Cannabis against epilepsy
The FDA has approved a drug based on cannabidiol for the first time
Anna Kerman, XX2 century
The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the first time allowed the use of a drug based on cannabidiol for medical purposes. This compound is obtained from marijuana, or cannabis. Cannabidiol will be used in the treatment of rare severe forms of epilepsy.
The new drug will be sold under the commercial name Epidiolex (Epidiolex). The list of indications for its use includes Lennox–Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. The drug is allowed for use in children starting from the age of two.
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a rare form of epilepsy that causes different types of seizures. The disease can lead to severe impairment of cognitive functions.
Dravet syndrome is another rare type of epilepsy caused by a genetic mutation. Children suffering from this syndrome experience numerous prolonged seizures that damage the brain.
"Epidiolex gives hope to many people living with non-preventable seizures and rare forms of epilepsy. These patients are in constant danger of getting serious, even fatal injuries," says Philip Gatton, head of the Epilepsy Foundation.
In many states of America, the use of cannabis is legalized, so it is not a problem to buy cannabis-based products. They are offered both as a sleeping pill, and as a remedy for cancer, and as an analgesic, and as a medicine that reduces anxiety. Unfortunately, in most cases, manufacturers' advertising promises are not supported by clinical studies, which has already caused a number of complaints from the FDA.
Unlike numerous "panaceas" produced from marijuana, Epidiolex has passed all the tests and collected all the documents necessary to obtain FDA approval. According to the manufacturer, the effect of taking a new drug is fundamentally different from the effect that can be achieved by smoking marijuana – although the main ingredient of the drug is also obtained from cannabis.
Although American doctors can prescribe FDA-approved drugs according to their own understanding, in relation to Epidiolex, Management experts emphasize that the recommended area of its use is extremely limited.
"Both Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome are rare, severe, therapy–resistant forms of epilepsy that begin in early childhood," the FDA said in a statement.
The document also reports that the mechanism of action of cannabidiol is not yet clear, but three different studies have shown that it really works.
Since tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive component of marijuana, is absent in the Epidiolex, it is practically devoid of the effects necessary for recreational cannabis use – that is, it fights seizures without affecting the psyche.
Currently, many American doctors are interested in studying cannabidiol as a means of treating autism, anxiety disorders, as well as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
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