Lennox-Gastaut – Cannabinoid research
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a type of severe epilepsy that develops during early childhood and is characterized by a large number of seizures. Studies have shown that cannabis is a potential treatment option for controlling refractory seizures.
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Overview
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome typically appears before the age of 4, weakening intellectual development and limiting information processing, which causes behavioral problems. Although the cause of the disease cannot always be determined, in many cases it is attributed to brain malformation, perinatal asphyxia, head trauma, central nervous system infection, metabolic or hereditary degenerative conditions.
The types of seizures caused by GLS can include tonic (body stiffening, eyes turned upward, dilated pupils, altered breathing patterns), atonic (momentary loss of consciousness and muscle tone, sudden falls), atypical absence (staring) and myoclonic (abrupt muscle contraction). The Epilepsy Foundation, however, notes that the most common seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are tonic and atonic.
There is still no cure for the disease and cases of total recovery and complete elimination of seizures are rare. It is uncommon for anticonvulsant medications to be effective in individuals diagnosed with the disease. Additionally, the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes that children who respond positively to a medication may later develop resistance and experience uncontrollable seizures again.
Effects of cannabis on Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
A series of scientific studies have concluded that one of the main cannabinoids found in cannabis, CBD (cannabidiol), is a promising and very well tolerated therapeutic treatment that has demonstrated the ability to reduce or even completely eliminate seizures 3,5,9,15,26,27,4,17,18,6,4.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) has also been shown to be effective in reducing seizures in children with epilepsy 20. Another cannabinoid found in cannabis, CBDV (cannabidivarin), has also been shown to have non-psychoactive anticonvulsant effects 1,12. In a preclinical study, administration of cannabis offered significant anticonvulsant effects in rats and mice 11.
CBD’s ability to reduce or eliminate seizures is due to its effects on the body’s endocannabinoid system 31. CBD activates the CB1 cannabinoid receptor, then it decreases the release of neurotransmitters reducing neuronal excitability 2,29,14,30,19.
Although there is still a need for randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, early research suggests that cannabis is effective in treating severe pediatric epilepsies such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. In a questionnaire study, 84% of parents reported a reduction in the frequency of their children’s seizures after starting cannabis treatment. Of these patients, 11% responded that their children were completely free from seizures, while 42% reported a greater than 80% reduction in seizure frequency. Parents also reported beneficial effects, such as better alertness, mood and sleep 25.
Other similar research found that CBD-rich cannabis resulted in a reduction in seizure frequency in 85% of children with LGS, while 14% experienced complete elimination of seizures. Children also showed improvements in sleep (53%), alertness (71%) and mood (63%) during treatment with cannabidiol 16.
Another study that examined the effects of CBD-rich cannabis on children with epilepsy found that 89% of them experienced a reduction in the frequency of seizures. The children also achieved improvements in behavior, alertness, language, communication, motor coordination and sleep 28.
Analysis of the case of a girl with Dravet Syndrome, another severe type of epilepsy, found that medicinal cannabis reduced the frequency of her seizures from practically 50 per day to 2-3 nocturnal seizures per month. Furthermore, the girl managed to gradually abandon the other anticonvulsant drugs she was taking 21.
Traditional medications used to treat epilepsy are not only ineffective for the majority, in fact, they are often accompanied by a series of adverse side effects. Cannabinoids, however, have been shown to produce anticonvulsant effects in preliminary human studies, producing fewer side effects than traditional drugs 8. One questionnaire study found that some parents tried an average of 12 anticonvulsant drugs and, due to their ineffectiveness or unacceptable side effects, abandoned treatment, ultimately finding better efficacy and relief with cannabis derivatives 25.
Recent studies using cannabis in the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
- Cannabis rich in CBD reduced the frequency of seizures in 85% of children, with 14% experiencing a complete absence of seizures. Children also saw improvements in sleep (53%), alertness (71%) and mood (63%). Observed efficacy of cannabidiol-rich cannabis extracts for the treatment of pediatric epilepsies: a potential role for infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
http://www.epilepsybehavior.com/article/S1525-5050(15)00157-2/fulltext - Cannabis reduced the frequency of seizures in 84% of children, while 11% had complete elimination of seizures. Other effects include improvements in alertness, mood and sleep. Results of a survey of parents of children with pediatric epilepsies resistant to treatments using cannabis rich in cannabidiol. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4157067/
- Cannabis offers significant anticonvulsant effects in rats and mice. Cannabis extracts rich in cannabidivarin as an anticonvulsant in rats and mice through a mechanism independent of the CB1 receptor.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23902406
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