One question that springs to mind for you is whether CBD products help alleviate your epilepsy symptoms, or should you avoid it entirely?

Epilepsy is a neurological condition causing people to have seizures. It’s where a burst of electrical activity occurs within the brain and pauses its normal functioning.

The condition affects 65 million people worldwide and roughly 250,000 Australians. It’s a difficult condition to live with, especially since seizures are typically unpredictable and often attack without notice.

During a seizure, a person may experience:

stiffness
loss of awareness
uncontrollable shaking
spasms
unusual sensations throughout the body.

To achieve relief, many people search far and wide for natural remedies such as full spectrum CBD oil.

But how effective is it as a treatment? Below, we’ll outline everything you need to know about CBD oil in Australia and how it affects epilepsy. We’ll look at its benefits, recommended amount to take and its adverse reactions. In this way, we assess whether it has the potential to be a natural alternative remedy.

What is CBD Oil?

CBD oil (often known as cannabidiol) derives from industrial hemp plants. Cannabidiol is one the many cannabinoids found in the plant.

Once the cannabinoids are extracted from hemp, they are mixed with a carrier ointment. This makes it easy for the body to absorb. This enhanced bioavailability is created through mixing with carrier extracts such as MCT from coconut or olive extract.

Cannabidiol is best applied to the area beneath the tongue. But it can also be consumed in other ways such as being added to food or beverages.

It enters the bloodstream and binds to receptors in the endocannabinoid system, causing positive reactions all over the body.

Cannabinoids have many therapeutic properties that can be used for a wide variety of ailments. There have been countless studies into how cannabidiol can support different conditions.

There are various CBD benefits, ranging from alleviating symptoms of cancer to reducing anxiety and< pain associated with arthritis.

You can also read more information about cannabidiol generally in our beginner’s guide to cannabidiol.

In the next few sections, we will be looking at the advantages, scientific evidence, and how to buy CBD oil in Australia.

CBD oil benefits for epilepsy

Individuals with epilepsy, unsurprisingly, often look for strategies to lower the dangers and frequency of their seizures.

Our CBD products have demonstrated the potential to lower the chances of epileptic seizures and fits. As such, it’s often seen as an attractive natural option to control the condition.

The Epilepsy Foundation outlined numerous studies and clinical trials discussing CBD oil effects on epilepsy.

The evidence showed that many people saw significant improvement in frequency and severity of seizures. There were also improvements in people whose epilepsy did not respond to usual types of medication.

Scientific evidence

Below, we’ll outline some of the studies we’ve seen that have resulted in positive findings for patients suffering from epilepsy.

This 2019 paper published in Molecules concluded that the use of cannabidiol in clinical applications “could represent hope” for patients resistant to regular anti-epileptic medicine. They also conclude that the data obtained to date “encourages” cannabidiol’s use associated with anti-epileptic drugs.
This 2018 study found that adding cannabidiol to other medication may be effective in treating epilepsy in children and adolescents. Parental reports noted a “significant reduction in seizure frequency”.
This 2017 paper in the Journal of Epilepsy Research found that there is now “class 1 evidence” that the adjunctive use of CBD products improves seizure control in patients with certain epilepsy syndromes. Specifically, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
A 2018 review looked at several randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of CBD oil dosage and found that a reasonable proportion of patients in these studies experienced less seizures when using them with traditional anti-epileptic medication.
This 2020 review confirmed that Cannabidiol is an effective treatment for patients suffering from Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, noting slight adverse reactions.
Another 2020 study published in Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal found that full spectrum CBD oil extracts were, “effective for epileptic seizure control in paediatric patients and young adults, particularly in the specific epileptic syndromes, Dravet syndrome and LGS“.

Some pathways for future studies should include research on:

the optimal CBD oil dosage for adults with epilepsy.
the long-term adverse effects of cannabidiol.
strategies to improve access to cannabidiol for people suffering from epilepsy.

Side effects

More common CBD oil side effects include:

sleepiness
diarrhoea
fatigue
loss of appetite.

Using cannabidiol with other medications may also increase the risk of suffering liver damage.

You can reduce the risk of adverse side effects by using high-quality CBD products.

These extracts containing heavy metals and nasty contaminants can have negative effects on your body. We recommend using organic oil to minimise the risk of ingesting hazardous substances.

Recommended CBD oil dosage for epilepsy

Every person’s body is different and can tolerate different dosages. An individual’s age, weight, and other characteristics determine the proper CBD oil dosage for epilepsy. To get the recommended amount to take, you should always consult your healthcare professional.

According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration:

The trial evidence suggests that measures of 20mg/kg/day of cannabidiol (Epidiolex) are effective at reducing seizures in Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. Older evidence suggests that doses of 100mg of cannabidiol two to three times per day substantially reduced seizures compared to placebo.

TGA (December 2017) Guidance for the use of medicinal cannabis in the treatment of epilepsy in paediatric and young adult patients in Australia, page 15

The TGA also state that, for other open label trials, quantities ranged from 2 to 50 mg/kg per day. Dosages usually started between 2-5 per day. The amount increased until seizures reduced, or patients suffered adverse effects leading to eventual discontinuation.

You can also use our CBD oil dosage calculator to work out the amount to take according to body weight.

Is it safe to use CBD products for epilepsy?

Generally, yes. However, everyone’s body is different. Therefore, you should always seek medical advice prior to consuming cannabidiol.

Cannabidiol is typically completely safe to consume, although there may be some mild side effects, as mentioned above. With our CBD products, we only use compound that naturally occur in hemp plants, and quality carrier oils.

Where to find cannabis oil for epilepsy

You can buy CBD oil in Australia online from this website.

The Little Health Company is a leading brand in the cannabis market. We manufacture high-quality cannabidiol made from all natural ingredients with no psychoactive reaction.

Because there is no known cure for epilepsy, individuals who suffer from it should speak to a medical professional for strategies to minimise and treat symptoms.

Using cannabidiol may be an option for you or a loved one to help limit and reduce the intensity of seizures. It can therefore potentially enhance your quality of life.

Get in touch with our friendly team today to learn more about how our CBD products can make a positive difference to your life.