Epilepsy is one of the qualifying conditions to get access to an MMJ card in New York. Medical marijuana has shown promise as a safe, effective alternative treatment for epilepsy that does not have the often-severe side effects associated with standard drugs. Understanding epilepsy and how medical cannabis for epilepsy works might help you decide if it’s the right medication for you or a loved one.
If you have epilepsy or know someone who does, you can get your New York Medical Cannabis card with the help of TeleLeafRX.
Medical Marijuana Benefits to Patients with Epilepsy
Medical marijuana is particularly successful at managing epileptic seizures while avoiding the negative side effects associated with standard epilepsy medications.
Overview
Epilepsy is a neurological illness in which brain activity becomes aberrant, resulting in seizures or episodes of odd behavior, feelings, and even loss of awareness.
Epilepsy may strike anybody at any time. Males and females of various races, ethnic origins, and ages are affected by epilepsy.
The signs and symptoms of a seizure can be rather varied. During a seizure, some persons with epilepsy just gaze blankly for a few seconds, while others move their limbs or legs frequently. A single seizure may not necessarily indicate epilepsy. For an epilepsy diagnosis, at least two seizures without a recognized cause (unprovoked seizures) must occur within 24 hours of each other.
Symptoms
Seizures can disrupt every process that your brain regulates since epilepsy is caused by aberrant brain activity.
The following are some of the indications and symptoms of a seizure:
- Temporary confusion
- A staring spell
- Stiff muscles
- Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
- Loss of consciousness or awareness
- Psychological symptoms such as fear, anxiety, or deja vu
The severity of the symptoms varies based on the type of seizure. A person with epilepsy will, in most situations, experience the same sort of seizure every time, therefore the symptoms will be consistent from episode to episode.
Causes
- Genetic factors have a role. Some forms of epilepsy, which are classified according to the type of seizure or the portion of the brain affected, run in families. It’s conceivable that there’s a hereditary component in these occurrences.
- Trauma to the head. Epilepsy can be caused by head trauma from a vehicle accident or another traumatic event.
- Infections. Epilepsy can be caused by meningitis, HIV, viral encephalitis, and various parasite illnesses.
- Abnormalities in the brain. Epilepsy can be caused by brain abnormalities such as brain tumors or vascular malformations such as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and cavernous malformations. Stroke is the most common cause of epilepsy in those over the age of 35.
- Injury to a baby before birth. Babies are vulnerable to brain injury before birth, which can be caused by a variety of circumstances such as the mother’s illness, inadequate nutrition, or oxygen deficiency. Epilepsy or cerebral palsy can be caused by brain injury.
- Disorders of development. Epilepsy and developmental problems like autism are occasionally linked.
Treatment
Medications are usually used to treat epilepsy first. If drugs don’t work, doctors may recommend surgery or another treatment option.
Most people with epilepsy may go seizure-free by using just one anti-seizure drug, often known as an anti-epileptic drug. Others may find that using a combination of drugs reduces the frequency and intensity of their seizures.
There are about 20 different anti-seizure drugs on the market. The type of epilepsy medicine prescribed by your doctor is determined by the type of seizures you have, as well as other criteria such as your age and other medical problems.
There is a chance that these drugs will cause negative effects.
The following are some of the minor negative effects:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
- Loss of bone density
- Skin rashes
- Loss of coordination
- Speech problems
- Memory and thinking problems
Medical Marijuana as an Alternative Treatment of Choice to Epilepsy
Medical marijuana is an excellent treatment for a variety of maladies and conditions, and epilepsy is one of the diseases that respond well to medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana has provided significant relief to many individuals suffering from epilepsy and other seizure disorders, whether used alone or in combination with existing epileptic treatments. Marijuana has been shown to effectively manage seizures in epileptics who cannot handle other anti-seizure drugs.
Understanding epilepsy and how medical cannabis for epilepsy works might help you determine if it’s the right alternative treatment for you or someone you care about. TeleLeafRX can help you acquire your New York Medical Cannabis card if you suffer epilepsy or know someone who does. Learn more at TeleLeafRx.com.
