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UK: 'Cannabis may help treat epilepsy'

Reading Chronicle

Sunday 16 Sep 2012

SCIENTISTS at Reading University have become the first in the world to demonstrate how a previously unstudied chemical contained in cannabis can treat epilepsy.

Researchers from the department of pharmacy and school of psychology yesterday (Wednesday) announced results of a ground-breaking study into how the often ignored compound Cannabidivarin (CBDV) can help ease violent seizures characterised by the chronic condition.

Dr Ben Whalley, who led the study, run in partnership with GW Pharma and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, said: "This is an enormously exciting milestone in our investigations into non-psychoactive elements of cannabis as treatments for epilepsy."

The neurological condition - which is incurable in a third of cases - is caused by excessive electrical activity in the brain and can trigger potentially fatal seizures.

Berkshire Cannabis Community founder, Clark French, from Earley, who regularly uses the drug to ease the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and is campaigning for it to be leaglised, said: "It proves cannabis is a medicine that can treat a whole variety of illnesses and ailments."

Dr Whalley and colleagues Gary Stephens and Dr Claire Williams discovered CBDV strongly suppressed seizures in six different experimental models commonly used in epilepsy drug discovery.

Their work shows it also has few side effects compared to traditional anti-epilepsy drugs, which can include uncontrollable shaking.

The compound - which also worked when combined with current drugs - contains no psychoactive properties, meaning users do not experience a "high". GW Pharmaceuticals plan to use CBDV in human clinical trials next year.

Director Dr Stephen Wright said: "These results further underscore the potential of naturally-derived cannabinoids as medicines to treat a broad range

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2012/09/16/62734-cannabis-may-help-treat-epilepsy/

 

 

 

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