Frequent cannabis use linked to worse epilepsy
Near-daily cannabis users with drug-resistant epilepsy had over twice as many convulsive seizures as nonusers, researchers report.
New research indicates that frequent cannabis use among adults with difficult-to-manage epilepsy may lead to a higher frequency and speedier resistance to antiseizure medications. The study, conducted on 64 adults with drug-resistant epilepsy, found that about one-third of the frequent cannabis users experienced the most severe types of seizures, while only half of non-users did.
The researchers, led by Aaron F. Struck, associate professor of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine, urge caution when it comes to cannabis use for conditions like insomnia, which have more proven treatments available. Struck notes that the findings are still inconclusive, but emphasizes the need for further investigation.
The research, published in Epilepsia, examines the impact of frequent, high-potency cannabis use on epilepsy and highlights the need for objective measures of cannabis consumption to better inform patients about the potential risks.
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