of them, were studied over a 14 week treatment period. The median frequency of convulsive seizures reduced from 12.4 to 5.9 per month. That’s a reduction in frequency of seizures of 50% with the addition of CBD, compared to placebo.
Although anti epileptic drugs are the mainstay of therapy, they are often ineffective at reducing seizures in 30% of patients. There’s also multiple adverse effects including blurred vision, tremor, dizziness, nausea, headache, vomiting and fatigue.
For the approximately one third of patients with epilepsy who are still experiencing seizures despite therapies, new adjudicative therapeutic options can be considered.
