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Marijuana to treat epilepsy?
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Default Marijuana to treat epilepsy? - 04-10-2009, 03:53 AM

I posted this question in another forum and could got not get a legitimate response, so I thought I'd try another forum. The response I got last time I posted this was to the effect of, "Do it! It will save your life!" but I'd like something a bit more substantial if I can get. Anyway, question below:

I live in a state where medical marijuana is legal, and my neurologist has suggested that since I was recently diagnosed with epilepsy, I might consider that as an alternative to the Dilantin I am taking now (she doesn't want me to have to be on that for long). I know there are other anti-epileptic drugs with fewer side effects than Dilantin, but my neurologist says she has had many patients who were able to control their seizures with marijuana.

The thing about it is that I don't like how marijuana makes me feel. I assure you, I am not using my medical condition as an excuse to legally get high, as I know some people do. My neurologist says that if I cook the marijuana into edible items, I can eat a bit right as I go to bed and I will sleep through the subjective effects which I dislike, but it will continue to control my seizures throughout the next day.

I would like to talk to somebody who uses marijuana in this way for seizure control, but of course because of doctor/patient confidentiality my neurologist cannot give me the names of any of her other medical marijuana patients, so I was wondering if anybody out here on answers has any experience. The process of getting approved seems a bit spend and complicated, so before I go through all that, I'd appreciate hearing from anybody who has actually tried it for controlling epilepsy. I've investigated other anti-epileptics and they all seem to have horrible side effects. Not to mention, I am also bipolar and I already take enough chemicals, so I'd much prefer something natural. Anybody have any thoughts?
18 hours ago - 3 days left to answer.
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Demalocu, have you actually used it to treat medical conditions, or have you known somebody who is epileptic and found it to be helpful or seizure control, or are you just generally saying it could help me? I appreciate your input and encouragement, but I'd like to hear from people who actually use it to treat epilepsy.
Buddy, bipolar disorder is a condition approved for treatment with marijuana. I respect your opinion, but it sounds like you are less informed than you should be as a "doctor". Not to mention, just because you claim to be a "doctor" on yahoo answers doesn't mean you actually are one. I find that usually when people open their response with the phrase "I am a doctor", those people are generally full of crap. I think you are misinformed and don't actually have a clue what you are talking about. A freaking neurologist who specializes in seizure disorders suggested this to me after reviewing my medical history. Are you a neurologist? Have you treated patients with marijuana? I doubt the is the case, and just I feel that your response is uninformed and unwarranted.

I'm 29. Schizophrenia generally manifests at a much younger age, often by the time the sufferer is in his mid-late teens. And like another poster said, my question did not ask about schizophrenia.
I don't know if this helps, but my seizures are tonic-clinic.
Buddy, bipolar disorder is one of the approved conditions for treatment wit marijuana. I've included a few links to articles for you:

http://www.rxmarijuana.com/bipolar.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treatment_of_bipolar_disorder

http://www.showmethefacts.org/medical-marijuana-facts/bipolar-disorder/

http://marijuana-health.org/2010/06/27/bipolar-disorder-and-how-one-can-treat-them/

I really just don't think you know what you are talking about. For a "doctor" you seem to know very little, and I question your medical proficiency. Did you get your MD on line or in Cuba or some such place?
My apologies. When I first read your response, I read your first line as "I am a doctor" rather than "I am not a doctor". I still don't think you have a clue what you are talking about, though.
   
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Default 04-15-2009, 03:53 AM

As far back as 1997, medical studies have shown that marijuana is an effective medication for epileptic seizures.

Suffice to say, it's a safer alternative to some of the anti-seizure medications currently available but titration can be just as tricky.

To summarize, I have seen patients who have greatly benefited from treatment with medical marijuana, those whose seizures continued despite treatment and those who felt worse after instituting treatment. No one can readily predict how you will respond to the drug, but given the alternatives, you should think about giving it a try.
   
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Default 04-18-2009, 03:53 AM

First off, I'm not a doctor.

With that out of the way, I'll give my opinion based off of research I've done on the matter.

It all seems to depend on what is causing the seizures. For example, if you are schizophrenic, bipolar, or have some other mental illness marijuana would be a really really bad idea. It not only doesn't help the seizures but also increases schizophrenic episodes.

I'm actually stunned that your doctor would suggest marijuana to you since you are bipolar. If you are a teenager or young adult, I'd say that doctor should be fired or catch up on recent research about the link between marijuana and schizophrenia. If you are bipolar, there's already a heightened chance that you will develop schizophrenia. All you need is a trigger, such as stress or drugs. However, the older you get the less likely you will develop schizophrenia or become bipolar. The current findings about the marijuana link to schizophrenia is new, but I've yet to meet a single doctor or psychiatrist who supported the use of marijuana by a schizophrenic or bipolar patient.

Honestly? I suggest you see another doctor. Be honest with this new doctor about your current health and family history. But as long as you are bipolar, marijuana shouldn't even be an option.

It's hard to pinpoint causes of epilepsy. Drugs aren't always the issue. Sometimes people stop having seizures just because they change their diet. Some find out that they have a tumor. Some have a chemical imbalance. I even know of one case where a guy stopped having seizures after it was found he had sleep apnea. You'll likely have to see a neurologist, dietitian, chiropractor, etc. before you figure out why you are having seizures. But it's not rare at all for bipolar patients to also have seizures. It's actually quite common amongst bipolar patients.

I provided some links below, but I truly suggest you go to your local library and read some medical journals on the matter.

P.S. What type of seizures are you having? For example, are they pet it Mal seizures, grand Mal seizures, etc.? Also, what melds do they have you on? For example, phaeton?

I do have a friend who decided marijuana would be a good idea for controlling her seizures. She didn't initially react well to marijuana but didn't think there was any harm in it. Over the next couple weeks she started acting weird, having nightmares, dressing different, and sleeping all day. Next thing we knew she decided she was a prophet from God, the reincarnation of dead relatives, and believed she could see demons and other weird creatures running around the house. She was/is bipolar with seizures. This is why I'm so cautious about bipolar people using marijuana. She's not the first person to have this happen. It's an extreme situation, but well worth preventing.

Julia H: Thanks for calling me a poster.

Why is it that when I ask doctors, psychologists, psychology professors, and med professors about the link between marijuana and schizophrenia they ALL agree that not only could marijuana trigger schizophrenia but they ALL agree that it's a really bad idea to use marijuana with bipolar patients? Yet, most of the people on forums disagree? I guess someone needs to tell these professionals to come to Yahoo Answers more often so they can learn.

Julia H: I think you might want to learn how to read. I stated at the beginning of my answer that this was my "opinion" from the research I have done on the matter. Why on Earth you claim that I'm coming up with black and white facts, I don't know. It's my opinion against yours. That's it. Opinions. At least I gave sources.

Julia H (again): Your source doesn't support your argument. The only sources I can find on line that support your claim all end with "More research and sources are needed" or "results are inconclusive".
So far it appears the best answer is the first answer, even without sources (she is a nurse after all). I'm just objecting because bipolar patients are more likely to develop schizophrenia, and marijuana will make this worse.

Oh dear, that doesn't change the fact that your article doesn't support your argument.
   
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Default 04-22-2009, 03:53 AM

I'm sure your neurologist is aware of your bi-polar disorder, no?

To the poster above, nothing is black and white like that and in fact, medical marijuana has been used successfully as a mood stabilizer in patients with bi-polar disorder.

By all means, get a second opinion, but don't be scared off by nay-Sayers. Your conditions are treatable, but it may take a combination of therapies along with a good deal of trial and error.

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7826348

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Again to the poster above who knows one person who had a bad reaction, apparently, you are not up to date on the latest studies. Do you actually feel you know more than a licensed physician?

To the person who asked the question, get another opinion, get three more opinions, but anyone who offers "facts" in black and white in a field where there are so many variables should be viewed with suspicion.

You may wish to learn to read as well. I did give a source, a study from 2009. Your sources refer to schizophrenia, not bi-polar disorder. Have a nice day.

Oh dear, the link you just added was from 2005 before any controlled studies were done. My link is to a controlled study.
   
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Default 04-25-2009, 03:53 AM

I have Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy and I am using Medical marijuana to treat it. I don't like the high of marijuana either and never smoked before becoming epileptic. I had tried it as a kid but just didn't like the high. On the other hand I REALLY didn't like the side effects of the anti seizure medications I was on either so after being on those pills long enough to get to the point of vomiting on a daily basis, Waking up screaming in pain from muscle cramps, constantly being tired, having a headache all the time and gained SO much weight I agreed to give it a try about 11 months ago. I weaned myself of the pills first and gradually introduced the marijuana and have not taken one pill for 11 months now and also have not had one seizure for 11 months. It isn't an easy transition but it is much better for your body if it works for you. I have done a lot of research and it seems to work for about half of epileptics. I tried eating it at first like your doctor recommended but I personally found that it is a different high that makes me feel as if I am going to have a seizure any minute for hours, that high for me was also difficult to sleep through and was a pretty miserable experience. I tried eating it many different times in different foods and with different amounts and just stay away from it now as it just doesn't work for me. Next I tried the vaporizer, I liked the vaporized because I could just fill up the bags and lay in bed watching something on TV (about a half hour show) and fall asleep right after. This works great but I can't do anything from the moment I start until I wake up the next morning. During the high I am a little twitchy (like small cyclonic jerks), it doesn't really get worse than that unless I try do anything during that time. I kind of imagine the twitches during the high to be kind of like a slow and controlled release of what ever causes the seizures. The 3rd thing I tried was the bong and it seems to keep me seizure free longer between smoking periods than the vaporizer but I try to stick to the vaporizer if I can. The really hard part is all the experimenting it takes to find something that works for you as it can be completely different for each epileptic. But once you find something that works it is almost like having your regular non epileptic life back so I would recommend giving it a try and a note book will really help you on your way. So all in all by just smoking every single night about a half hour before i go to sleep I have great seizure control. A few other things to consider are:

Marijuana has a few different strains that can effect your seizure control. I have found that strains like lavender (the purple one) with the shorter fatter buds really aren't that effective for me. If I were you I would start with something with a longer thinner bud but who knows you might need the opposite type.

Also if you plan on traveling or if you have family in other states medical marijuana may become a problem for you because chances are for full seizure control you will need to smoke it on a daily basis and it isn't something you want to travel with.

The next thing to consider is expense! I had to start growing my own to be able to keep enough on hand and I really don't like growing this plant in my house even though it is legal in my state because I have kids in the house and it just bothers me. Plus the whole house smells of it sometimes!!!

Good luck I hope you find something that works for you.
   
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Default 08-09-2011, 09:30 AM

Marijuana could help in treating epilepsy, Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes individuals to have recurring seizures conditions. Seizures occur when groups of nerve cells in the brain sends the wrong signal.
   
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