FAQs on CBD Oil for Epilepsy and Seizures
Statistics state that about 1% of Canada’s general population suffers from seizure disorders. This is roughly about 300,000 Canadians, and the numbers are growing each day.
Studies revealed that CBD oil for epilepsy seizures helps reduce some of the symptoms. Researchers found that CBD oil affects epilepsy – the intensity of the seizures as well as their frequency.
This article discusses CBD oil and seizures and where you can find CBD oil for epilepsy Canada.
Can CBD Oil Help with Epilepsy and Seizures?
Does CBD oil work for epilepsy and seizures?
The quick answer is yes, but to better understand how, let’s go over what seizures are and how CBD oil helps seizures.
Seizures start with an overtiring of a bunch of neurons. A stimulus such as stress, fever, lack of sleep, pain, etc. triggers these neurons, causing their overactivation and resulting in an uncontrolled electrical brain activity.
The overstimulated neurons, in turn, trigger other surrounding neurons until the hyperactive response becomes a widespread activation of more excitable neurons.
This results in uncontrollable jerking motions, loss of consciousness, stiffening of the body, staring, etc.
Does CBD oil help epilepsy?
Yes, CBD oil helps.
When CBD binds to the hyperactive neurons, it “tells” the neurons to stop releasing chemicals that further stimulate the excitable neurons. This reduces not only the severity but the frequency of the attacks as well.
CBD also acts on other receptors responsible for controlling other epilepsy symptoms. It helps relax the muscles, boost sleep and appetite, and improve quality of life.
Are There Any Risks and Side Effects?
Like most medications and supplements, CBD oil may also cause the following side effects:
- Sleepiness or fatigue
- Drowsiness
Other CBD oil side effects when taken for epilepsy include dry eyes and dry mouth sensation. These side effects are well-tolerated by patients though and usually go away in time.
Studies also show there are CBD oil effects on epilepsy drugs. CBD boosts their antiepileptic effects, but it also increases the drugs’ blood level concentration. For this reason, proper monitoring of the antiepileptic drugs’ concentrations in the blood should be monitored closely by your doctor.
How to Use CBD Oil for Epilepsy
There are several methods of using CBD oil for epilepsy. The most effective is under the tongue for faster and most effective absorption.
The effects of sublingual CBD oil on epilepsy are quite strong and quick, because the cells in the mouth immediately absorb CBD. CBD directly enters the bloodstream and travels to the brain to produce its beneficial effects.
The effects of ingestible CBD oil on seizures, on the other hand, takes some time before the patient feels the effects as well as a lot of CBD gets lost. This is because CBD travels to the digestive system as well as the liver first where it’s metabolized before it joins the bloodstream.
For proper CBD oil use and administration, we recommend consulting with your physician.
What’s the CBD Oil Dosage for Epilepsy and Seizures?
The rule of thumb for using CBD oil with epilepsy and other medical conditions is to use:
- 1 mg CBD for every 10 lbs of body weight for mild symptoms
- 4 mg CBD for every 10 lbs of body weight for moderate symptoms
- 8 mg for every 10 lbs of body weight for severe symptoms.
These are just some of the recommended dosages for CBD oil for seizures in adults and CBD oil for seizures in children. If you want to learn more about the dosage, please read our blog post How Much CBD Oil to Take – A Complete Guide For ICARIA.
Starting on a lower CBD dose gives you better control. If there is no significant improvement, then slightly increase the dose. If side effects occur, then reduce the dose.
Again, we stress the importance of seeing your primary care physician especially if giving CBD oil for childhood epilepsy. Healthcare professionals can help you come up with the best dosing recommendations for children as well as best dosing recommendations for adults.
The doctor knows the patient’s medical history very well and can recommend the best CBD dosage. They can also help monitor the patient’s status on CBD.
Are There Any Existing Studies Supporting the Use of CBD Oil in Epilepsy?
There are studies that support the claim that CBD oil benefits epilepsy. It decreases the severity and frequency of the epileptic attacks and seizures, and it also helps improve quality of life.
CBD relaxes stiff muscles, and it also improves sleep. CBD also helps boost appetite and improve mood and energy.
Are there CBD oil and epilepsy research that can help support these claims?
According to a 2013 survey [1], CBD oil prevents epilepsy and reduces its frequency and severity in 84% of the participants. The survey also showed CBD oil stops seizures in about 11% of the participants.
CBD oil epilepsy treatment was also well-tolerated in this study. The participants reported significant improvement in their symptoms. They state that CBD not only helped reduce their symptoms, but they developed no significant side effects as well [2].
Another study researching CBD oil treating seizures revealed CBD is even helpful in controlling drug-resistant seizures [3].
Other studies on CBD oil and partial seizures, treatment-resistant childhood epilepsy, and motor seizures are readily available online, and they show promising results.
CBD can help patients with epilepsy and seizure disorder, but before using CBD oil, we recommend giving your doctor a visit. Your doctor can help you find the best dosage and choose the best method of administration.
Final Thoughts — CBD Oil and Epilepsy
Studies showed that CBD helps control the symptoms of epilepsy and seizures by “calming down” the brain cells and reducing their hyperactivity.
If you’re looking to buy CBD oil in Toronto, Montreal or anywhere across Canada, then ICARIA is the right choice for you. We offer high quality 3rd party tested hemp derived CBD oil in high concentrations.
Want to know more about Icaria and our CBD products? Then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’d love to hear from you and help you choose the best CBD products.
