Many epilepsy patients in Australia are already turning to medicinal cannabis to manage their seizures, a survey reveals.
A nationwide survey on the experiences and opinions of medicinal cannabis use in people with epilepsy has revealed that 14 per cent of people with epilepsy have used cannabis products to manage the condition.
Of these, 90 per cent of adults and 71 per cent of children with epilepsy, according to their parents, reported success in managing seizures.
Published in journal Epilepsy & Behaviour, the Epilepsy Action Australia study, in partnership with The Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney, surveyed 976 respondents to examine cannabis use in people with epilepsy, reasons for use, and any perceived benefits self-reported by consumers.
Across all respondents, the main reasons for trying cannabis products was to seek a treatment with "more favourable" side-effects compared to standard antiepileptic drugs.
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Lead author of the study Anastatsia Suraeve from The Lambert Initiative says they have gained further insight into the reasons that influence use.
"Despite the limitations of a retrospective online survey, we cannot ignore that a significant proportion of adults and children with epilepsy are using cannabis-based products in Australia, and many are self-reporting considerable benefits to their condition," Ms Suraeve said.
"More systematic clinical studies are urgently needed to help us better understand the role of cannabinoids in epilepsy," she said.
