It is estimated that 50 million people around the world suffer from epilepsy and more than 3.4 million of those patients are in the United States. Although some forms of epilepsy are rare, when all types are combined, this disease is more common than autism, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson’s disease combined.
While data from the WHO suggests that 70% of patients could live seizure-free with appropriate treatment, what about those who are treatment-resistant or lack access to the right medication?
If you’re wondering about medical cannabis for seizure management in Texas, you likely have many questions. What is the difference between epilepsy and seizures? How can medical cannabis help? And most importantly, do these symptoms qualify for the Texas Compassionate Use Program? We’ve got all these answers and more below.
Epilepsy vs. Seizures: Is it the same?
The short answer is no, they are similar but not exactly the same. While epilepsy is the most common seizure disorder, not all patients who experience seizures have epilepsy.
Let’s start with the basics: What are seizures and what causes them? Seizures are bursts of uncontrolled electrical activity between neurons in the brain, leading to temporary abnormalities in behavior, feelings, consciousness, and muscle movement. Most seizures last between 30 seconds and two minutes. Seizures lasting 5 minutes or more require immediate medical attention as they can potentially cause brain damage.
The causes for seizures are varied and include brain injury from stroke or head trauma, genetic predisposition, high blood sugar, brain tumors, neurodegenerative diseases like dementia or autism, and even high fevers. Sometimes, the cause is unknown.
PNES (Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures) are another type of seizure caused by psychological factors, often a result of a traumatic event. When correctly diagnosed, these can be effectively treated with therapy and medication, though they are sometimes misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures, leading to ineffective treatment.
So, what is epilepsy? Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent and unprovoked seizures. Patients who have two or more seizures in less than 24 hours are likely to be diagnosed with epilepsy after a thorough examination. The causes of epilepsy often involve different types of brain damage from illness or injury, dementia, autism, genetic predisposition, tumors, or stroke.
Patients with epilepsy can identify different triggers for their seizures, such as poor sleep, stress, illness, or hormonal changes. Treatment options include anti-seizure medication (like Epidiolex), diet therapy, surgery, or electrical stimulation.
The good news is that for 6 out of 10 patients, with appropriate and well-tolerated treatment, epilepsy can go into remission. But for those who are treatment-resistant or experience intolerable side effects from traditional medication, medical cannabis can be a compelling alternative.
How Medical Cannabis Helps Manage Seizure Symptoms
In a nutshell, the cannabinoid CBD, a key component of the cannabis plant, is essential for understanding how medical marijuana can help manage and even prevent seizures. CBD works by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a complex network that helps regulate balance within the nervous system.
Seizures are caused by an imbalance in brain signals. Neurons fire electrical pulses that either excite or inhibit the next cell. An excess of excitatory signals can lead to a seizure. CBD can help restore this crucial balance.
A recent study from NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine identified a molecule called LPI that amplifies nerve signals and blocks inhibitory signals, creating a seizure-promoting loop. CBD has been shown to block the signals carried by LPI, effectively breaking this loop and giving the nervous system a better chance to maintain balance. This can lead to a reduction in the frequency and intensity of seizures, significantly improving a patient’s quality of life.
Historically, cannabis has been used to treat epilepsy for centuries, but legal access in the U.S. has been recent. The FDA approved Epidiolex (a CBD-based medicine) in 2018 for two rare types of epilepsy (Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome). While this was a great step, it left many other epilepsy patients without a federally approved option. Fortunately, many states have since expanded their medical cannabis programs to include epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
Do Conditions with Seizure Symptoms Qualify for the Texas Compassionate Use Program?
The Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) was originally created in 2015 with intractable epilepsy patients in mind. However, the program has evolved since then.
It is important for patients in Texas to understand that epilepsy or seizures are not a qualifying condition in and of themselves. The law is structured to qualify patients based on a specific, underlying medical diagnosis that may have seizure symptoms as a component. This is a crucial distinction.
For example, a patient with a diagnosis of autism, an incurable neurodegenerative disease, or a traumatic brain injury may experience seizure symptoms that would qualify them for the program under their primary diagnosis. A thorough evaluation by a qualified physician is essential to determine eligibility based on the full scope of a patient’s health condition, not just the symptom of seizures.
The answer is yes, many patients with seizure symptoms can have legal access to medical marijuana in Texas, but it must be a symptom of a qualifying condition.
It is vital to consult with a doctor when considering medical cannabis. The medical cannabis sold at authorized dispensaries is regulated for quality, purity, and transparency, ensuring the product is safe and effective. Working with a healthcare provider can help you customize a treatment plan that fits your specific age, health condition, and other medications.
If you or a loved one are exploring medical cannabis as a treatment option for a qualifying condition with seizure symptoms, you can find more information [here] or contact us for guidance.
