Cannabidiol Stops Nocturnal Tonic-Clonic Seizures
New Zealander Katie Thomas is convinced that cannabidiol (CBD) saved the life of her 2-year-old son Edward, who suffered from nocturnal tonic-clonic seizures. That’s why she is urging New Zealanders to vote for the legalization of cannabis in the September 2020 referendum.
CBD Relieves Convulsions
Nocturnal tonic-clonic seizures are a type of epileptic seizure that occurs at night. The seizure consists of two phases: the tonic phase (the body stiffens, arms bend, and legs and neck extend) and the clonic phase (the patient stops breathing and loses consciousness). According to Katie, Edward began having seizures when he turned two. The condition progressed rapidly, and within a few weeks, the interval between seizures had shortened to just a few minutes.
Katie described her son’s condition: “Every night he had hundreds of seizures. I was afraid he would die because the duration of the seizures increased from five to ten, then to fifteen minutes. Every medication prescribed to Edward caused serious side effects—nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and behavioral problems. The drugs made his condition worse, but I still had to force him to take them.”
A family friend suggested they try CBD. Katie consulted Edward’s doctor and received a prescription for cannabidiol. After Edward started taking the cannabinoid, the seizures stopped. The Thomas family buys CBD oil produced in the UK and spends about $20,000 a year on the treatment.
Cannabidiol Helps with Epilepsy
Lynette Sadleir, a researcher at the University of Otago who specializes in epilepsy treatment, prescribes CBD to some of her patients. In her opinion, pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol oil can relieve symptoms of several severe forms of childhood epilepsy, such as Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. Sadleir notes that oil bought on the black market and from a pharmacy can differ in effect: “Prescription medications meet quality standards for cannabinoid concentration, while products from illegal dealers are not tested, so you don’t know what’s in them.”
In September, New Zealand will hold a referendum on the legalization of cannabis. If the majority of voters support the initiative, citizens aged 20 and over will be allowed to grow up to two cannabis plants and purchase up to 14 grams of marijuana per day. Kali Mercier, manager of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, believes that lifting the ban on recreational marijuana will impact the medical marijuana market. According to her, after legalization, cannabis products will become cheaper, and patients will no longer have to spend $20,000 a year on CBD oil.