Epilepsy

What Is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder that affects the brain by causing frequent seizures, periods of unusual behavior, or loss of awareness. It’s one of the most common neurological disorders in the world, and more than three million Americans are diagnosed with active epilepsy.

At the moment, there’s no cure for this disease, but it’s possible to manage its symptoms. A common epilepsy treatment option is Epidiolex for seizures. Epidiolex is a cannabidiol (CBD) oral solution derived from the cannabis plant. Other options include prescription anti-epileptic drugs, special ketogenic diets, and other more invasive procedures.

How Can Epilepsy Affect Your Life?

Epilepsy could potentially be caused by any condition or injury that disturbs the brain, such as head trauma, stroke, dementia, unusually high fever, or infectious conditions like HIV. Although anyone can develop epilepsy, it most commonly manifests in adults over 60 years old and young children. Incidentally, Epidiolex for seizures is FDA approved for use for patients one year of age and older.

There are two main types of seizures in epilepsy:

  1. Focal Seizures
    Also called partial seizures, these originate in one part of the brain. A person having a focal seizure may either be fully aware or experience a loss of awareness or consciousness. In the case of the former, they may experience symptoms like dizziness, change in sensations, and tingling and twitching of the limbs. Loss of awareness could also be accompanied by blank staring and unresponsiveness.
  1. Generalized Seizures
    These originate simultaneously in both sides of the brain. They have a range of subtypes with varying symptoms, including:
  • Short loss of awareness with repetitive movements like blinking
  • Muscle tightness or stiffness (spasticity)
  • Sudden loss of muscle strength and control 
  • Spontaneous jerkiness and twitching of the arms, legs, neck, and face
  • Shaking and biting of the tongue
  • Loss of consciousness

Targeted strategies and epilepsy treatment options, such as Epidiolex, can help mitigate the symptoms of seizures and contribute to improved quality of life.

Medical Cannabis for Epilepsy

Conventional treatment options for recurrent seizures include anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) that can sometimes cause side effects. Moreover, approximately one-third of patients with epileptic seizures are resistant to AEDs.

Studies have shown that medical cannabis could be a viable alternative to help people significantly reduce the frequency of their seizures. CBD treatments such as Epidiolex are prescribed to help people manage the symptoms of this incurable disease.

Qualify for Medical Cannabis in Less Than a Minute

If epilepsy is affecting your quality of life, you may consider exploring the merits of a medical cannabis routine. Reach out to us at Texas 420 Doctors for a telemedicine appointment to discuss your condition. Each of our physicians is board-certified and CURT-registered. After your evaluation, we’ll supply you with everything you need to conveniently access medical cannabis at your dispensary, including your approval letter and dispensary recommendations. 

Feel free to contact us with more questions about our services or the merits of medical cannabis for epilepsy.

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