Alabama Researchers’ Study on CBD Has Positive Findings

Major improvements were reported in a recently conducted study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham on the use of CBD oil for seizure treatment. The study began in April 2015, and was able to be conducted due to the passing of Carly’s Law, allowing medical marijuana research in the state.

A total of 81 patients were included in the study, according to Alabama.com. The patients included 39 adults and 42 children. One of the requirements for inclusion in the study was having four or more seizures monthly. Results of the study show that two-thirds of those in the study experienced over 50-percent fewer or less severe seizures.

Director of the UAB Epilepsy Center, Dr. Jerzy P. Szaflarski said, “It is encouraging that both frequency and severity of seizures appear to improve in the majority of patients in our study, patients who have limited treatment options. Our research adds to the evidence that CBD may reduce frequency of seizures, but we also found that it appears to decrease the severity of seizures, which is a new finding.”

Some of the study participants also experienced better brain function and improved moods.

Co-primary CBD study investigator Dr. Martina Bebin said, “These are encouraging results, but it is important to note that each patient may respond differently to CBD, and the dose for optimal seizures control varies. There appears to be an optimal CBD dose range where the patient achieves a maximum benefit. If outside this CBD dosing range, the seizure frequency may not improve and may even increase. More research is needed, including determining why and how CBD helps some people with epilepsy and not others.”